Chris Carter believes David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson could both return as Mulder and Scully in Ryan Coogler’s upcoming The X-Files series. The possibility suggests the new show may remain connected to the original continuity rather than starting from scratch.
Coogler, director of Black Panther and Sinners, is developing the reboot with Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel announced as its new leads. However, key questions remain about the setting, timeline and relationship to the earlier series.
That uncertainty has given fans plenty to debate. Will the new agents investigate an entirely separate version of the paranormal world, or will their cases unfold in the same universe established by the original show? The possible return of familiar characters could provide an important answer.
Chris Carter expects Mulder and Scully to appear
Carter discussed the project while speaking about the director’s cut of the 2008 film The X-Files: I Want to Believe. That revised version is scheduled to arrive on Hulu and Disney Plus on 14 August 2026.
Asked whether the new series could continue the stories of Agent Mulder and Agent Scully, Carter indicated that Anderson is expected to be involved and that Duchovny may also appear. His comments amounted to a strong assumption rather than confirmation from the production itself.
“At least Gillian, I think, is going to appear in the Coogler version. And I’m assuming David will too, so you will see Mulder and Scully there.”
Carter also made clear that he has not yet watched the reboot. As a result, his view is not an official announcement of the cast or the characters’ roles. If his expectation proves accurate, though, the project would seemingly share continuity with the original series.
A future for the original agents
The prospect of a returning Mulder and Scully raises another question: could Coogler’s series make a further continuation of the original show more difficult? Carter said he would need to see the new production before knowing whether the two projects would compete or complement one another.
For fans who follow the latest arcade and gaming news, this is the kind of franchise development that can keep a long-running property in conversation well beyond its original run. The X-Files’ investigative structure and unsettling imagery have also made it a natural fit for fans of arcade light-gun shooters and other suspenseful screen-based experiences.
Carter has not ruled out returning to the franchise himself. He said he would like to make either another reboot or another film, although he has not decided whether his ideas are better suited to television or cinema.
“I have big plans.”
He did not explain whether those plans involve a conclusion for Mulder and Scully, a new case, or another interpretation of the franchise. What he did communicate is that he remains committed to bringing the two agents back in some form.
What the reboot’s continuity could mean
Until Coogler’s series is shown, the exact status of the original characters remains unconfirmed. Carter’s remarks nevertheless point towards a version of the reboot that acknowledges the established history instead of ignoring it completely.
That approach could allow Deadwyler and Patel to lead a fresh investigation while leaving room for appearances by Duchovny and Anderson. It may also give the new series a bridge between its modern direction and the mythology that defined the earlier production.
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The X-Files: I Want to Believe director’s cut is scheduled for release on Hulu and Disney Plus on 14 August 2026. The Ryan Coogler reboot’s release details were not provided.
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