The X-Files was one of the first shows in the recent wave of revivals and reboots when it returned to Fox back in 2016 for Season 10, and Season 11 aired early this year. While Season 11 didn't end on a cliffhanger quite like Season 10, fans have naturally been wondering if the show will return, especially after leading lady Gillian Anderson revealed that she's not looking to come back as Scully. Fox CEO Gary Newman has revealed that there are no plans for another season of The X-Files at this point, and some folks online have called Anderson out as the cause for the show ending. Well, Anderson had a response, and it was pretty hilarious. Check it out!
Gillian Anderson added a pretty hilarious comment after she retweeted an article that connected the lack of an order for Season 12 to her decision to exit the series. According to Anderson, the drop in viewership for The X-Files in Season 11 was the real reason that the show won't be back for another round, at least any time soon. Sure, longtime fans might have a hard time imagining a Season 12 without Anderson as Scully, but would Fox really hold back from more if the ratings and viewership were killing the competition?
Besides, The X-Files creator Chris Carter revealed back in February that he could see the show continuing with or without Gillian Anderson, despite earlier comments to the contrary. Carter believed that there are more stories to tell in The X-Files universe; he might have been on board for a Season 12 even if Gillian Anderson remained firm in her determination not to reprise the role of Scully beyond the Season 11 finale.
Unfortunately for any viewers who would have been interested in a Scully-less Season 12, the ratings and viewership simply weren't there to justify another season. The X-Files revival was a smash hit when it first hit the airwaves in 2016, but it just wasn't as successful when it returned in 2018. The absence of a killer cliffhanger in the finale may mean that it's better for The X-Files to end now rather than continue to stretch the search for the truth even further. After all, the finale ended with a whole bunch of WTF twists, not the least of which was that Scully -- who is not supposed to have any ova left in her body -- is pregnant.
Quite aside from the fact that The X-Files would have to try and find a way to explain Scully's pregnancy since there's no way the Cigarette-Smoking Man could have creepily impregnated her against her will this time around, a Season 12 would have had to deal with impending parenthood for the dynamic duo. Even if Season 12 was just Mulder soldiering along while a pregnant Scully was in hiding in a reverse of Season 9, the baby bombshell from the finale might have overshadowed everything. Yes, at this point, it may be best to remember The X-Files as it was rather than try to find ways to bring it back yet again.
Even if The X-Files won't be back for Season 12, you can relive the first 11 seasons streaming on Hulu now. For more of what you'll be able to watch in the not-too-distant future, take a look at our summer TV premiere guide. Be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for the latest in TV renewals and cancellations, and don't forget to swing by our list of big network TV shows that have already been cancelled.
