The ultimate X-Files successor launches in three weeks!

Since the original run of The X-Files wrapped up, fans have been clamoring for more of the iconic series. They’ve had their wishes granted a few times, albeit with some lengthy gaps in between.

The X-Files first hit screens in 1993, following two FBI agents as they delved into paranormal investigations. The show became a cultural phenomenon throughout the 1990s, spanning nine seasons before concluding in 2002. After a six-year hiatus, fans were treated to the theatrical film The X-Files: I Want to Believe in 2008. This was followed by a two-season revival in 2016, which wrapped up in 2018. Now, anticipation is building for Ryan Coogler’s reboot, which is currently in the works.

However, the release date for Coogler’s reboot remains under wraps, leaving X-Files enthusiasts eager for something to fill the void. Luckily, a fitting alternative is set to hit theaters in just three weeks.

Since 1977, Steven Spielberg has been a key figure in alien-themed cinema. That year, he released Close Encounters of the Third Kind, telling the story of an ordinary man who becomes obsessed with UFOs after a close encounter. In 1982, he brought us E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a touching tale of a boy who befriends a stranded alien. Fast forward over 20 years to 2005, and we saw War of the Worlds, depicting a catastrophic alien invasion. Now, more than two decades after War of the Worlds, we have Disclosure Day.

Disclosure Day follows cybersecurity expert Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor), who uncovers files revealing a vast international conspiracy regarding the cover-up of UFOs and alien encounters. As he threatens to make this information public, the government races against time to stop him.

While specifics about the film remain somewhat vague, the trailers suggest it will resonate with fans of The X-Files. A clear connection lies in Agent Mulder’s mission to uncover and share the truth, often clashing with a government conspiracy intent on keeping it hidden. Both The X-Files and Disclosure Day also embrace classic alien invasion tropes, featuring elements like crop circles, flying saucers, and abduction scenes bathed in white light.

With all this in mind, and given that it’s crafted by a filmmaker who has significantly influenced the genre, Disclosure Day is poised to satisfy the X-Files craving, at least for a little while.

The summer movie season is kicking off now, starting with the Memorial Day weekend release of The Mandalorian and Grogu (a very different alien-themed film). Following that is Masters of the Universe on June 5 (also about aliens, but in its own unique way). Then, on June 12, we’ll see the release of Disclosure Day.

While it may not be a direct replacement for The X-Files and likely won’t feature a giant mutant flukeman, it should provide X-Files fans with some entertainment until Ryan Coogler’s reboot arrives.