Over the last two months Fox has been releasing several previews, promos and behind-the-scenes videos for the new X-Files. On Friday fans got the latest full-length trailer, and oh does it give audiences a lot to think about.
The original X-Files ran from 1993-2002 for 9 seasons. At the end of Season 9 the FBI shut down the X-Files, and Mulder and Scully learn of an impending alien invasion. Of course none of the problems presented at the end of Season 9 were resolved later on. The next film installment in the franchise, The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008), turned into a standalone plotline.
It’s been 13 years since fans have gotten a taste of the weird and unknown, and government conspiracies. With this trailer, among others, the new X-Files seems to be bringing back the good stuff. According to an article by Entertainment Weekly, new series is heavily influenced by a post-9/11 context. In the trailer this is pretty obvious with clips of paramilitary soldiers storming into public, surveillance equipment, and a U.S. drone. “They police on us, spy on us, tell us that makes us safer,” says Mulder. Here is the perfect combination for a serious government conspiracy, and of course Chris Carter has to raise the stakes. A simple government cover-up of aliens on Earth won’t cut it for today’s audience.
Reworking The X-Files for a modern audience, which has a beloved 90s feel to it, requires something a little more fast-paced. The trailer gives us that with upping the hostile government storyline. Mulder’s still obsessed with aliens, but he sounds pissed off. There’s also a ton of explosions. The Smoking Man is back, again, because apparently the old man just won’t die. Every time they re-open the X-Files the guy rises from his assumed grave.
The show is clearly trying to pick up where it left off in Season 9. The trailer gives audiences the horror/sci-fi element with what looks like human experiments. There are also some strong hints at Scully’s son coming into the story. Scully gave up her son William for adoption in Season 9. The idea of bringing back such a significant character would seriously shake up the character dynamics.
The X-Files is premiering on Fox on January 24, 2016. Most of the plot details are top secret, but the series will bring back David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and Mitch Pileggi.
https://youtu.be/Qi_9YuMynW0
