We now know who’s stepping into the unknown alongside Danielle Deadwyler.
Himesh Patel has officially joined Hulu’s The X-Files reboot pilot, starring opposite Deadwyler in the Ryan Coogler-directed reimagining of the cult-classic sci-fi series. The project, which recently received a pilot greenlight, comes from Onyx Collective and 20th Television, with Jennifer Yale set as showrunner.
Patel and Deadwyler will lead as two new original characters, a pair of highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents assigned to a long-shuttered division investigating unexplained phenomena. While the premise echoes the DNA of the original, this iteration is carving out its own lane with fresh characters and a new entry point into the world.
Coogler, coming off Sinners, will write and direct the pilot under his Proximity Media banner alongside Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler. Simone Harris co-executive produces, with original X-Files creator Chris Carter also attached as an executive producer.
And while this is a reboot, the original universe isn’t being ignored.
According to Deadline, Gillian Anderson, who starred as Dana Scully, has already read the script and she’s not just co-signing it, she’s open to returning.
“He’s such a cool guy and so talented,” Anderson said of Coogler, adding that “the pilot script is really good.” She also teased that she’s had “a few conversations” with him, hinting that a return could be on the table.
She continued, “I would say, have an open mind and give it a chance because it’s gonna be f***ing cool. It’s something different. It’s different, and it’s special, so give it a break.”
That sentiment aligns with what Coogler previously shared about the tone of the series, promising something that honors longtime viewers while pushing the horror and mystery further. “Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f***ing scary,” he said.
The original The X-Files premiered in 1993 and ran for nine seasons, following FBI agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder as they investigated paranormal cases. It later expanded into films and a short-lived revival, but this marks the franchise’s most significant reinvention to date.
Industry-wise, this is a major swing. Pairing Deadwyler, who continues to build one of the most compelling filmographies working right now, with Patel, and anchoring the series under Coogler, signals Hulu is positioning this as more than nostalgia. It’s a prestige reset with franchise potential.
With casting now underway and early buzz building, the pilot will be a key test for whether The X-Files can evolve for a new generation without losing what made it iconic.