Fox Nearing Green-Lighting ‘X-Files’ Revival, Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny Set to Reprise Their Dana Scully and Fox Mulder Roles in the Original Series

Fox is close to giving an official green-light to a revival of X-Files, the iconic science fiction series which it originally aired from September 1993 until May 2002, according to TV Wise. Reportedly, the network is keen on a "short-stack" order of six to ten episodes for the revival, but still contingent on the outcome of on-going talks with sister studio 20th Century Fox Television.

Back in January, Fox announced that there was an interest to bring back The X-Files as a limited-run event series much like what it did in the case of 24: Live Another Day. Fox chairman Dana Walden also told Deadline then that "conversations so far have only been logistical and are in very early stages" and that the series would only go forward if the show's creator Chris Carter, and the show's original stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny were all on board, and that it was a matter of ensuring all of their timetables are open.

According to TV Wise, the revival is aimed at giving closure to the lingering story-lines that have been left hanging by the series proper, and which were left unresolved by the second movie I Want To Believe. Notable among them is the alien invasion and colonization of Earth come December 12, 2012, which was an overarching plot in original TV show. Of that arch in the series, Carter told Entertainment Weekly, "Well, we didn't think that one up. That is actually part of the literature. It is a Mayan date. But I think we'd like to revisit that whole storyline." In another talk with IGN, he said, "There's a date in the X-Files mythology -- 2012 -- that is very important. We'd certainly love to do something with that!"

Carter is returning to the helm, will pen the scripts and will also serve as an executive producer on The X-Files revival once given the network's green light. Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny have previously said they are also willing to reprise their roles in the X-Files series. The TV Wise report also mentioned that "Fox is aiming to make a "big announcement" just ahead of their upfront presentation in New York City this coming May."