The X Files’ Gillian Anderson is open to reboot comeback as Dana Scully (2024)

Thrilling trailer for season 11 of 'The X Files'

The X Files reboot is underway and original actress Gillian Anderson has made a U-turn on returning to the hit drama.

Starring Anderson as FBI Agent Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Fox Mulder, The X Files saw the pair investigate unsolved cases with possible “out of this world” explanations.

The show ran for nine seasons between 1993 and 2002 before it was revived 14 years later and was last seen in 2018.

In January of that year, the 55-year-old actress confirmed she had quit the role of Scully with no intention of reprising the part.

She told The Hollywood Reporter: “It's time for me to hang up Scully's hat. It just is. I'm finished, and that's the end of that.”

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The X Files’ original star Gillian Anderson open to returning as Dana Scully for reboot. (Image: FOX/GETTY)

Since then, Anderson has taken on a number of other memorable roles, from Dr Jean Millburn in Sex Education to Margaret Thatcher in Netflix’s The Crown.

She is also at the heart of the controversial drama Scoop as journalist Emily Maitlis who interviewed Prince Andrew in 2019 on his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The reboot for The X Files was announced last year and it has since come out that the Black Panther and Creed director Ryan Coogler is on board.

This one factor has encouraged Anderson to change her mind about returning to the show that launched her global popularity.

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Director Ryan Coogler has reportedly started work on The X Files reboot. (Image: GETTY)

Talking to The Mirror, Anderson said: “I think [Ryan is] is really cool and it would probably be done incredibly well. And maybe I'll pop in for a little something.”

She also spoke earlier this week on the US talk show Today, explaining: "It’s so funny because for most of my life since I finished 'The X-Files,' every interview I do, people have asked, and the answer has always been: ‘Nope, not going to happen.’

"Now, Ryan Coogler, who’s the director of Black Panther, brilliant, brilliant director, has approached ('X-Files' creator) Chris Carter to say that he wants to do a take on it.”

When asked if she would return to the show, Anderson surprisingly commented: “There’s a chance it will happen.

“Whether I’m involved in it is a whole other thing."

The X Files ran for nine seasons before returning for two more years in 2016. (Image: FOX)

“But in his hands — but I’m not saying no — because I think [Coogler] is really cool, and I think if he did it, it would probably be done incredibly well, and maybe I’ll pop in for a little somethin-somethin.”

As of yet, there has been no official confirmation that The X Files is in production, although in February, Carter did confirm that it was still on the table.

So fans will just have to wait and see to find out when the sci-fi crime drama series will return and if Scully is going to be back in action.

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