Gillian Anderson has spoken publicly about her conversation with Ryan Coogler, who is developing a new version of The X-Files. While promoting her upcoming film The Salt Path on ITV’s This Morning, Anderson said she had spoken directly with Coogler and expressed interest under the right conditions.
“I spoke to him, and what I said was, ‘If anyone were to do it, I think you are the perfect person and best of luck, call me,’” Anderson said. “At some point, if the phone rings and it’s good and it feels like the right time — perhaps.”
Coogler, known for Creed and Black Panther, is working on a reimagining of the paranormal drama, which originally ran from 1993 to 2002 on Fox and returned for additional seasons in 2016 and 2018. Anderson played Dana Scully, a medical doctor and FBI agent assigned to investigate unexplained cases alongside David Duchovny’s Fox Mulder. The series ran for 11 seasons and inspired two theatrical films.
In a recent interview on Last Podcast on the Left, Coogler confirmed that he had been in contact with Anderson and remains committed to the project. “I’ve been excited about that for a long time, and I’m fired up to get back to it,” he said. “Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f—ing scary. We’re gonna try to make something really great, bro, and really be something for the real X-Files fans, and maybe find some new ones.”
A year earlier, Anderson commented on Coogler’s involvement during a separate appearance on the Today show. While she stopped short of confirming any role, she described him as “a bit of a genius” and said she could “not think of a better way for a reboot to happen.” At the time, she left the door open to a possible return, saying, “Maybe I’ll pop in for a little something something.”
Anderson has maintained a consistent tone about future involvement. While she praised Coogler’s approach and expressed a willingness to consider participation, she has made clear that it would depend on timing and the substance of the material. Coogler, for his part, has not announced any casting decisions or provided specifics about how the new series will connect to the original.
Duchovny, who played Mulder for nine seasons and returned for the revival years, has not shown the same level of interest in returning. In a 2024 interview, he said he was open to the idea of the franchise continuing without him. He said he trusted that new writers could create something relevant for a modern audience but did not express any personal plans to return. He added that he was more interested in watching the development unfold from a distance.
That difference in engagement suggests the reboot may introduce a new investigative team, with Scully possibly returning in a limited or advisory capacity. Neither Anderson nor Coogler has indicated whether her involvement would be ongoing or structured around a single appearance.
Interest in the reboot has grown alongside positive reactions to Coogler’s previous work, especially following the response to Sinners, which added to speculation about his approach to genre storytelling. Both Anderson and original series creator Chris Carter have spoken favorably about Coogler’s involvement. While Carter is not leading the new project, his endorsement has fueled expectations among fans of the series.
First launched by Carter in 1993, The X-Files built a devoted following during its original run. It blended science fiction, horror, and procedural drama, earning critical and commercial success. Its influence extended beyond television, with two feature films released in 1998 and 2008. Anderson’s portrayal of Scully became a cultural reference point and contributed to broader conversations about women in science and media.
As Coogler continues developing the reboot, details about casting, production timelines, and narrative direction remain limited. Anderson’s comments, though noncommittal, confirm that conversations are ongoing and that the original cast has been approached as part of the development process.
