X-Files Creator Chris Carter Answers Major Fan Questions

“For me, it’s not over.”

Series creator Chris Carter shared that perspective during an interview about the director’s cut of the 2008 movie The X-Files: I Want to Believe, which recently arrived on Hulu and Disney Plus. The conversation turned to the planned The X-Files reboot from Ryan Coogler. Carter mentioned that he suspects David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson may return as Agents Mulder and Scully in that project. Regardless of what Coogler develops, Carter retains “big plans” of his own for the characters.

Carter also addressed several long-standing questions from viewers about the fate of key characters and storylines across the franchise.

What happened to John Doggett?

The original television run wrapped in 2002 after season 9, followed by revival seasons in 2016 and 2018. Across those two later runs, viewers never learn what became of FBI Agent John Doggett, the skeptic played by Robert Patrick who stepped in after Mulder departed in season 7. Doggett’s former partner Monica Reyes, played by Annabeth Gish, returned for the revival, making Doggett’s absence especially noticeable to fans.

“I was looking for a way to bring him back in for the reboots, but it just never worked out,” Carter said. “We did get Monica Reyes in there and she got more than she bargained for. If we come back, I think you may see John Doggett after all.”

Is the Cigarette Smoking Man still alive?

The Cigarette Smoking Man has served as an adversary since the first season and has repeatedly survived apparent death. In the season 11 finale, Mulder shot him multiple times and pushed him into the water in Norfolk, Virginia. Viewers continue to debate whether the villain survived that encounter.

When asked about the character’s survival, Carter responded: “Good question. Yeah, he seems immortal, doesn’t he? He survives everything and anything.”

Is Assistant Director Skinner still alive?

Assistant Director Walter Skinner, played by Mitch Pileggi, was last seen being struck by a vehicle in the season 11 finale. Skinner had escaped fatal situations earlier in the series, leading fans to question whether he pulled through.

“You wonder,” Carter said. “We left that inconclusive, but there were so many things we left inconclusive in that final episode. You know, someone said to me, ‘You know, you really didn’t give the audience what they wanted.’ And I thought, ‘Do we ever give the audience what they want?’ We always give them something of what they want, but then we pull the rug out from under them. It’s what makes the series and storytelling exciting. You never know what to expect. If you play it straight down the middle, it’s going to be ultimately unsatisfying.”

Is Scully immortal?

A long-running fan theory suggests Dana Scully cannot die, drawing evidence from two classic episodes. In season 3’s “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose,” a man with the ability to foresee deaths tells Scully that she does not die. In season 6’s “Tithonus,” an immortal photographer gives up his life so Scully can survive a gunshot wound by looking away from death, passing his condition on to her.

The series nodded to this lore in the season 10 episode “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster,” where Scully reassures Mulder by saying, “You forget, I’m immortal.”

Carter addressed the theory directly: “It’s a good question. If Mulder and Scully ever reunite for season 12, I have something to say about that.”

Carter pointed to the four-part mythology storyline spanning seasons 10 and 11: “‘My Struggle’ 1, 2, 3, and 4 had a design about where I wanted to take the series and I’m hoping we can see that.”

Would season 12 have been the final season?

Because Carter had mapped out plans for a potential twelfth season, questions remain over whether that run would have concluded the saga entirely.

“I don’t know,” Carter said. “It’s funny, I always likened us to Lewis and Clark. We knew where we were going, we just didn’t know how we’re going to get there.”

Carter emphasized that he still hopes to produce additional chapters featuring Mulder and Scully.

“I hope so,” Carter said. “For me, it’s not over.”

The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn is streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus.

Source: Polygon