Ryan Coogler’s long-gestating reboot of The X-Files has been given a pilot order at Hulu, with Danielle Deadwyler attached as a co-lead and Jennifer Yale set to run the series. The pilot, produced by Onyx Collective and 20th Television, will be written and directed by Coogler and reunites key creative partners from his Proximity Media banner. The project, which has been in development for roughly three years, sits inside Coogler’s five-year exclusive television deal with Disney, Hulu’s parent company. The announcement marks a notable move for the franchise as it seeks new audiences while acknowledging its legacy.
Key Takeaways
- Hulu has ordered a pilot for a Ryan Coogler-led reboot of The X-Files; the project is being developed by Onyx Collective and 20th Television under Coogler’s Disney TV deal.
- Actress Danielle Deadwyler is set as a co-lead, playing one of two highly decorated but contrasting FBI agents assigned to an old division that investigates unexplained phenomena.
- Jennifer Yale has been named showrunner and will executive produce alongside Chris Carter, Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler; Simone Harris is co-executive producer.
- Coogler will write and direct the pilot; casting is being handled by Francine Maisler, the casting director behind Sinners.
- The announcement caps a roughly three-year development path and follows public comments from both Chris Carter and Coogler confirming talks and intent.
- Coogler’s recent film Sinners earned record recognition (16 Oscar nominations) and BAFTA wins, and has grossed over $365 million worldwide, elevating his profile for high-profile TV projects.
Background
The X-Files originally premiered on Fox in 1993 and ran for nine seasons, helping define 1990s genre television and spawning two feature films (1998 and 2008) as well as a 2016 revival that produced two additional seasons. Creator Chris Carter’s mix of serialized conspiracy and standalone paranormal stories established a durable fan base and a readable franchise template that new creative teams have repeatedly cited when considering reboots. Over the last decade, streaming platforms and legacy networks have explored revivals, reimaginings and continuations of iconic series as a hedge against audience fragmentation.
Ryan Coogler’s move into television production stems from his expanded relationship with Disney and a growing interest among filmmakers to translate cinematic sensibilities to serialized platforms. Coogler’s Proximity Media and collaborators bring production scale and a track record of large-audience films, creating an appetite at Hulu for prestige, franchise-driven content. At the same time, streaming executives have shifted toward pilot development in recent years, allowing platforms to test creative approaches before committing to full seasons.
Main Event
Hulu’s pilot order formalizes the next step for Coogler’s X-Files revival: Coogler will both write and direct the pilot, while Jennifer Yale will oversee the series as showrunner. Deadline reports the project is being developed by Onyx Collective and 20th Television, with Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler listed as executive producers and Simone Harris as a co-executive producer. Casting for the pilot is being conducted by Francine Maisler, known for her recent work on Sinners.
The creative premise centers on two veteran but stylistically different FBI agents who are assigned to a long-dormant division that investigates unexplained phenomena; Deadwyler is cast as one of those agents. The narrative framing follows the franchise’s procedural roots while signaling a refreshed ensemble and contemporary framing. The pilot order completes a roughly three-year development arc that moved forward as Coogler’s schedule cleared after his major film commitments.
Coogler has publicly discussed the project in podcast appearances and acknowledged conversations with original series creator Chris Carter; Carter has said Coogler intends a more diverse cast. While production timelines and additional casting details have not been announced, the pilot is positioned as a high-priority project within Coogler’s television slate under his Disney deal.
Analysis & Implications
The reboot represents a collision of franchise legacy and auteur-driven prestige television. Coogler’s public profile after Sinners — a film that achieved widespread awards recognition and robust box office returns — gives the reboot a commercial and awards-adjacent sheen that streaming services value. For Hulu, attaching a filmmaker of Coogler’s stature helps the platform compete for attention in a crowded streaming market and supports its recent preference for pilot-first development on flagship titles.
Artistically, the project faces the twin challenges of honoring long-standing mythology while updating the show for contemporary viewers. The original series thrived on the interplay between Mulder’s conspiracy-minded curiosity and Scully’s scientific skepticism; a successful reboot will need to reproduce compelling dynamic tension without merely replicating the original leads’ chemistry. Coogler and Yale’s involvement suggests a desire to blend cinematic scale with character-driven television storytelling.
There are also strategic considerations: placing the reboot under Onyx Collective and 20th Television ties it to Disney’s broader content strategy and potential cross-promotion on Hulu and other Disney channels. The pilot model reduces financial exposure if the concept fails to cohere, but it also increases the stakes for delivering a distinctive first episode that convinces both fans and executives to move to series. International distribution and franchise tie-ins (films, spin-offs) remain potential downstream opportunities if the pilot clears.
Comparison & Data
| Entry | Years | Seasons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Series | 1993–2002 | 9 | Established franchise mythology; spawned two feature films. |
| Feature Films | 1998, 2008 | — | Two theatrical releases tied to series’ continuity. |
| 2016 Revival | 2016–2018 | 2 | Short revival seasons on Fox exploring legacy storylines. |
| Coogler Reboot (pilot) | 2026 (pilot order) | Pilot | Hulu pilot ordered; creative led by Ryan Coogler and Jennifer Yale. |
The table situates the new pilot within the franchise’s history: multiple incarnations over three decades, alternating between long-form serial arcs and standalone episodes. The original run’s nine seasons set a durable template, while the 2016 revival demonstrated both renewed interest and the challenges of recapturing legacy momentum. The pilot-for-series model now used by Hulu is a variable that could either streamline creative development or delay a definitive return of the franchise.
Reactions & Quotes
Coogler said he’s enthusiastic about revisiting the material and wants to deliver work that honors longtime fans while drawing in new viewers.
Ryan Coogler (director/producer)
Chris Carter described early conversations with Coogler as promising and noted Coogler’s intent to assemble a more diverse cast.
Chris Carter (creator, The X-Files)
Jennifer Yale framed her role as showrunner around balancing serialized mythology with standalone stories that can sustain a franchise on a streaming platform.
Jennifer Yale (showrunner)
Unconfirmed
- Whether original stars Gillian Anderson or David Duchovny will appear in any capacity has not been confirmed despite reported conversations.
- There is no public schedule for pilot production, filming start date, or series pickup beyond the pilot order at this time.
- Additional principal cast members and the show’s eventual episodic format (serialized vs. procedural balance) remain unannounced.
Bottom Line
The Hulu pilot order for Ryan Coogler’s X-Files reboot signals a high-profile attempt to refresh a seminal genre property with auteur-driven scale and a commitment to diverse casting. Coogler’s creative leadership and recent mainstream success have given the project momentum, but the pilot model means the show must prove itself quickly to move forward into a full series.
For fans and industry observers, the pilot’s development will be a test of whether a contemporary reimagining can preserve the original’s core tensions—skepticism versus belief, procedural curiosity versus serialized conspiracy—while offering fresh perspectives. Key watch points in the coming months include additional casting, the pilot’s tone and structure, and whether the series can secure wider buy-in from legacy fans and new viewers alike.