Ryan Coogler to Write and Direct New ‘X-Files’ Reboot

Since it first aired in 1993, The X-Files has consistently returned to television, never staying off the air for long. Despite cancellations and cast changes, the show has always found a way to continue, whether through revivals or films. Following its initial nine-season run in the early 2000s, it was revived with a 2008 film (The X-Files: I Want to Believe – the first film came out while the original series was still on Fox), then with tenth and eleventh seasons in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

The X-Files followed FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, along with their colleagues, as they investigated mysterious and often supernatural unsolved cases. Think aliens, strange black oil, and shadowy government figures – it was full of thrilling mysteries!

The popular show is being revived with a fresh cast and creative team. Ryan Coogler, known for directing hits like Black Panther and Creed, will be writing and directing the first episode of the new X-Files series. Jennifer Yale is leading the show as showrunner, and the original creator, Chris Carter, will be involved as an executive producer.

Here is the new X-Files’ official synopsis:

Two FBI agents, both with impressive records but very different personalities, unexpectedly connect when they’re tasked with reopening a forgotten unit that investigates strange and unexplainable events.

Danielle Deadwyler, known for her roles in Carry-On and The Woman in the Yard, has been cast as one of the FBI agents at the center of the show. The other agent will be a stark contrast to her character.

We first learned about this project back in 2023 when Chris Carter revealed that Ryan Coogler was interested in rebooting The X-Files with a fresh cast. Considering how focused people are on conspiracies today, a new version of the show feels particularly relevant now.

I’m honestly a little worried it might feel stale to watch people uncovering huge conspiracies when it feels like everyone already expects them these days. I’m really curious to see how the show’s ideas land with audiences in 2026, and how Ryan Coogler will bring those themes up to date for today’s world.

The pilot forCoogler’s X-Files was ordered by Hulu.

The 21 Worst Movies of the 21st Century So Far

21. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)

Sharon Stone is remarkably skilled at making even weak lines of dialogue sound sensual, but even her talent can’t save Basic Instinct 2. The movie is a failure overall. Stone delivers a strong (perhaps overly dramatic) performance, completely overshadowing her co-star, David Morrissey. His character never feels like a match for hers, and it’s never believable why she’d be attracted to him – it almost seems like she’s toying with an easy target. Stone clearly enjoys playing the dominant role, but Morrissey’s character is so bland that there’s no real suspense or excitement in her manipulation of him. The dynamic is completely lopsided – it’s like watching a professional basketball team play against amateurs. Catherine is supposed to crave danger, but there’s no challenge in her interactions with such a weak opponent.

20. The Book of Henry (2017)

Colin Trevorrow’s follow-up to Jurassic World, The Book of Henry, was a critical and commercial failure – a truly strange film. It unexpectedly mixes fantastical elements with difficult themes, including child abuse. On top of that, it’s a retelling of the Christ story, featuring a powerful being who sacrifices himself so his mother can both commit a crime and provide a home for her mistreated stepdaughter. The movie also tries to warn viewers about the dangers of indifference, doing so through the unbelievable plot point of a deceased child prodigy guiding his mother to become an assassin from beyond the grave. And it presents all of this with a completely straight face – I’m not making any of this up!

19. Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

Warner Bros. took a strange approach with Space Jam: A New Legacy, portraying itself as a cold, corporate entity run by a heartless computer program – a remarkably honest misstep. The new film was so weak and unfunny that it made the original Space Jam seem like a cinematic masterpiece. LeBron James isn’t a bad actor; he performs about as well as Michael Jordan did in the first movie. However, almost everything else in A New Legacy was disappointing. It completely missed what makes the Looney Tunes characters, especially Bugs Bunny, so beloved, turning him into a complaining character. Instead of watching this movie, I recommend revisiting classic Looney Tunes shorts on HBO Max. Even a single short is far funnier than the entire two-hour film, and the animation is superior.

18. Catwoman (2004)

In the movie Catwoman, Halle Berry plays Patience Phillips, who uncovers dangerous toxins in her beauty company’s products and is subsequently killed by her employers in a cover-up. However, she’s resurrected by cats and joins a long line of feline crime-fighters. As Catwoman, Berry uses classic cat abilities – agility, perfect landings, incredible athleticism, a love for stealing jewelry, and a fondness for leather – to fight (and sometimes cause) trouble. The film, directed by visual effects artist Pitof, isn’t visually terrible for a 2000s movie, but it’s notoriously poorly edited. A clear example of this is the cast repeatedly wearing the same outfits, a result of scenes being rearranged without any reshoots.

17. Madame Web (2024)

“Madame Web” feels like an older, less confident kind of Marvel movie, reminiscent of films made before the Marvel Cinematic Universe really took off – movies that almost seemed hesitant to embrace their comic book origins. This awkwardness extends to Dakota Johnson’s performance as Cassie Webb, the character billed as “Madame Web,” but who is never actually called that name in the film. She also spends almost the entire movie without a superhero costume. It’s as if everyone involved is a little embarrassed by the project – and honestly, that’s understandable. The movie is strange, confusing, and at times, just plain silly – it makes “The Amazing Spider-Man” look like a masterpiece by comparison. It makes you wonder what Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, would think if he watched it – that would be a fun reaction to see.

