Ryan Cooglerdelivered acritically acclaimed, commercially successful, cultural phenomenonwithSinners, which has the entire industry buzzing about his next project. That project is a reboot ofThe X-Files, and Coogler recently outlined his vision when he was a guest onLast Podcast onthe Left, saying: “I’ve been excited about that for a long time and I’m fired up to get back to it….Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f**king scary.”
If anyone could deliver thrills that outstrip the original version ofThe X-Files, it would be Coogler; the opening scene ofSinnersis packed with plenty of quick, horrifying flashes of the bloodshed that awaits twins Stack and Smoke (Michael B. Jordan), along with their friends and family. However, given Coogler’s work on blockbuster films like theCreedandBlack Pantherfranchises,he could also bring a much-needed update to the reboot.
‘Sinners’ Shows That Ryan Coogler Can Tackle the Same Dynamic of ‘The X-Files’
The biggest draw ofThe X-Files, other than the paranormal events that drive the series, is the rapport between FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). The two couldn’t be more different: Mulder is obsessed with conspiracies and proving that aliens walk among us, while Scully is fairly skeptical about the supernatural and often uses her medical expertise to make sense of the strange cases they face.Sinnersfeatures a similar dynamic between Smoke and his estranged wife Annie (Wumni Mosaku). At the same time, Annie believes in the supernatural, and Smoke’s experiences in the military and with the mafia have convinced him that money is the only true power in the world. Following the assault by Remmick (Jack O’Connell) and his newly turned army of vampires, both of their skills come in handy — Annie knows the vampires' weaknesses. At the same time, Smoke’s military training helps give him the edge in the fight against the undead.
Coogler could absolutely capture the same dynamic that Mulder and Scully had in the originalX-Files, andhe could potentially do it with a new set of characters. Not only would it keep things fresh, but if he chooses to go outside the box and cast black leads, it could add a new layer to that dynamic. How would the idea of an FBI agent chasing aliens or a scientist trying to prove that the supernatural is real change if you had black or POC leads? It’s an approach that genre shows likeSleepy Hollowhave taken, but unlikeSleepy Hollow,Coogler could actually follow through on that promise. Casting new leads would also make this newX-Filesfeel like its own show, rather than leaning on established characters. After all, Mulder and Scully weren’t the only FBI agents who encountered strange events in the originalX-Files.This new series could explore what happens when other agents are assigned similar cases.
Dear Hollywood, Put Down Your Smoothies and Pay Attention to Ryan Coogler’s Press Run for ‘Sinners'
Take notes, Hollywood.
Ryan Coogler’s Filmography Has Tackled Myths and Legends, Which Is Perfect for ‘The X-Files'
A recurring element throughout Ryan Coogler’s body of work, and one that makes him the perfect fit for anX-Filesreboot,is how he tackles the idea of legends and otherworldly elements.Sinnersdoesn’t just feature vampires, but also tackles the idea of magic as Smoke and Stack’s cousin Sammie (Miles Caton) is able to use his gift for music to pierce the veil between life and death…and even time,resulting in a trippy but compelling sequence. TheBlack Pantherfilms are centered on legacy, as the mantle of the Black Panther is passed down to Wakanda’s rules; Coogler also incorporated various elements of African culture into the world of Wakanda, and did the same for Mayan culture when it came time to craft the underwater kingdom Talokan inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever.
EvenCreedis a story about legends: the legacy that Adonis Creed is trying to outrun, and the one he ends up building for himself. With that in mind,Coogler could likelylook to other cultures' myths and legends when trying to find new threatsfor theX-Filesreboot. It doesn’t just have to be aliens; what about thechupacabra, the vampiric boogeyman that’s a staple of Latin American myth, or a Native American skinwalker? Suppose Coogler leans into exploring other myths throughout history. In that case, he’s bound to find some genuinely terrifying monsters, while also keeping the general idea of strange events that underlie the originalX-Files.
An ‘X-Files’ Alum Is Interested in Returning for the Reboot
Even though Ryan Coogler’s aiming to have a fresh start with theX-Filesreboot,one of the original series' cast members is interested in working with him. Gillian Anderson said she’s talked to Coogler about the reboot, andeven expressed interest in potentially returning: “I have spoken to him, and what I said was, ‘If anyone were to do it, I think you would be the perfect person’, and ‘Best of luck, best of luck. Call me.’ If the phone rings, and it’s good, and it feels like the right time… perhaps. That’s what I said.”
Some reboots often bring back cast members from the original show in either their classic roles or an entirely new character, so it’s not a stretch to imagine Anderson showing up in some capacity. The latter approach would be best, as it would be a strong connection to the originalX-Filesand let her flex her dramatic chops. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but afterSinners, I’m genuinely excited to see what Coogler is bringing to the table with this new version ofThe X-Files.
The originalX-Filesis streaming on Hulu in the U.S.
The X-Files
