‘The X-Files’: Mulder and Scully Are Back to Chase the Truth Out There

Michael Schneider December 29, 2015, 2:00 pm

The X-Files - Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Fox Mulder — Ed Araquel/FOX

THE X-FILES: L-R: Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Fox Mulder. The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. C

It’s been nearly eight years since we last saw Fox Mulder and Dana Scully in the 2008 feature The X-Files: I Want to Believe. A lot has (or hasn’t) happened since then: Mulder and Scully are now estranged, aliens haven’t colonized Earth as promised and the Cigarette Smoking Man–whom we saw killed in the show’s fiery series finale–is somehow still alive! As Fox reboots The X-Files for a six-episode “event” series, the truth is…well, you know the drill.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are back in their iconic roles, but as they reopen the X-Files, they discover that everything they once wanted to believe may not be real. Series creator Chris Carter has brought back many of the original producers (including Glen Morgan, James Wong and Darin Morgan), as well as the original mix of mythology and standalone episodes. (The middle four “monster of the week” episodes will be bookended by installments that put a new spin on the show’s long-running conspiracy storyline.) “I hope the hardcore fans are satisfied,” Carter says. “They’re the reason we’re back.”

New faces include Joel McHale as an Internet conspiracy wacko who may actually have insight into the truth, plus Rhys Darby, Kumail Nanjiani, Robbie Amell and Lauren Ambrose. Mitch Pileggi reprises his role as FBI assistant director Walter Skinner and, yes, William B. Davis is back as the infamous Smoking Man. “Except for Watergate, I haven’t experienced a time when we have less trust in our government and our representatives,” Carter says. “That’s an interesting time to be telling X-Files stories.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1SmJUBT5q0

The X-Files, Premieres Sunday, Jan. 24, 10/9c, Fox (after the NFC Championship game)