‘The X-Files’ Creator Chris Carter Talks Revival’s Format, Joel McHale’s Guest Spot and More

The X-Files is one of the most buzzed about shows returning to TV which means series creator Chris Carter has had quite the busy year.

The producer revealed that once he heard his actors wanted back in, that’s all it took to get him totally onboard. “I jumped at the idea when I found out the actors were interested,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.

See what else he had to say about the highly anticipated X-Files revival, including a tease about Joel McHale’s character,  below:

On the format of the new season

“We have a lot to do in the course of six. We try to make an arc: bookend it with mythology episodes, and the four in the middle are standalone episodes. [But] there is what I would call an arc within those episodes. We tried to make everything integral. But the first episode and the last episode are really a two-parter. In [the other episodes] we follow the characters emotionally, but they don’t have to do with the conspiracy.”

On Joel McHale’s role as Tad O’Malley

“He brings [Mulder and Scully] back together. He’s instrumental in kind of building a bridge between the two of them.”

On what/who he wishes could have been included in the revival

“It would have been nice to get Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa back, and some of the other writers. Frank Spotnitz couldn’t work on the show. We did our best. We worked with the resources we were given.”

The X-Files returns to FOX with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC Championship game and continuing with its normal time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

Photo Credit: FOX