Four months after Hulu picked up The X-Files reboot, lead star Himesh Patel teased fans of the franchise with exciting news. Anticipation for the series has been mounting since it was confirmed in development in 2023, with Sinners director Ryan Coogler at the helm. The project finally ramped up last February after Hulu ordered a pilot, followed by a major casting update in May. Patel has now revealed they have taken the next big step to get the show greenlit.
In an interview with The Direct, Patel confirmed that the entire pilot has been filmed. “We just wrapped on the pilot. If we get to do more… we’ll see where we go from there,” the actor stated. Now in post-production, the X-Files reboot faces its biggest hurdle yet — executives are set to screen the pilot and pass their final verdict.
An overwhelming majority of TV pilots never make it past this stage; some were reconsidered after reshoots and recasting, leading to success stories like Seinfeld, The Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, and the original Star Trek. The original X-Files pilot was only approved after Fox executives pushed back and demanded edits. Considering that show’s breakout success, The X-Files reboot could pass that final filter with a premise pilot.
A premise pilot reveals its main characters’ convictions through an inciting incident that serves as the foundation for the entire series. The original X-Files pilot achieved this through Mulder and Scully’s first shared case, which immediately exposes their contradicting beliefs. The rest of the episode continued to challenge Scully’s skepticism by reinforcing Mulder’s theories, both unaware of the sinister conspiracy transpiring behind the scenes.
The X-Files reboot will focus on “two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents,” who form an unlikely bond as they take over a reactivated division dedicated to unexplained phenomena. It is very similar to the original show’s pilot premise, save for one detail — the reboot logline suggests that both FBI agents are taking on the X-Files fresh. In the 1993 original’s pilot, Mulder is already deeply invested in the X-Files before Scully comes in to debunk his investigation. Scully is assigned to the X-Files so her superiors can find a way to close Mulder’s division.
The new series is off to an impressive start with key creatives involved in the project. Coogler has consulted the original show’s creator, Chris Carter, and original series writer Vince Gilligan. Patel and co-star Danielle Deadwyler have also proven they can carry a television series with HBO’s acclaimed drama Station Eleven. Much of the reboot pilot is also filmed in Vancouver, which should emulate the mood of the original show. Offering a unique approach to TV procedurals, The X-Files reboot could revive the sci-fi paranormal niche popularized by Millennium, Fringe, Medium, and Evil.
The X-Files reboot starts with a clean slate, with Patel and Deadwyler confirmed to play new characters. The pilot plot remains a mystery, but it already looks promising given the stellar supporting ensemble — Amy Madigan (Weapons), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Ben Foster (Hell or High Water), Devery Jacobs (American Gods), Lochlyn Munro (Riverdale), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Joel D. Montgrand (True Detective: Night Country), and Sofia Grace Clifton (The Muppets Mayhem) will appear in the episode with unconfirmed guest roles.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
