Fox’s new agenda is looking a lot like their old one. Confirming some prior reports, the network’s leadership says they are seriously chasing a reboot of “The X-Files” and are possibly interested in bringing back “Prison Break” too (along with yet another edition of “24” as well — but that’s another story).
Gillian Anderson & David Duchovny in “The X-Files”
On “The X-Files” front, Fox chairman and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman say they have been in talks with series creator Chris Carter about reviving the supernatural procedural, which was a major hit for the network from 1993 to 2002. The executives also revealed they hope to have original series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their roles on the show.
“The X-Files” is an American science fiction horror drama television series created by Chris Carter. The program originally aired from 1993 – 2002 on Fox, spanning 9 whole seasons and 202 episodes. The series revolves around FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (played by David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (played by Gillian Anderson) investigating X-Files: marginalised, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena.
Mulder believes in the existence of aliens and the paranormal while Scully, a skeptic, is assigned to make scientific analyses of Mulder’s discoveries to debunk his work and thus return him to mainstream cases. Early in the series, both agents become pawns in a larger conflict and come to trust only each other. They develop a close relationship, which begins as a platonic friendship, but becomes a romance by series end.
One thing all 3 (“The X-Files”, “Prison Break”, “24”) titles have in common is they’re properties of 20th Century Fox Television, which Walden and Newman ran prior to adding the Fox broadcast network to their plate last year.
Note: Kiefer Sutherland recently returned to “24” for a 12-episode special titled, “Live Another Day” (also known as S9 or “Day 9″, which was set 4 years after the events of S8 (also known as “Day 8″).
Cast of “24” S1 including lead Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer)
“It’s true that we’ve had some conversations on X-Files,” Newman said. “We’re hopeful of being able to bring that back at some point.”
Walden added:
Gary and I both worked [at 20th Century Fox Television] through the entire run of The X Files. It was a great experience. We’ve maintained good relationships with Chris, David and Gillian. We’re very hopeful, but it’s hard. The actors are very busy. They have a lot going on. Chris has a lot on his plate, so it’s just trying to carve out the time.
Amazon recently declined to make Carter’s new post-apocalyptic series project “The After”, so the writer-producer may be more open to revisiting his past. More problematic is that David Duchovny has an upcoming NBC event series, Aquarius, while Gillian Anderson has a recurring role on NBC’s “Hannibal“.
Both actors would presumably have to get contractually clear of their commitments to Fox’s rival before signing onto an X-Files relaunch.
Wentworth Miller in “Prison Break”
As for “Prison Break”, the team sounded more skeptical of a reboot coming together, but also very interested.
“There is some speculation in the press about Prison Break, which honestly was slightly news to us,” Newman said. “Although we’ve made it clear over the years to the studio that we would bring Prison Break back in a heartbeat. It’s probably the perfect event series. If our old partners in that show are interested, that would be great.”
It wasn’t clear if the executives planned to do “Prison Break” with a new cast or not, but the show’s stars Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller are currently recurring as villains on The CW’s “The Flash“.