‘The X-Files’ reboot scores Hulu pilot and ‘The Piano Lesson’ star lands fearless FBI lead
After years of whispers and near-misses, the long-brewing revival of 'The X-Files' is officially moving forward. According to Deadline, Ryan Coogler’s reimagining of the iconic sci-fi franchise has landed a pilot greenlight at Hulu. And yes, it’s very real this time. Even better? Danielle Deadwyler has signed on as the co-lead. The actress, who drew attention for her work in ‘The Piano Lesson,’ will step into the world of the FBI to solve unexplained cases as one half of a new investigative duo. The series is being produced by Onyx Collective and 20th Television.
Coogler isn’t just attaching his name and walking away. He’s writing and directing the pilot himself. In this new version, two federal agents, who are poles apart in terms of personality and approach, are assigned to a long-abandoned division dedicated to cases involving strange, unexplainable phenomena. Deadwyler will portray one of those agents, adding intensity and nuance to the role. She will be seen joining hands with her partner as they navigate eerie cases while striving to find common ground. Behind the scenes, the creative team is stacking up. Jennifer Yale, known for her work on ‘The Copenhagen Test’, has joined the series as showrunner. She will also executive produce alongside original franchise creator Chris Carter.
Coogler is executive producing as well, along with Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler under their Proximity Media banner. This revival has been circling the runway for a while. Carter first mentioned in 2023 that he had spoken with Coogler about mounting a fresh take with a more “diverse cast.” At the time, Carter admitted that revisiting the property wouldn’t be easy, noting that, “He’s got his work cut out for him because we covered so much territory.” And that’s putting it mildly.
The original ‘The X-Files’ premiered on Fox in 1993 and quickly became a cultural obsession. Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny starred as Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, respectively. They investigated everything from alien abductions and government conspiracies to creatures that lurked in the dark corners of America. The show ran for nine seasons, launched two feature films, ‘The X-Files’ and ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe’, and even returned for a two-season revival in 2016. Coogler confirmed his involvement publicly during an appearance on Last Podcast on the Left in April 2025.
He sounded genuinely pumped about revisiting the franchise, teasing that “Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f*cking scary.” He also made it clear that the goal isn’t just nostalgia. The hope is to honor longtime fans while also pulling in viewers who might not have grown up with Mulder and Scully posters on their bedroom walls. In his words, “We’re gonna try to make something really great and really be something for the real ‘X-Files’ fans, and maybe find some new ones.”
