Mitch Pileggi Previews Skinner's Return

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter , Pileggi explained his reaction when he found out that “The X-Files” revival is in progress: “My tho...

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Pileggi explained his reaction when he found out that “The X-Files” revival is in progress: “My thought was, ‘I wonder if they’re going to call?’ [‘The X-Files’ creator Chris Carter] didn’t tell me I was in the second movie until halfway through shooting it; they’re shooting the movie, and Chris is like, ‘You’re in the movie.’ And I was like, [Joking] ‘Oh, really? Thanks for the info.'”

The actor explained that “The X-Files” and his character have always been a great part of his professional life, stating, “I was ready to do whatever they wanted me to do. It’s a great character, a great show, and the excitement about it coming back is palpable. It’s a huge part of my life. And it’s a huge part of my career.”

“I told Chris, ‘I owe a huge part of my career to you, and to Wes Craven.’ [Craven wrote/directed the 1989 film, Shocker, which Pileggi starred in.] Those two people are the most instrumental people in any success I’ve had. So it’s very important to me.”

Pileggi added that Skinner is the one who motivates Mulder to get back: “Them [agents] being back in the picture, he has this connection with them, and it’s a very important connection; he’s attached to them. He’s also telling Mulder, there’s shit going on out there, and you need to do something about it. Things, perhaps, I don’t know how to do — paths you know how to follow that I don’t. And methods you use that I don’t. It’s just the nature of who Mulder is — Skinner says, ‘You need to figure this shit out.'”