Ryan Coogler’s Next Project: An X-Files Reboot Before Black Panther 3

Ryan Coogler is set to breathe new life into The X-Files, and he’s diving into this project before his next Black Panther installment. During a chat on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler shared his enthusiasm for the iconic series and hinted at his vision for the reboot.

Nostalgia plays a significant role in Coogler’s motivation. He reminisced, “That show is what I used to watch with my mom. It’s one of the most beautiful American television shows ever made.” He noted that Chris Carter aimed to create something akin to Kolchak: The Night Stalker, emphasizing the importance of drawing inspiration from past influences to craft something fresh.

Coogler is particularly drawn to the dynamic of “a skeptic paired with a believer” tackling cases, reminiscent of the first season of True Detective. He also acknowledged that The X-Files was pivotal in launching Vince Gilligan’s career, raising the intriguing question of whether we would have seen Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul without it—definitely a mystery that Scully and Mulder could unravel.

Regarding his vision for The X-Files, Coogler stated, “We intend on having both monsters of the week and also the overarching conspiracy,” staying true to the essence of the original series. He mentioned receiving valuable insights on television production from Gilligan, which could prove beneficial for his approach.

While specific details about the new X-Files are still under wraps, Coogler confirmed, “It’s what I’m doing now. Black Panther comes after that. I’m blessed to be working on things this cool. It’s also nice to have something that has the pressure of the fans, and a lot of really smart people that I don’t want to let down.”

When pressed about the possibility of original cast members returning, Coogler kept it vague, saying, “I’m a big fan of [Gillian Anderson], big fan of David [Duchovny]. That’s all I can say.”

The X-Files originally aired on Fox from 1993 to 2002, spanning nine seasons and 202 episodes. It made a comeback with a 10th season of six episodes in 2016, followed by an 11th season of ten episodes in 2018. Two standalone feature films were released in 1998 and 2008. All 11 seasons, including the rebooted ones, will be available for streaming on Pluto TV starting January 1, 2026, along with a dedicated channel that will air the complete series.