New X-Files Episodes Coming in 2018?

When Fox brought back their iconic sci-fi seriesThe X-Fileswith a brand new six-episode event series, the show’s global launch set a newratings record, with over 50 million viewers watching the premiere in over 80 countries. Since then, there has been plenty of talk about a potential return for another season. Series creatorChris Carterstated in February that he had already started talks with the network, while Fox Television chairmanDana Waldenteasing in May that a new season will happen, and that he hopes to offer an official announcement by this May. Fox held their TCA Winter Tour panel today, and while a new season isn’t completely set in stone, a deal may be in place soon.

Entertainment Weeklyreports that, during the TCA panel session, Fox presidentDavid Maddensaid that the deals that need to be made are “complex,” due to the schedules of starsDavid DuchovnyandGillian Anderson, although he expected the network, “to have an announcement shortly.” He added after the panel that he was hoping to have the deals in place to make an official announcement during the panel, but the deals couldn’t quite be worked out yet. For those who thought the six-episode event series was too short, you may be getting some good news with the official announcement.

David Maddenadded that the network was eyeing a season order that was larger than the six-episode event series, but an order that would still fall much shorter of a traditional 22-episode season.David Duchovnyhas said in the past that he’d be open to returning for another season, provided it wasn’t a traditional 22-episode run. Perhaps the network and stars are negotiating how many episodes to produce that falls somewhere between the six-episode event series and 22-episode full season spectrum. While nothing is set in stone yet,David Maddenadded that a 2018 return forThe X-Filesis more likely than a return later this year.

The show’s return forX-Files Season 11would be quite a welcomed sight for most fans, especially considering how this event series ended on a huge cliffhanger. We learned shortly before the season finale that Scully has alien DNA within her, and because she is in fact part alien, she was unaffected by the sickness that has spread throughout the world by the nefarious Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) as she tried to save Mulder, who was dying right before her, when suddenly, a UFO appeared and beamed a light down on both Mulder and Scully as the season came to an end. Fans will most likely want to know much more about Scully’s alien DNA as well, which is another reason why the show’s return would be more than welcomed.

Even ifThe X-Filesdoes return to the Fox lineup at some point, it remains unclear which cast members will return alongsideDavid DuchovnyandGillian Anderson. OriginalX-Filesstars such asMitch Pillegi(Walter Skinner) andAnnabeth Gish(Monica Reyes) returned, along with a slew of new guest stars such asJoel McHale,Robbie Amell,Lauren Ambrose,Annet Mahendru,Rhys DarbyandKumail Nanjiani. Series creatorChris Carterwrote and directed three of the six episodes, with the remaining new episodes written and directed by original series veteransGlen Morgan,Darin MorganandJames Wong.