The Truth Is Still Out There: Everything We Know About Ryan Coogler’s X-Files Reboot

Hulu greenlights Ryan Coogler’s ‘The X-Files’ reboot starring Danielle Deadwyler. Get the latest on the cast, showrunner, and filming details for the diverse reimagining.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 12:38 PM EDT

Source: People

A Fresh Dynamic: The New Lead and Plot

In February 2026, Danielle Deadwyler (Till, The Piano Lesson) was confirmed as the series' first co-lead. Deadwyler will play one of two "highly decorated but vastly different" FBI agents. According to the official logline, the pair will form an unlikely bond when assigned to a "long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena." While Deadwyler’s specific character details remain under wraps, her casting signals a departure from the traditional Mulder-Scully archetype, favoring a new investigative duo that reflects a more modern, diverse FBI.

Creative Leadership and the Pilot Order

The reboot is being shepherded by an impressive creative team. Jennifer Yale (The Copenhagen Test, See, Outlander) has been tapped as the showrunner and executive producer. Ryan Coogler is personally writing and directing the pilot episode, a task he reportedly accelerated following the massive awards success of his 2025 supernatural thriller Sinners. Original series creator Chris Carter is attached as an executive producer, though he has described his role as that of a "cheerleader," giving Coogler his full blessing to evolve the franchise.

Filming Details and Vancouver Roots

In a nod to the franchise's heritage, production for the pilot is scheduled to take place from May through June 2026 in Vancouver. The first five seasons of the original series were famously filmed in British Columbia, providing the show with its iconic, foggy atmosphere. Casting grids for the pilot suggest the premiere episode may center on a case involving Indigenous communities, with several roles specifically seeking Indigenous actors to portray characters linked to an investigation involving a missing woman and a 10-year-old girl named Salkow.