16. Planet of the Apes (2001)

Mark Wahlberg plays an astronaut who has a really rough time. He gets pulled into a strange purple cloud in space and ends up on a planet inhabited by apes! After a long and somewhat clumsy journey across a desert, he manages to return to Earth, only to discover it’s been taken over by… you guessed it, apes! Director Tim Burton, known for his successful films in the 80s and 90s, unfortunately missed the mark with this one.

15. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Let’s be honest, the title itself should have been a warning. This movie tries to be an X-Men film, a Wolverine story, and an origin story all rolled into one. As a big X-Men fan, I really think it would have been much better if director Gavin Hood had just picked one focus. It felt like they crammed about six different storylines into one film, and it just doesn’t work. There’s even a line where Hugh Jackman’s Logan tells Liev Schreiber’s Victor, “We didn’t sign up for this,” and it’s almost like the movie is acknowledging how messy it is! There were a few other unintentionally funny lines too – like “We’ve done enough!” and “You look like a man fixing to do a bad thing,” but my personal favorite was just, “Wake me when it’s over.” Seriously, that pretty much summed up my experience watching it.

14. Meet the Spartans (2008)

One of the most disappointing trends in recent movie history was the surge of poorly made spoof films that followed the success of the Scary Movie series. Many of these comedies were created by the same people behind Scary Movie, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, and relied on a simple, often unfunny formula: re-creating scenes from popular movies – particularly 300 in the case of Meet the Spartans, but also including random gags from films like Shrek, Spider-Man 3, and Happy Feet – with look-alikes and slapstick humor. Even when these movies were mildly amusing, the jokes were often tied to early 2000s pop culture – referencing celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton – making them feel incredibly outdated today. Seriously, avoid Meet the Spartans at all costs.

13. Marmaduke (2022)

I can honestly say I’ve never seen a more visually unappealing animated movie than Marmaduke, and I hope I never do. It feels like something made purely to fulfill a contractual obligation or, frankly, to hide money. Despite the truly awful animation, the movie boasts a surprisingly talented voice cast, including J.K. Simmons, David Koechner, and Pete Davidson. It’s baffling – did they not see the script or the hideous character designs? Were they somehow compensated incredibly well for their participation? Whatever the reason, Marmaduke is just plain bad. I wouldn’t even subject my childhood bullies to it – and their creatively mean songs were more imaginative than anything in this film.

12. Daddy Day Camp (2007)

As a big movie fan, I always get a little worried when I see a whole cast change for a sequel, and that’s exactly what happened with Daddy Day Care 2. Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, and Regina King – all gone! They brought in Cuba Gooding Jr., Paul Rae, Josh McLerran, and Tamala Jones instead, and even the director from the first film wasn’t involved. The first movie was fun because it showed Murphy and Garlin figuring out how to run a daycare, so the sequel seemed like a no-brainer – they’re experts now, let’s move to a camp! But, predictably, everything goes wrong again, and honestly, the movie just doesn’t work.

11. Elektra (2005)

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took off, things were tough for Marvel fans. After the initial success of movies like X-Men and Spider-Man, studios started rushing out Marvel adaptations without the same level of quality or attention to detail. The low point of this era was arguably Elektra. Jennifer Garner returned as the assassin, and the movie portrayed her as strangely meticulous – constantly cleaning to remove any trace of DNA – yet incredibly careless, befriending her neighbors while on a mission and failing to realize they were her targets. The film also gave Elektra the power to see the future and even rewind time after her death in Daredevil, essentially making her immortal. Naturally, she used these god-like abilities to fight ninjas. Who wouldn’t, if they could travel through time?

10. Norbit (2007)

Eddie Murphy is known for winning over audiences when he plays several characters in one movie, often with the help of impressive makeup. His 2007 film, Norbit, made nearly $160 million worldwide despite receiving negative reviews, considering it only cost $60 million to make. However, that doesn’t make it a good movie. While Murphy is talented at transforming himself – and the makeup effects are fantastic – the film tells an unpleasant story about a meek man who marries a controlling and abusive woman, both roles played by Murphy. His portrayal of the vengeful Rasputia is technically skilled, but relies on cruel stereotypes and endless jokes about her weight. He also plays Mr. Wong, a harsh Chinese man who runs an orphanage and speaks with a heavy, stereotypical accent. Ultimately, the film is a depressing experience.

9. The Emoji Movie (2017)

A good movie about smartphones and emojis could be made, but it would need a sharper, more satirical script than The Emoji Movie offers. Beyond a simple message of accepting others, the film feels exactly like what you’d expect from a tech company that relies on selling phones – basically, a long advertisement suggesting that using a smartphone will make you more popular and appealing. It’s not a pleasant experience.

