It seems like The X-Files only just reentered our lives, but the revival is already coming to an end. The finale, “My Struggle II,” will air on February 22. But fear not, truthers! Fox is already talking about the possibility of more episodes, because the money is out there. According to Variety, there are no official plans for another round of X-Files episodes, but Fox entertainment president David Madden has hinted that this might not be the end. “We said before it aired that we would love to do more, and we are over the moon with the performance. So far, the response has been really encouraging,” Madden told Variety. “We haven’t talked to the talent yet about Season 2 in any more definitive way than we had prior to airing the show, but certainly, it seems like there’s an audience responding to the show that would love to see more episodes.”
Earlier this year at the Television Critics Association press tour, Fox bosses Gary Newman and Dana Walden admitted that the biggest obstacle to doing more episodes is abducting Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny from their busy lives. But like Madden, they didn’t rule out the possibility of more episodes. “Even the other night at the premiere, we were all laughing and joking about doing this again. So we would be on board if schedules can be worked out,” Newman said.
The numbers certainly suggest that Fox has more to gain from more The X-Files. Over 50 million international viewers spread across 80 countries tuned in for the two-part premiere in the first three days following its debut, and ratings stayed strong for the revival’s run, until a bit of a drop off when it was up against the Grammys this week. “Home Again” even beat out ABC’s powerhouse TGIT winter premieres in delayed viewing numbers last week.
Right now, the strongest indicator that this isn’t really the end for The X-Files seems to be the fact that “My Struggle II” is being promoted as the season finale and not a series finale. It seems Fox wants us to believe.