TV Wise: Fox Could Order 10 Episodes for X-Files Season 11

EXCLUSIVE: After months of rumours, an eleventh season of The X-Files is within sight. I’m hearing from my sources that Fox execs are targeting a “more traditional” episode order for the new season and that the official green-light is expected from the network “within weeks”.

Sources are reluctant to say much of anything either on the record or on background, but I’m hearing that after hoping to convince Chris Carter, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson to sign on for a thirteen episode eleventh season, Fox senior executives, led by Dana Walden, have settled on an order in the range of 8-10 episodes. (UPDATE: Additional sources are now saying the order will be for ten episodes)

Just as it was the last go around, the biggest hurdle has been scheduling, with finding an opening in the work schedule of the always busy Gillian Anderson being a key issue. That has been all but resolved and, while there are still some key deal points (fear not, I hear Fox got the memo on equal pay) all three are set to return for the new season, which I’m told is eyeing a Spring/Mid-2017 production start in Vancouver. Sources also tell TVWise that Fox is eyeing the new season for a key slot on their 2017 Fall schedule.

Once the official pick-up comes down, talks will then begin with other key players who are deemed vital for the new season. That includes Glen Morgan, who wrote and executive produced season ten, and Mitch Pileggi who plays Mulder and Scully’s erstwhile boss, FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner. Chris Carter will once again serve as lead writer, executive producer and showrunner. There is no word on who Carter is looking at to staff the writers room for these new episodes, which will have to pick up from the cliffhanger ending of season ten.

The larger episode order, while good news for fans of The X-Files, is expected to play well with both Fox’s international sales division, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, and foreign broadcasters – some of whom were initially a little wary of signing on to air the short tenth season, which consisted of a mere six episodes. Representatives of both Fox and 20th Century Fox Television declined to comment.

TVWise.com