After months of online speculation and years of badgering by fans, this week Fox TV finally confirmed a six-episode return of the hugely popular X-Files series.
Production is set to start this summer, although an official air date has not yet been released.
Series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson have both signed on, with Anderson tweeting on Tuesday: "Mulder, it's me. Are you ready?"
The message was a cute homage to her character on the show who would often announce a similar phrase into her (very large by today's standards) cellphone to her on-screen partner.
Duchovny followed up with his own tweet: "I hope my suit still fits."
Series creator and writer Chris Carter is also on board for the reboot and called the gap since the show ended a "13-year commercial break."
In case you weren't yet born or were living under a rock during the '90s, The X-Files was a phenomenon that premiered in 1993, lasted nine seasons and spawned two (one pretty good and one not so good) movies. It was filmed in and around Vancouver for the first five seasons and then moved to California for the final four.
The show tells the story of two FBI agents, one a psychologist who investigates paranormal activity, and one a medical doctor brought in to debunk his theories.
Duchovny plays Fox Mulder, the believer, and Anderson is Dana Scully, the non-believer.
(Warning: spoilers ahead)
Although they started off with opposing viewpoints, throughout the course of the show the characters ended up meeting in the middle, with Scully conceding she had experienced things science couldn't explain and Mulder accepting that not everything has a supernatural slant.
The first five seasons of the The X-Files were a ratings juggernaut, with millions of viewers staying home Friday nights to watch the paranormal play out on the small screen.
However, although it managed to win three Emmys, the seventh season marked the decline of the show as it was the last to feature series star David Duchovny in a full-time role. His character was replaced by another agent (ably played by Terminator 2 alum Robert Patrick) after presumably being abducted by aliens (it's a long story). Duchovny would return intermittently after that, but the change in cast coincided with a marked change in the ratings.
Some have argued the show took a downturn after moving production to California, but production values were still high and location didn't change the fact that the show had stagnated.
It seemed to peak by the fifth season in 1998, which is also when the first movie (Fight the Future) was released, and meandered downhill after that.
By then Carter's "monster-of-the-week" approach was wearing thin, and the very popular mythology themes that had weaved throughout the various seasons and introduced an over-arching conspiracy involving shadow governments, alien super soldiers and black oil (another long story), had become convoluted.
Most importantly, though, the relationship between Mulder and Scully had stalled. The relationship was what drove the show, and Duchovny and Anderson possessed a natural chemistry on screen that translated into high ratings among a broader audience beyond the regular sci-fi crowd.
But while a deeper connection was hinted at, and the pair occasionally dared to touch hands, the relationship remained undefined and eventually became boring.
Explicitly choosing friendship or romance would have been preferable to the nebulous carrot that was dangled in front of audiences for too many years leading many to lose interest.
Presumably realizing the error of his ways, Carter tried to make amends in the final season with Scully giving birth to Mulder's baby, after no mention of the two consciously coupling. It was a confusing time for die-hard fans.
The Fox network is touting the new six episodes as the "next chapter," so they will likely pick up where the show left off.
While this is good news, it also raises a few questions: With Alex Krycek and the Smoking Man dead (or is he?) who will fans love to hate? The Lone Gunmen are also dead, so there goes the geek factor. The X-Files are officially shut down and neither Scully nor Mulder work for the FBI any more, so there's that. And what about William? What about William?
Update: Since this story was written, David Duchovny has confirmed to a New York Times reporter that the show will be shooting in Vancouver this summer.
This story has been modified from the original posting to reflect updated information about where the show will be filming.
Contact Rosalind Duane at [email protected].