8. Bulletproof Monk (2003)

I saw this movie over 20 years ago, and I was the only one in the theater – and for good reason. By the end, I was so bored I was actually moving around, trying to find a better seat. But no matter where I sat, the movie was just bad. Looking back, Bulletproof Monk might have the worst martial arts sequences ever filmed in Hollywood. It wasn’t entirely the director’s fault, either; it seemed like Seann William Scott did more of his own stunts than Chow Yun-fat. When the actor best known for playing Stifler is the most dedicated action performer in your movie, that’s a major issue.

7. Artemis Fowl (2020)

When the Covid pandemic began, Disney postponed most of its big 2020 movies, but surprisingly released Artemis Fowl directly on Disney+. Looking back, that should have been a warning sign. The film tries to cram the plot of ten books into just 90 minutes, resulting in a confusing and almost unwatchable mess. (I still can’t explain how Josh Gad’s character went from burglar to ally with the main character without a single line of dialogue!) It’s rare for a streaming movie to feel like a waste of money when you haven’t even paid extra, but Artemis Fowl managed to do just that.

6. Son of the Mask (2005)

Let me tell you, few things are sadder than a sequel that loses its star, and Son of the Mask is a prime example. The original Mask was all about Jim Carrey and the unhinged energy he brought to the role, that wild, expressive side of him unleashed by the mask. This one? Jamie Kennedy barely wears the mask – his dog gets more screen time with it on! And when Kennedy does, he’s… stiff. They even seem to have dubbed over his voice, trying to make him sound like Carrey. It’s just bizarre.

And the plot? Buckle up. A huge chunk of the movie revolves around the dog being jealous of the new baby and actively trying to, yes, kill him with the mask. Seriously! Thankfully, the baby is apparently born with mask powers of his own, so it all works out… somehow.

But nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared me for the sight of a CGI baby, unleashed by the mask, projectile vomiting and… well, let’s just say it involves urination, all over Jamie Kennedy. It’s a truly awful scene. Honestly, this movie should have been dumped somewhere far, far away, just like the mask at the end of the original.

5. Alone in the Dark (2005)

Uwe Boll gained notoriety as a director by making a series of video game adaptations, funded by a German tax loophole that ensured his films would be profitable. Think of the characters from Mel Brooks’ The Producers, but obsessed with video games, and you’ll have a sense of his approach.

One of Boll’s worst films from the 2000s, Alone in the Dark, stars Tara Reid as an archaeologist and Christian Slater as a detective investigating paranormal events. However, the plot is so confusing that it’s difficult to explain. Even the opening title sequence—a 90-second-long, rambling explanation—adds to the chaos. Considering Alone in the Dark already ranks as the worst video game movie ever made, its placement on this list is particularly damning.

4. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)

This low-budget horror film is a very loose and frankly terrible adaptation of the classic Winnie-the-Pooh stories, which are now in the public domain. It fails as both a scary slasher movie and as a commentary on children’s books. Ironically, it only succeeds in making a strange case against the idea of public domain – suggesting that copyright protections might be useful in preventing truly awful films like this one from being made. Simply put, Blood and Honey is a terrible movie.

3. Dolittle (2020)

Remember the scene in Tim Burton’s Batman where the doctor botches Jack Napier’s surgery, accidentally creating the Joker’s scarred face? That’s what Dolittle feels like – a chaotic, disjointed film that seems cobbled together from unused footage and reshoots. What likely began as a more thoughtful movie was transformed into a bizarre mix of childish humor – think poop jokes and talking animals – shaky special effects, and Robert Downey Jr. giving an over-the-top performance that makes Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow seem reserved.

2. The Master of Disguise (2002)

The idea behind The Master of Disguise was promising: a character who can imitate others seemed perfect for Dana Carvey, known for his impressions on Saturday Night Live. However, Carvey excels at impressions – mimicking voices and mannerisms – which isn’t the same as true disguise. A skilled disguise artist would completely transform themselves and become unrecognizable, but Carvey’s character, Pistachio Disguisey, is always clearly Carvey. You’d have to be incredibly naive not to recognize him, even when he’s ‘disguised’ as Al Pacino in Scarface or Robert Shaw in Jaws. Many scenes are more unsettling than funny, like the one with the ‘turtle man’ disguise. At just 70 minutes long, the film is at least brief, but those 70 minutes are a strangely uncomfortable and unfunny slog.

1. Disaster Movie (2008)

The title Disaster Movie is misleading on both counts. The film spoofs recent blockbusters like 10,000 B.C., Hancock, Jumper, Enchanted, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Beowulf, and The Love Guru, but barely qualifies as a movie itself. It features almost no developed characters and a flimsy plot, held together by a never-ending stream of awful celebrity impressions that are announced to the audience as they happen. (“Amy Winehouse?!?”)

Honestly, it’s one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. By the time a character was fighting someone dressed in a poorly-made Kung Fu Panda costume, I felt more sorry for the actors – and anyone who spent money to watch it – than anything else.

2026-02-24 01:01