Summary
Ryan Coogler,director ofBlack PantherandSinners, is rebooting the popular 90s sci-fi/horror seriesThe X-Files, with the hope of creating something that will thrill fans of the original show, while also being fresh enough to catch the eye of a new generation. Coogler revealed this would be his next project during an interview on the popular podcastLast House on the Left. During his appearance on the program, Coogler also said that he’s going to focus more attention on the horror aspects that made the original series a huge hit with fans, particularly in its earlier seasons.
One of the key elements that Coogler will need to consider as part of his reboot of the series is casting a female lead who can do for it what Gillian Anderson, who played FBI Agent Dana Scully, did for the original. Failing to create a character like Scully, or to pick the proper actress to bring her to life, could lead to Coogler’s reboot falling flat with die-hard fans of the franchise.
The Scully Standard: Intelligence, Gravitas, & Healthy Skepticism
Anderson’s portrayal of FBI Agent Dana Scully was a huge part of the foundation for the cultural identity ofThe X-Files. The character was more than just a run-of-the-mill token female lead. She didn’t exist in the show simply for the sake of having a woman to play off of David Duchovny’s Agent Fox Mulder.
Scully redefined what it meantto be a female lead in the early 90s in a genre dominated largely by men — in this case, science-fiction. The character was super-intelligent, a scientist who was the intellectual equal of Mulder. Yet, she was also deeply grounded, to help balance his sometimes radical need to believe in something greater than himself, which often colored his perspective and blinded him to bias.
The female lead for Coogler’sX-Filesmust be multidimensional with the same kind of depth Scully brought to the table, though without being a simple rehash of the original. One of most compelling aspects of Scully’s character was that while she was a skeptic concerning aliens, ghosts, and goblins, she was also a Catholic who believed in God and treasured her faith. That highly complex dichotomy made her character interesting to explore.
The ideal casting for this critical role is an individual who can blend intellectual rigor and a sense of confidence with inner conflict and delicate vulnerability. Yet, viewers don’t want a carbon copy ofAnderson’s portrayal of those traitsand characteristics.
Chemistry, Not Nostalgia: The Mulder-Scully Dynamic Should be Reimagined, Not Recycled
The heart of TheX-Fileswas not just the cool creatures, supernatural elements, and alien conspiracies, but the relationship established between Mulder and Scully. The chemistry was noticeable from the first few episodes. However, the series writers took their time developing the sparks between them. The relationship started as one that was simply about work, then became philosophical, before finally blossoming into something romantic.
The most critical component of Coogler’sThe X-Filesreboot will be capturing a new, yet familiar dynamic between its two leads without recycling old tropes the original used so well. TheBlack Pantherdirector is no doubt feeling the weight of this part of the show pressing on his shoulders like thousand-pound rocks.
An actress who is chosen for the role must be someone who can stand on their own — remember all of those Scully-centric episodes during the original series run? The character also needs to have an interesting, compelling relationship, which doesn’t have to be romantic, with her male counterpart. It will be vital forCoogler to hold chemistry testsbetween potential male and female leads to see if they can navigate the tension, mystery, and vulnerability that made Mulder and Scully household names, while staying current and fresh.
Modern audiences can’t be fooled by “token representation.” They’re much more aware and discerning than in times before, and they can tell when “representation” is being forced on them. And it’s a major, major turn-off. A new female lead forThe X-Filesmust be able to relate to fans not simply through basic identity markers, like being female, but by her character and personality. She must be developed and have a place within the narrative of the show that feels natural and deserved. She earned her place in the FBI due to her accomplishments.
What made Scully stand out in the original series was that she was highly intelligent and serious, but had a sense of humor, which made her likable. She proved time and again to be a valuable asset tothe X-Files division, and wasn’t just Mulder’s sidekick. Scully blasted through the sci-fi stereotypes of women that were cemented firmly in place during that time. So, who could potentially take up the mantle left behind by Dana Scully inThe X-Filesreboot?
If Coogler wants someone who strongly conveys the intellectual prowess the female lead requires, actresses like Rebecca Hall or Tatiana Maslany would be worth a look. If he prefers more of a gritty take, there’s Jodie Comer ofKilling Eveor Mackenzie Davis ofTerminator: Dark Fatefame. For more of a bold, fresh choice, perhaps Jessica Henwick fromThe Matrix RevolutionsandIron Fist, who has a knack for balancing both physicality and intellectualism in her roles, would be a good fit.
