One of the most highly-anticipated television events of 2016 was the six-episode revival of The X-Files, which has sadly now come to an end. Although the finale itself left much to be desired, the season as a whole brought a lot of what was great about the original series back to TV, and fans are already itching for more. Luckily, according X-Files head honcho Chris Carter, Fox's CEO Dana Walden is definitely open to bringing Mulder and Scully back again.
They’re going to ask for more. The ratings were very good. They were happy with the show. I talked to Dana Walden today. She said they’d very much like more, but nothing’s being negotiated yet.
Chris Carter may not have had any details about timeframes in his chat with THR, but Fox TV Group CEO Dana Walden showing interest is definitely encouraging. Fans who have stuck through the highs and lows of the franchise for 23 years were bound to want a continuation, but the higher-ups at Fox were less of a sure thing. Carter’s conversation with Walden makes the future feel much less uncertain for those of all already in X-Files withdrawal.
We are still a ways off from any new material, even assuming that all the stars align for a second season of the revival. As Chris Carter went on to explain, neither he nor Dana Walden is anxious to get started right away.
It was casual. She said, ‘No pressure. We’d love to do this. We liked the way it worked out.’ So there’s an appetite for more in the future, it’s just a matter of figuring out how to get it done. The last negotiations took about five months, so it could be a while before we figure out how to do this.
Of course, Carter and Walden showing enthusiasm for more isn’t nearly enough to get the series back on the air again. Despite what Fox attempted to sell with Robbie Amell and Lauren Ambrose as Mulder and Scully 2.0, The X-Files is nothing without David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as the intrepid agents. Luckily, David Duchovny has already spoken to EW about wanting to do more of the show.
I would love to. I think we all would.
David Duchovny's willingness to come on board for another season is half the battle; Gillian Anderson is a whole different story. Although she definitely brought her best back to the small screen as Scully, she has expressed uncertainty that she could leave her home in London to film in Vancouver for extended periods of time. Besides, that red wig of hers must have gotten super uncomfortable by the end of filming. If she does find a way to come back, she deserves an extra salary bump just for wearing the hair the whole time.
Nothing is set in stone just yet about whether or not Fox will indeed get more X-Files, but there’s more reason to be a believer than a skeptic at this point. Considering all of the cliffhangers in place at the end of the finale, we definitely deserve at least another episode or two to tie up all of the loose ends.
