Ryan Coogler dedicates his new X-Files reboot to his mother

Ryan Coogler has a sentimental reason behind picking up the X-Files reboot, and it's all because of his mother. The director opened up to Variety about his next project, during Cinespia's Sinners screening, and dedicated the film to his mother, who, according to Coogler, has been a longtime fan of the franchise.

Speaking to the outlet, Coogler said,

“Like my relationship with ‘Rocky’ with my dad, ‘The X-Files’ is one of those things with my mom. My mom means the world to me — she’s actually here tonight — so this is a big one for me. I want to do right by her and the fans. My mom has read some of the stuff I wrote for it. She’s fired up.”

The director was present for the screening of Sinners, which quickly became one of the year's most successful films, thanks to Coogler's direction and a phenomenal dual performance by Michael B. Jordan who is now a part of Oscar buzz. The film follows Jordan as twins Smoke and Stack who open a juke club for Blacks in their small town but soon enough an unexpected guest shows up at the door.

More details about the X-Files reboot

More than three decades after Mulder and Scully first chased shadows in the dark, The X-Files is coming back, this time under the sharp eye of Black Panther and Creed director Ryan Coogler. His reboot aims to breathe new life into one of TV’s most enduring mythologies, trading the cold blue tones of 1990s paranoia for a slick, modern vision built on mystery, fear, and yes, diversity.

Originally debuting in 1993, The X-Files followed FBI agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder as they tackled cases no one else dared to believe in, alien abductions, government conspiracies, monsters in the dark. It became a cultural phenomenon, spanning nine seasons, two feature films, spinoffs, comics, and a 2016 revival that reminded fans why “The truth is out there” never lost its edge. But after David Duchovny left in season 7 and Gillian Anderson followed a year later, the show’s spark dimmed.

Then in 2023, good news reached the surface as original creator Chris Carter revealed that Ryan Coogler was working on a reboot with Disney. As reports were confirmed, more details slipped out. Coogler's version reportedly features a diverse case and a fresh storyline, and there are chances that the original actors Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny will also be a part of the project.

Fans have been reacting to the reboot with diverse opinions, with some trusting Coogler's vision and some calling the reboot unnecessary, considering the last projects failed to impress the audience. However, with Coogler at the helm, the film could take a totally different shape that could bring back the glory of the original show.