Gillian Anderson Praises Ryan Coogler’s X-Files Pilot Script

During a conversation with Hannah Einbinder on Entertainment Tonight, the 57-year-old actress expressed her admiration for Coogler’s vision. She described the script as brilliant, noting that it manages to capture the familiar atmosphere of the original series while carving out a distinct identity. Her comments arrive as Hulu moves forward with the pilot, which was ordered in early 2026 to evaluate the viability of a full series.

Coogler, known for his work on Black Panther and Sinners, has been attached to the franchise since 2023. His approach to the material is rooted in lifelong fandom, with the director previously promising that the revival aims to deliver a genuinely unsettling experience. The project, backed by Onyx Collective and 20th Television, features a new cast including Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel, with original creator Chris Carter serving as an executive producer alongside showrunner Jennifer Yale.

Anderson, who starred alongside David Duchovny for the show’s legendary run, has consistently signaled openness toward the reboot. While she has joked about the potential for a cameo, she maintains that her participation remains an open question. Reflecting on the impact of her breakout role as Dana Scully, she acknowledged the show as a career-defining force that provided a rare, empowering representation of women on television during the 1990s.