But, arguably, the biggest news of the marathon two-week event came
from the Fox executive session, when Dana Walden and Gary Newman told
the assembled reporters that they were in talks to bring Chris Carter’s iconic series The X-Files back to the small screen.
The
internet, of course, exploded. In between the accurate reports from
those organisations with staffers or freelancers on the ground came
poorly sourced articles claiming that either 1) OH CRAP THIS IS A REBOOT
or 2) THIS IS DEFINITELY HAPPENING and in one case 3) ITS BOTH, CUE FAN
FLAIL.
To clear a few things up, let me say this plainly; none of
the above three statements are true. So here is what we do know, from
both the TCAs and other sources, about this new X-Files series:
This proposed series is not a reboot. Now, let me repeat that because it
bears repeating: THIS IS NOT A REBOOT. What is being considered here
is, for lack of a better term, a revival. (And, no, unhelpful Twitter
trolls, a reboot, a remake and a revival are NOT the same thing). This
would be a limited series revival (8-13 episodes) in the same vein as
Fox’s successful 24: Live Another Day.
Discussions between Chris Carter’s camp and Fox have been taking
place, off and on, over the past few months but aren’t remotely close to
closing, with the two “far apart” on an agreement. That said, both
sides are said to be optimistic about reaching a deal in the coming
weeks/months.
Once that has happened, it will become a matter of scheduling:
- Gillian is a regular on NBC’s Hannibal, and is the star and executive producer of BBC Two’s The Fall,
- David Duchovny plays the lead in NBC’s Aquarius,
- Chris Carter may be free and clear since the demise of The After (his AMC project Area 51 has all but stalled, sources say),
- Frank Spotnitz, who has been keeping busy with numerous projects including Transporter: The Series and Man In The High Castle.
If indeed true, that may well mean that Fox is talking about doing a limited series to cap off The X-Files in
lieu of a third feature film, which fans have been campaigning for
since 2008. Regardless, it would seem that if things go as insiders
believe they will, X-Files fans will be getting their series back on-air by fall 2017.
[Source]