Fans have patiently been waiting for any sign a return of Mulder and Scully since the release of 2008’s The X-Files: I Want to Believe. The film wasn’t the most well accepted upon release, and fans felt let down that the film didn’t deal with the core mythology the show had dealt with for so long, leaving lingering questions unanswered. With no sign of return for some time, it began to look bleak. But last year, Chris Carter, the show’s creator, seemed optimistic about a return. Not long after, Fox began mulling around the idea of bringing the series back to its roots on television.
Now it seems the truth is indeed out there, as Fox has commissioned a six episode limited series return of The X-Files, with Chris Carter returning as the series show runner. Also returning alongside Carter are series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, who will once again be playing Mulder and Scully, the roles they originated in 1993.
Fox has announced that the deals are now set in place for the show to return, and had this to add:
The X-Files’ was not only a seminal show for both the studio and the network, it was a worldwide phenomenon that shaped pop culture — yet remained a true gem for the legions of fans who embraced it from the beginning. Few shows on television have drawn such dedicated fans as ‘The X-Files’ and we’re ecstatic to give them the next thrilling chapter of Mulder and Scully they’ve been waiting for.
Carter also added:
I think of it as a 13-year commercial break. The good news is the world has only gotten that much stranger, a perfect time to tell these six stories.
The show is set to film this summer, with no word on when it’ll air, but a late 2015 or early 2016 date seems likely. This shouldn’t be too surprising, as bringing back shows for a limited run seems all the rage right now. With 24: Live Another Day doing so well for Fox last year, the return of Twin Peaks on the horizon, and Heroes: Reborn coming to NBC later this year, it’s a perfect time to revisit The X-Files. There’s still a lot to do with the characters, and I’m glad to see Fox has decided in investing in another season of the series.
It’ll be interesting to see if this return will be limited to six episodes to finish the series completely, or if will be the first in a number of limited run seasons. Right now, I’m going to lean towards the former, only because fans have been clamoring for a proper end of the series and its mythology for so long, but it’s also the kind of show I could see returning every few years, as long as the cast and Carter are up for it. If the show proves to do well, we could see a limited run every few years, which could be a lot of fun. The idea of a limited series is better too, because it keeps the storytelling confined and streamlined, cutting a lot of fluff and fat, and just telling the story that needs to be told.
I’m really quite excited to see that we’re getting a chance to reunite with Mulder and Scully again, and I can’t wait to see what Carter has cooked up for the show’s return. The X-Files was a big part of growing up for me, so I’ll be waiting patiently for more news on where this is headed.