The truth is still out there. Hulu has given a pilot order to a reboot of the iconic sci-fi series The X-Files, with Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson) set to co-lead the new iteration. The revival comes from Ryan Coogler, the acclaimed director behind Sinners, who will write and direct the pilot.
The new X-Files will center on two highly decorated, yet vastly different, FBI agents who form an unexpected partnership when assigned to a previously shuttered division dedicated to investigating unexplained phenomena. Deadwyler will portray one of the leads, with casting for the second lead still underway.
Jennifer Yale (The Copenhagen Test) will serve as showrunner. Yale will executive produce alongside original series creator Chris Carter, as well as Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler of Proximity Media, with Simone Harris of Proximity Media co-executive producing. Casting for the pilot is being handled by Sinners casting director Francine Maisler.
The pilot order marks the culmination of a three-year effort, falling under Coogler’s five-year exclusive television deal with Disney, the parent company of Hulu and 20th Television. This project adds to a growing slate of reboots and revivals capitalizing on established intellectual property.
Carter first revealed in a 2023 podcast interview that he had spoken with Coogler about “remount[ing] The X Files with a diverse cast,” adding, “He’s got his work cut out for him because we covered so much territory.”
Coogler confirmed his involvement during a podcast appearance last April, expressing his enthusiasm for the project. “I’ve been excited about that for a long time, and I’m fired up to gain back to it,” he said. “Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f*cking scary.” He added, “We’re gonna try to make something really great and really be something for the real X-Files fans, and maybe find some new ones.”
During that same interview, Coogler too shared that he had discussed the reboot with original X-Files star Gillian Anderson. The project gained momentum in recent months as Coogler prioritized it following his work on Sinners.
Hulu has increasingly focused on a pilot development model for its high-profile titles, as seen with the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot directed by Chloé Zhao.
The original X-Files, starring Anderson and David Duchovny as FBI Special Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, premiered on Fox in 1993 and ran for nine seasons, captivating audiences with its blend of science fiction, horror, and procedural drama. The series also spawned two feature films (1998 and 2008) and a two-season revival on Fox in 2016.
Coogler’s latest film, Sinners, recently made history at the BAFTA Film Awards on February 23, 2026, becoming the most decorated movie by a Black director. The film secured three awards, including Best Original Screenplay for Coogler’s work. Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, has grossed over $365 million worldwide. Coogler is the founder of Proximity Media alongside partners Zinzi Coogler and Ohanian. He is represented by WME, M88 and Cohen and Gardner.
Deadwyler is also set to appear in the upcoming HBO comedy series Rooster alongside Steve Carell, Charly Clive and Phil Dunster. She will also have roles in Season 3 of Euphoria and The Saviors, a dark comedy thriller directed by Kevin Hamedani. She recently starred in The Woman in the Yard, where she also served as an executive producer. She is represented by Paradigm, Play Management and Ziffren Brittenham.
Yale most recently executive produced and co-showran The Copenhagen Test for Peacock, with Simu Liu starring and Atomic Monster producing. She previously wrote on the Apple TV series Your Friends and Neighbors, and served as a writer/executive producer on Apple’s Spot and Netflix’s Chambers. Yale is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners, CAA and Hansen Jacobson.
Carter is represented by CAA and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, Inc.
