Ryan Coogler’s ‘X-Files’ Reboot Gets ’90s Sci-Fi Companion Adaptation

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Ryan Coogler initially gained recognition for his dramatic films, Fruitvale Station and Creed, before successfully transitioning to science fiction with Black Panther. His work within the Marvel Cinematic Universe demonstrated his ability to manage large-scale productions and develop compelling characters. His recent Oscar victory for Sinners, a supernatural thriller with complex relationships, further highlighted his talent and even helped alleviate concerns among fans about his planned revival of The X-Files.

Ryan Coogler is bringing back The X-Files, and has cast Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel as the lead agents. He’s a fan of the original series and wants to honor its legacy while making it relevant for modern audiences. This isn’t the only classic sci-fi show Coogler is reviving; he’s also supporting a reboot of another series from the same 90s era. While The X-Files‘ Mulder and Scully are well-remembered, Coogler is looking to breathe new life into other forgotten sci-fi properties of that time, ensuring his X-Files reboot has a companion show with a similar nostalgic feel.

Ryan Coogler Is Taking Fans Back to ’90s Book Fairs

Ryan Coogler will executive produce a pilot for a new TV series based on the popular young adult book series, Animorphs. Written by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant, the original series spanned 54 books between 1996 and 2001. The story centers on five teenagers – Jake, Rachel, Cassie, Tobias, and Marco – whose lives are dramatically changed when they encounter a dying alien called an Andalite. The Andalite gives them the power to shapeshift into any animal. Using this ability, the teens fight a secret war against the Yeerks, a parasitic alien race that invades human bodies and takes control.

The books in this series were unique because each one was narrated from the point of view of a different character, helping readers understand what each hero was going through. Even though the teenagers had to deal with normal school life, they secretly called themselves the Animorphs and were working to identify humans who had been taken over by an alien force. The stories covered typical teenage issues like family and relationships, but also explored bigger, more complex themes. The Animorphs series doesn’t shy away from difficult emotions, looking at things like trauma, growing up too fast, and the complicated ethics of war.

Unlike the new X-Files series, Ryan Coogler isn’t writing the Animorphs adaptation. That task has been given to Bayan Wolcott, who has worked on shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Time After Time. The Animorphs series is being developed with Disney+, and early reports suggest it will have a similar tone to Disney+’s Percy Jackson show – aiming for a family-friendly feel that will appeal to a wide audience. While many details are still secret, Variety reports the show will closely follow the original Animorphs story.

This story centers on a group of high school students who discover a dangerous secret hidden just beneath the surface of their normal lives, all while dealing with the typical teenage challenges of friends, family, and school.

‘Animorphs’ Was First Adapted to TV 28 Years Ago

Ryan Coogler is reportedly developing a new television series based on Animorphs, but this isn’t the first attempt to adapt the books for TV. The original authors created a show for Nickelodeon in 1998, even before the book series finished, which lasted for two seasons and 26 episodes. Animorphs boasted a strong team of up-and-coming talent, both in front of and behind the camera. Scott Peters, who later created The 4400 and rebooted V, and Carl Ellsworth, the writer of thrillers like Red Eye and Disturbia, were both writers on the show. Shawn Levy, now known for directing Deadpool & Wolverine, also directed three episodes of Animorphs early in his career, following other Nickelodeon projects like The Secret World of Alex Mack.

The show stars Shawn Ashmore as Jake, a role he took before becoming known as Ice Man in the X-Men movies and Lamplighter in The Boys. Paulo Costanzo, who you might recognize from Designated Survivor and Royal Pains, plays Ax, the group’s alien guide, and Brooke Nevin (Breakout Kings) plays Rachel. Animorphs is a fun blast from the past, reminding viewers of 90s TV. While it wasn’t a lost masterpiece, even original fans acknowledge the show struggled with a limited budget, resulting in less-than-impressive special effects and a story toned down for a younger audience. Despite these issues, the Animorphs books still have a dedicated following, and this new series is a great way to introduce the story to a whole new generation of sci-fi fans.

Ryan Coogler Is Establishing Himself as a Prominent Name in Nostalgic Sci-Fi TV

By adding Animorphs and The X-Files to his growing list of projects, director Ryan Coogler quickly became known as someone to watch in the world of revamped science fiction television. Speaking at a Cinespia event (as reported by Variety), Coogler explained that his interest in Creed stemmed from a bond with his father, while The X-Files was a show he enjoyed with his mother, saying:

Just like ‘Rocky’ was something special I shared with my dad, ‘The X-Files’ is that thing with my mom. She means everything to me – she’s here tonight, actually – so this is a really important moment for me. I want to make her and the fans proud. She’s already read some of my work on it, and she’s really excited!

Considering Ryan Coogler’s age, he likely grew up reading the Animorphs books from Scholastic Book Fairs and watching the 1998 Nickelodeon TV series. Although he hasn’t said so publicly, Animorphs could be a project that connects him with his childhood, representing a long-held dream. While this is just speculation, it might offer insight into how Coogler selects his projects.

He’s worked on popular Marvel shows like Eyes of Wakanda and Ironheart, which shows he has a good working relationship with Disney – a positive sign for the potential Animorphs series. However, the show is still only in the pilot stage, and there’s no certainty it will be made. A previous attempt to create an Animorphs movie failed when the original authors left the project, so this new adaptation isn’t a sure thing. If his plans for both The X-Files and Animorphs succeed, it could establish him as a talented director who can successfully bring beloved, nostalgic stories to television.

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2026-04-16 19:35