A new cover story in Entertainment Weekly has revealed the first details about the six-episode revival of The X-Files. The show isn't expected to premiere until early 2016, but here are the crucial bits gleaned from the article (the full version of which is available only in the printed magazine).
First, David Duchovny's Fox Mulder is in "a dark, dark place," according to the actor. Photos in the magazine show him in drab clothing and an unkempt, stubble-y appearance. Mulder's office is now in his living room. That's right: his living room, not their. Mulder and Scully are no longer living together. At least part of this is because Mulder has become convinced that the alien conspiracy "might not be what he thought it was."
It's an easy guess to make that his disillusionment may stem from the scheduled December 2012 date as the start of the alien invasion — a date that came and went without incident.
As for Scully, EW notes that she's "looking more put-together," and there's one photo of Gillian Anderson in Scully's trademark scrubs. Anderson (who's red hair is actually a wig!) notes that she likes "where we find Mulder and Scully in their relationship," further hinting at big developments there, but also that she's enjoying how the show is once again looking at current, paranoia-friendly issues like protection-vs.-privacy. It's a tactic the show used regularly back in the day.
The first episode is titled "My Struggle," according to a photo of the script's cover page, and it finds Mulder and Scully pulled back into the paranormal investigation biz by Joel McHale's conservative talk show host, Tad O'Malley. The magazine even hints that the duo could get their marching orders from O'Malley on an ongoing basis. In the premiere episode, Mulder and Scully investigate a case of alien abduction that bears striking similarities to Scully's abduction (from Season 2 of the original show). A woman named Sveta is the abductee in question, played by actress Annet Mahendru.
The second episode is called "Home Again," but it's not a sequel to Season 4's "Home." It's a completely new story, as are the other five episodes. Don't bother hoping for sequels or follow-ups, aside from the alien invasion mythology, which is expected to be the focus of the first and last episodes — both of which are being written and directed by show creator Chris Carter.
The fourth episode is written by fan-favorite Darin Morgan, who wrote the cult hits "Clive Bruckman's Final Repose" and "Jose Chung's From Outer Space." His entry here is called "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster."
Darin's brother Glen is writing and directing one episode, as is his writing partner James Wong. Also confirmed: the returns of Mitch Pileggi (FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner) and William B. Davis (the Cigarette Smoking Man, despite being blown to smithereens in the original series finale).
So why are they making only six episodes, instead of the new standard for "event TV," twelve or thirteen? EW says it came down purely to the availability limitations of Duchovny and Anderson. Also noted: Both actors and Carter are open to doing another season.
Pick up the July 3, 2015 print edition of Entertainment Weekly for more, and to see all of the magazine's exclusive on-set photos.
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