Summary

Sinners showcases Coogler's talent for supernatural storytelling.
The strong partnership at the heart of Sinners is what The X-Files needs.
Fans can expect Coogler's X-Files reboot to maintain the core elements the show needs.

Ryan Coogler's new vampire film, Sinners, more than proves the director is the perfect choice to reboot The X-Files. The original X-Files saw FBI Agents Mulder and Scully investigating an eclectic array of paranormal cases, becoming a science fiction sensation throughout the 90s that spawned films, comics, and video games. The series garnered a loyal fan base, which continues to grow to this day, all of whom hold the series dear. As with any reboot, fans are often skeptical or concerned about what may happen to something they love, and The X-Files is no different.

When the news of Coogler's forthcoming reboot of the fan-favorite series hit, chills were sent through the dedicated X-Files audience. As a talented creative, the show is in good hands, but that doesn't always guarantee preferable outcomes, as seen with Tim Burton's maligned Planet of the Apes remake or Mindy Kaling's Velma series. However, with Coogler's Sinners, which boasts stellar reviews with a 98% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, he goes about silencing any X-Files reboot doubters with a terrifying film that features a strong partnership.

ryan-coogler-david-duchovney-gillian-anderson-fox-mulder-dana-scully-the-xfiles-reboot-feature

The X-Files: How Ryan Coogler's Reboot Can Explore Contemporary Conspiracy Theories

Can Ryan Coogler's reboot of The X-Files lean into conspiracy theories in the same way as the original show? Probably not.

Posts

By kate bove

Ryan Coogler's Currently In-Progress The X-Files Reboot, Explained

Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) aiming their guns upwards. — the x-files 1993 main

The X-Files creator Chris Carter let the existence of Coogler's planned remake slip in 2023. He has since given his blessing to the series, confirming that he and the Black Panther director have spoken. Carter also confirmed that the reboot is likely to feature a diverse cast and that Coogler has plenty of great ideas for the show.

Not much else is known about the filmmaker's plans for the X-Files reboot, but Coogler recently confirmed while speaking with The Last Podcast On The Left that he's "fired up to get back to it" now that Sinners has hit theaters, with the reboot being "immediately next." He also let listeners know that he's spoken with Gillian Anderson, the Scully actor, with "fingers crossed there." Coogler even wanted to put minds at ease, stating, "We're going to try to make something really great, bro, and make something for the real X-Files fans and maybe find some new ones." He further promised that the episodes "will be really f**king scary."

Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f**king scary.

Details about when the X-Files reboot is set to debut, who stars in it, and even the plot are still under wraps. Given that the show is meant to be a reboot, it was expected not to be a continuation of the original series. However, if Anderson decides to be involved, it may reveal details about their plans, with the actor potentially playing a new role if the reboot shares no characters with the original. Still, further details are currently scarce.

Sinners Is A Supernatural Success Featuring A Strong Partnership At Its Core

Sinners is a success beyond winning its opening weekend, as it features phenomenal storytelling, beautiful cinematography, and great performances. The film tells the story of twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, who attempt to open a Juke Joint in 1932 Mississippi. However, their grand opening is attacked by a vampire threat.

The lore surrounding the vampires is revealed throughout the movie, offering unique elements, like a shared hive mind among them and the distinct red glow in their eyes. These details come to light, even evolving with deft exposition, but show how well Coogler can handle supernatural storytelling, much like the audiences who tuned in for the X-Files expected to see each week. While The X-Files tended to focus on extraterrestrials and often featured original monsters or concepts, they also dealt with vampires in episodes like "3" and "Bad Blood."

Sinners also features a strong central partnership, much like Mulder and Scully in The X-Files, through the twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan. Smoke and Stack exhibit unique character traits that complement each other, suggesting that some situations are better suited for one or the other. As they show their strength together, they are capable of navigating the vampire onslaught threatening them, trusting those around them, adapting to new information, and stepping up to lead the charge when the time calls for it.

Smoke and Stack's relationship is at the heart of Sinners, setting the emotional stakes that endear them to the audience and highlighting the qualities of a great partnership. Much like Mulder and Scully, who are a believer and a skeptic working toward the same goal, the brothers are pursuing the same dream, yet their paths to that end are influenced by their unique natures working together.

The X-Files Fans Can Rest Easy With Coogler Leading The Reboot

With Sinners, Coogler has demonstrated that he understands horror storytelling and how to bring creatures to life on screen, even introducing new elements to classic monsters. Beyond vampires, Sinners features the inclusion of Hoodoo with Smoke's mojo bag, shedding light on a religion often characterized as sorcery, which The X-Files has also explored. The film's standout performance comes from Miles Caton, who plays Sammie, the twins' cousin. He has the ability to "pierce the veil" and conjure spirits with his music, which ties into the larger vampire story but highlights another paranormal ability within the world.

Sinners may present itself as a vampire tale, but it actually features many unique elements that explore the supernatural, much like any X-Files fan would crave each week. Furthermore, the inclusion of such a strong partnership in Smoke and Stack proves Coogler knows how to balance the dynamics needed to endear a long-lasting investigative team to fans. With Sinners, Coogler has shown that he can handle exactly what a reboot of The X-Files needs, reinforcing his talent for impactful storytelling and great character work with paranormal elements, which should help put fans of the original series at ease while they wait for further details.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image