Benedict Evans for Variety

Ryan Coogler’s ‘X-Files’ Reboot Picked Up to Series at Hulu

by · Variety

Ryan Coogler‘s “X-Files” reboot has been picked up to series by Hulu.

A reimagining of the 1990s sci-fi drama, the show will star Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel as “two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents who form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena,” per the logline. According to a source, Deadwyler and Patel will be playing new characters rather than iterations of Gillian Anderson’s Dana Scully and David Duchovny’s Fox Mulder.

Related Stories

Madonna Opens MTV Video Music Awards With Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx, Plus Sombr, Debi Mazar and More

Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter Join Tom Holland in Fred Astaire Biopic as Adele Astaire, Ginger Rogers

Coogler wrote, directed and executive produced the pilot, which was picked up by Hulu in February. The Oscar-winning “Sinners” filmmaker will serve as executive producer of the series alongside showrunner Jennifer Yale.

“I’ve loved ‘The X-Files’ for a long time, so getting the chance to write and direct the pilot has meant a great deal to me,” said Coogler. “What Chris Carter created is special, and we wanted to honor everything that made the original series connect with so many people while also finding our own way into that world. Danielle and Himesh, along with the rest of our cast, have brought such original perspectives and performances to these characters, and watching that come together has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.”

The new “X-Files” is produced by Proximity Media, which Coogler co-founded with Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, as well as 20th Television. Zinzi Coogler and Ohanian serve as EPs alongside original series creator Chris Carter. Co-executive producers are Simone Harris of Proximity Media, Deadwyler and Patel.

“The X-Files” is Coogler’s most high-profile project following his historic Oscar run with “Sinners,” which set an all-time record with 16 nominations. The vampire drama won four awards, including screenplay for Coogler and best actor for Michael B. Jordan.

The original “X-Files” ran for 11 seasons in total on Fox, scoring 61 Emmy nominations and 15 wins. The show became a sci-fi touchstone with vast influence on television and pop culture.

The new series reunites Deadwyler and Patel, who previously appeared together in the HBO Max miniseries “Station Eleven.” Deadwyler is best known for her roles in “The Harder They Fall,” “Till” and “The Piano Lesson.” Patel is best known for “EastEnders,” “Yesterday” and a hefty supporting turn in “The Odyssey.”