Danielle Deadwyler is set to lead Hulu’s pilot for a reboot of The X-Files, marking her latest move into a high-profile television role.
Deadwyler will play one of two FBI agents assigned to a reopened division focused on unexplained phenomena. The second lead has not been cast. The official logline states: “Two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.”
The project will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler, who is nominated for multiple Academy Awards for “Sinners.” Jennifer Yale, known for her work on Outlander, will serve as showrunner.
For Deadwyler, the role builds on a body of work that spans film and television. She received critical attention for her performances in Till and The Piano Lesson. Her film credits also include The Harder They Fall and The Woman in the Yard.
On television, she has appeared in The Have and the Have Nots, Station Eleven and P-Valley. She also recently guest-starred on The Bear as Sydney’s cousin, Chantel.
The reboot has been in development for several years, with news of Coogler’s involvement first reported in March 2023. Original series creator Chris Carter is not involved in the new project, though he said in a 2024 interview that he supports the effort.
