Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel will lead the new FBI mystery series, with original creator Chris Carter returning as an executive producer.
The truth is still out there, and Hulu is officially bringing The X-Files back to television. The streaming service has ordered Ryan Coogler's reimagining of the beloved science-fiction franchise as a series, with Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel starring as two FBI agents investigating unexplained phenomena.
The project comes from Onyx Collective, with 20th Television producing in association with Coogler's Proximity Media. Coogler wrote and directed the pilot and will remain involved as an executive producer.
Rather than directly continuing the previous series, the new version introduces two highly decorated FBI agents with vastly different personalities. The pair develop an unexpected connection after being assigned to a long-shuttered division dedicated to investigating mysterious and unexplained cases.
The premise brings the franchise back to its familiar territory of unusual investigations and unexplained events while introducing new characters and relationships.
Coogler, whose directing credits include Black Panther and Sinners, said he has long been a fan of the original series and wanted to respect what made it successful while finding a new direction for the story.
"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," Coogler said. "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."
Coogler also praised Deadwyler and Patel for bringing their own perspectives and performances to the new characters, describing the experience of watching the project come together as one of its most rewarding aspects.
Jennifer Yale will serve as showrunner and executive producer, working alongside Coogler as the series moves forward following Hulu's pickup.
Coogler's fellow Proximity Media founders, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, will also executive produce the series. The production also reunites Coogler with composer Ludwig Göransson, who previously worked with him on Black Panther and Sinners. Göransson composed the score for the pilot.
Original The X-Files creator Chris Carter will serve as an executive producer, providing a direct connection to the franchise's history. Simone Harris of Proximity Media will serve as a co-executive producer, alongside Deadwyler and Patel.
Deadwyler has earned critical recognition for her performances in Till, The Piano Lesson, Carry-On, I Saw the TV Glow, 40 Acres and The Woman in the Yard. Her television credits include The Bear, Euphoria, Station Eleven, Watchmen, and Atlanta.
She has also expanded her work as a producer, including serving as an executive producer on The Woman in the Yard. Her upcoming projects include Otis & Zelma opposite John Boyega and a feature adaptation of Ann Petry's novel The Street.
Patel earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in HBO's Station Eleven. His film credits include Yesterday, Tenet, Don't Look Up and Good Grief. He also appeared in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and returned as Dr. Watson in Netflix's third Enola Holmes film.
His television work includes Bait, starring Riz Ahmed, and HBO's The Franchise.
The original The X-Files debuted in 1993 and became one of television's defining science-fiction series. Created by Chris Carter, the show followed FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigated paranormal cases, government conspiracies, and unexplained events.
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson starred as the investigative duo, whose contrasting approaches to the unknown helped shape the show's enduring appeal. The franchise eventually expanded into feature films and a television revival that reunited the original stars.
Hulu has not yet announced a premiere date or episode count for Coogler's new The X-Files series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
