Ryan Coogler’s ‘X-Files’ Pilot Was Shot on 65mm Film and Could Become a Movie

The pilot for Ryan Coogler’s reboot of The X-Files officially wrapped earlier this month, and I’ve been hearing fascinating things about the behind-the-scenes developments on this project.

First off, the actual series hasn’t been greenlit by Hulu; only the pilot was shot, written, and directed by Coogler, with production wrapping last month. More curiously, reports indicate it was shot on 65mm film by his “Sinners” DP, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who won the Oscar for that film.

Now, it’s pretty rare for a TV series to be shot on 65mm film, and I would imagine the rest of the episodes might not be afforded the same luxury. The only other series shot on 65mm was the third season of Sam Levinson’s “Euphoria,” which went back and forth between 35mm and 65mm.

Here’s the most interesting part: the two-hour pilot might actually be turned into a feature film, or at least that’s what Coogler has asked Disney to consider. The studio has not yet made a decision, especially since the series as a whole has not yet been greenlit. Coogler is a strong champion of the theatrical experience, and bringing this X-Files project to theaters—whether in a limited or expanded release—seems to be an idea he has suggested.

Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel star in Coogler’s The X-Files as two accomplished yet contrasting FBI agents who are thrust together when they’re assigned to a long-defunct division specializing in mysterious, unexplained cases.

The pilot includes Amy Madigan (“Weapons”), Steve Buscemi (“Reservoir Dogs”), and Ben Foster (“Hell or High Water”). X-Files OGs David Duchovny or Gillian Anderson might also be involved in the reboot, but their participation is only a rumor for now.

Coogler, who is coming off the immense, career-defining success of “Sinners,” has stated that after he finishes “The X-Files,” he plans to shoot “Black Panther 3” next year, which is rumored to have a summer 2028 release date. It will mark his sixth feature film after “Fruitvale Station,” “Creed,” “Black Panther,” “Wakanda Forever,” and “Sinners.”