The truth is no longer just out there — it’s officially headed back to our screens. After years of whispered rumors and mounting anticipation, Hulu has finally given the green light to a bold new reboot of the legendary sci-fi phenomenon The X-Files. While the original series defined a generation of supernatural storytelling, this reimagining promises to pull the franchise into the modern era with a visionary new creative team at the helm. Read on to discover who is leading this high-stakes revival — and which award-winning star has already been confirmed to co-lead in the project.
A new era of The X-Files begins
The truth is officially being remounted for a new generation. After three years of development, Hulu has issued a formal pilot order for Ryan Coogler’s highly anticipated reimagining of The X-Files.
Hailing from Onyx Collective and 20th Television, the project stems from Coogler’s exclusive five-year deal with Disney, and will see the Black Panther and Sinners visionary writing and directing the pilot. This fresh take centers on two decorated FBI agents from polar opposite backgrounds who find common ground while reviving the Bureau’s long-dormant division for unexplained phenomena.
While the original series cast a long shadow, Coogler isn’t tackling the paranormal alone. Jennifer Yale (Peacock’s The Copenhagen Test, See) has been tapped as showrunner. She will executive produce alongside original The X-Files creator Chris Carter, as well as Coogler and his Proximity Media partners Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler. Simone Harris will serve as co-executive producer, with casting handled by Francine Maisler.
Carter first revealed in 2023 that discussions were underway, sharing that Coogler was “going to remount The X-Files with a diverse cast,” and adding, “He’s got his work cut out for him because we covered so much territory.” Months later, Coogler publicly confirmed the reboot during a podcast appearance, expressing both excitement and ambition for the revival.
“I’ve been excited about that for a long time, and I’m fired up to get back to it. Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really … scary,” he said, adding, “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.”
Over the weekend, Sinners, an Oscar frontrunner with a record 16 nominations, further cemented its legacy by making history at the BAFTA Film Awards, becoming the most decorated film by a Black director. The movie earned three wins, including Best Original Screenplay for Coogler.
Danielle Deadwyler joins The X-Files reboot
Joining the search for the truth, Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson) has officially been cast as a co-lead in Coogler’s The X-Files pilot.
Deadwyler’s attachment further cements the project’s prestige status, as she currently commands one of the busiest schedules in Hollywood. Beyond her venture into the paranormal, she is slated to star in the HBO comedy series Rooster alongside a heavy-hitting ensemble including Steve Carell, Phil Dunster, and Charly Clive. In addition, she is slated to appear in Season 3 of Euphoria and in The Saviors, an American dark comedy thriller directed by Kevin Hamedani.
Most recently, Deadwyler was part of the 2025 horror film The Woman in the Yard, a project that saw her pull double duty as both lead actress and executive producer under director Jaume Collet-Serra.
Deadwyler is represented by Paradigm, Play Management, and Ziffren Brittenham.
The original The X-Files
Created by Carter, the original The X-Files became a defining force in 1990s television. The series followed FBI Special Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder — portrayed by Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny — as they delved into eerie cases involving extraterrestrials, government conspiracies, and other unexplained phenomena.
The show premiered on Fox in 1993 and ran for nine seasons, building a devoted global fan base. Its success led to two feature films, The X-Files and The X-Files: I Want to Believe, before the franchise returned to television with a revival in 2016 that aired for two additional seasons on Fox.
Source: Deadline