Love for The X-Files didn’t wane in the decade-plus that the series was off the air, so it’s no surprise that Fox is interested in more of the recent revival series. Fox TV Group Chairs Dana Walden and Gary Newman recently opened up about a potential next installment in the event series, and they painted a pretty rosy picture.
“We have had conversations with (creator) Chris Carter and (stars) David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson,” Walden said during an upfront press call, according to Deadline. “I believe everyone is on board to do another installment of the show.”
Fans should settle in for another wait, though. Sure, it won’t be quite so bad as the nearly 14 years it took for us to get a revival, but a second installment won’t come as quickly as many would hope. Walden indicated that an announcement probably wouldn’t come until “this time next year.” Newman reinforced that message, adding that “it shouldn’t be anything you anticipate before the 17-18 season,” according to E! Online.
The holdup, it seems, is the status of Duchovny and Anderson, who play the beloved onscreen duo of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Although Walden reassured fans that the actors want to make more of the series, scheduling is definitely a factor. Duchovny also stars in the NBC period crime drama Aquarius, after all, while Anderson has kept busy with roles in the BBC serial War & Peace and the upcoming film Viceroy House.
Fortunately, X-Files fans have proven patient. Not only did the revival series draw strong ratings, it was one of Fox’s top performers last season, as Deadline points out. You can have too much of a good thing, so perhaps the anticipation will make the next installment in the revival series even sweeter.