‘X-Files’ boss opens up about revival’s controversial storyline

Zap2it was on hand at New York Comic Con for the first showing of “The X-Files” revival.

The panel’s moderator, Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley), came onto the stage first and announced that the audience would be treated to “the first episode of season 10”, to an eruption of cheers.

Carter says he was willing to return because he felt there modern ideas to explore. “But, before the episode airs, we have a special guest on the screen who’d like to say a word”. Gillian Anderson wasn’t available, but did provide fans with a taped message and a faux British accent. As Pileggi, followed by Duchovny and Carter, walked onto the stage, and they were welcomed by a standing ovation. “I got this call from 20th Century Fox”.

“Just the fact that Gillian, and Mitch, and Chris were all there”, Duchovny began to answer, “it’s more instinctive at this point”. The action will return there several more times, but the focus is soon onto contemporary events, with Mulder, long-haired and out of the Federal Bureau of Investigation game, living a life of country isolation while Scully works as a surgeon at Our Lady of Sorrows hospital – a setup that roughly parallels the start of the 2008 film. In his first scene back with Duchovny, Mulder comes to visit his old office: pencils stuck in the ceiling and his “I want to believe” poster ripped on the floor. “But when it was gone, I’ll tell you, I really missed it”.

Nanjiani asked Carter to talk about the scope of the new series, as it seems much bigger. “We needed to make a statement, and be bold and show ’em that we’re back”.

Mulder and Scully are re-opening The X-Files. There are bigger and better conspiracy theories in a post-9/11/Snowden/NSA world, and according to Carter, it’s a flawless time to be telling “X-Files” stories.

“Oh, I totally believe in‎ extraterrestrial life”, Pileggi said.

“This is where the sniper gets me”, Carter joked.

– Annet Mahendru (The Americans) has a “major role” in the premiere. It was chunky, that speech.

Saturday’s crowd roared as the show’s iconic theme song – with its haunting whistle and synthesizer – filled the room and the original opening credits hit the screen.

After being asked a question regarding the new series and the mythology of the show, Carter explained how the new season would work.

Carter also confirmed after the screening that two of the episodes in the six-episode miniseries (the first and the last) will center on the show’s central alien mythology, while the middle four will be standalone, Monster of the Week-type jaunts.

The truth is still out there; within the first few minutes of this episode, we realize it’s closer than ever before.

The Lone Gunman are back, as is the Cigarette Smoking Man, and of course, he’s still smoking.

How do you herald the return of a beloved series more than 13 years after it went off the air?

“I’m grateful to all you guys”, he said during the panel after the episode’s premiere, “and to Chris [Carter] for making it possible for us to come back and play these characters again”.

“No, the beliefs don’t influence the portrayal of it. It was more just where we’re starting emotionally for the show. he’s a little down, but you can’t really continue that and lead the show”.