'The X-Files': A new trailer and what fans can expect from the new show
The new 'X-Files' debuts on Fox this January. The 1990s Fox science fiction thriller starred Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny and ran into the early 2000s.
'The X-Files' stars Gillian Anderson (l.) and David Duchovny (r.).
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
A new trailer has been released for the upcoming “The X-Files” series.
The original “X-Files” aired from 1993 to 2002 and centered on Detectives Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), two members of the FBI who investigate paranormal incidents. They are often supervised by Assistant Director Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), and the two often face off against the mysterious Smoking Man (William B. Davis).
All are seen in this trailer. “They police us and spy on us, tell us that makes us safer,” Mulder says. “We’ve never been in more danger.” The clip also recalls the original show’s tagline “The truth is out there,” with text in the trailer reading, “The truth is still out there.”
Two films were made based on the series: 1998’s “The X-Files” and 2008’s “X-Files: I Want To Believe.” The second film, in particular, was not loved by critics.
The trajectory of “The X-Files” echoes that of another sci-fi series, NBC’s “Heroes.” Like “The X-Files,” “Heroes” ended in a way that did not satisfy many of its fans. The New York Times's Julie Salamon called the 2002 “X-Files” series finale “more of a tease than a conclusion” and The A.V. Club's Todd VanDerWerff described it as “really, really boring.” When “Heroes” aired its series finale in 2010, Entertainment Weekly reporter Darren Franich wrote, “You could see everyone involved with the show… mumble ‘Meh’ under their breath,” while Screen Rant reporter Anthony Ocasio wrote, “I’m over it.”
Now both “Heroes" and “The X-Files” are being brought back and the new versions could possibly satisfy fans who were not happy with the way the original series wrapped up. “Heroes Reborn,” the name of the new 13-episode series on NBC, has stumbled with critics so far, but the show is still very early in its run, with the second episode set to debut on Oct. 1. The show could still improve.
Fans will have to wait a little longer to see if “The X-Files” wraps up the show's central questions in a more satisfying way. The new “X-Files," which is set to run for six episodes, debuts this January on Fox.