The eleventh season of The X-Files debuted in the US last night, uniting David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson for the new run of the show. But as has been widely reported, this is the moment where Anderson departs the series, having played Dana Scully since episode one of the programme
Chris Carter, the creator of the show, had previously hinted that he had more X-Files adventures and stories in mind. But in the light of Anderson’s departure, he appears to be changing his tone on that. For when asked by Collider if he’s do another series without Anderson, he said that “I wouldn’t”.
“For me, The X-Files is Mulder and Scully. I think if it were without Scully, I wouldn’t do it. That’s not my X-Files”.
That said, David Duchovny previously left the show, with Robert Patrick stepping in for season nine. So there is precedent for it continuing without one of its two main leads. But it doesn’t sound like the inclination is there to continue without Anderson on board. As Carter noted too, though, Fox is now a Disney company, “so I think there are way too many question marks and no answers being provided to me about the future of the show”.
Channel Five will be screening season 11 of The X-Files in the UK.