The X-Files season 11 (or Chapter 2 depending on who you ask) premiere will be appearing on your screen in a short seven weeks. According Tweets from Fox and in a Deadline.com article, it was announced our favorite agents will return on Wednesday, January 3 in a prime 8:00 p.m. time slot.
This 10-episode arc will continue the Mulder and Scully storyline from last season (or Chapter 1) with a few classic stand-alone stories interspersed. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are once again joined by Mitch Pileggi as Assistant Director Skinner, Annabeth Gish (Agent Reyes), and the ever elusive William B. Davis (Cigarette Smoking Man). Guest stars include Barbara Hershey and Haley Joel Osment but we’re not sure if he’ll be seeing dead people here. It is reported Osment will be part of a backstory episode surrounding A.D. Skinner.
Duchovny, Anderson and Pileggi have been posting behind the scenes pictures for a couple months building up the anticipation for X-Files fans on social media. During New York Comic Con, an official trailer was released which you can view below. We see the dynamic duo interacting with new characters, familiar faces, a few crazy people, and one person on a cell phone screen who looks mysteriously like a presumed deceased Lone Gunman.
It is obvious from the clip there are many questions about William being asked and hopefully answered. Executive Producer and X-Files guru Chris Carter has alluded the agent’s son will be seen more than ever before in this upcoming season. After the last season of despair between Mulder and Scully, fans began pleading with Carter to end the misery. “Shippers were heard” was the phrase used by Carter during the NYCC panel. For the novice X-Files fan, “shippers” were originated during the early seasons of the series. These were fans who wanted Mulder and Scully to be involved in a romantic relationship (hence relationshippers).
While The X-Files brings its own fan base, Fox is hoping it will lend some viewers to a new show. The prime Wednesday night spot typically reserved for Empire and Star will be rounded out with the brand new drama 9-1-1. According to Deadline.com, the Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear trifecta will bring to the small screen perils of police, paramedics and firefighters. Stars slated for the drama include Angela Bassett, Peter Krause and Connie Britton.
To get your X-Files fix before the premiere, visit Fox’s page for videos, clips, and highlights from the NYCC panel discussion.