As fans gear up for the return of beloved series The X-Files, a 21 minute feature has been released giving us a mix of behind-the-scenes, new footage, interviews, and even some bloopers ahead of the big comeback. While the return of the show will be short-lived, at only six-episodes, this newly released preview has given us a close enough look at what’s in store to calm any nerves about it being anywhere close to a misstep like the disappointing 2008 film The X-Files: I Want to Believe – the last time we caught up with the endearing on-screen duo of Mulder and Scully.
“The series isn’t going to be good if it is only a victory lap, it has to be original and fresh”, says X-Files creator Chris Cater in the new feature, discussing the decision to bring the show back and how he has approached the story given that he has only six episodes to build on the incredibly complex mythology that was crafted over 9 seasons and 2 films.
“That was always important, to not play the same exact characters doing the same things, because 22 years have passed”, David Duchovny comments, discussing getting back into character after so long, along with Gillian Anderson who talks about re-acquainting herself with Scully and the dynamic she shares with Mulder.
We learn a few new things about this revival here, with some of the most notable being its sensitivity to current issues and how it revisits the personal life between Mulder and Scully, including their child, who was placed for adoption and – according to Scully – should be 15 years old now.
“So much has changed in the world, and the X-Files now gets a chance to tell stories from that perspective”, says Carter, going on to describe the current scope of technology and governmental surveillance, indicating that The X-Files will be very in-tune with what’s going on in the world right now.
We also hear from Joel McHale, who plays Tad O’Malley, a key character whose conspiracy theories “matches up exactly with Mulder’s”, leading to him seeking help from Mr Spooky. The Americans’ Annet Mahendru gets some airtime as well, giving us insight into her character, Sveta, who is supposedly “the key to everything” and an alien abductee who we meet in the first episode, which is titled “My Struggle” (a title which is repeated for episode six).
Other actors interviewed include Rhys Darby (of Flight of the Conchords fame) and a returning Mitch Pileggi, who reprises his role as A.D Skinner, and all three of The Lone Gunman (Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood, and Dean Haglund).
In the second half of the feature we look at what seems to be one of the most experience scenes in the new season, the crash-landing of a massive UFO, and just how many monsters, aliens, and actions we can expect in the stand-alone episodes.
Watch the video below and get ready for the new series, which is scheduled for a U.S premiere on 24th January 2016.
Everyone please watch it so they make more.
———-
