The X-Files premiered all the way back in 1993 (that makes us feel pretty darn old now) and went on to become one of the greatest cult TV shows of all time. Who didn’t love following the adventures of Mulder and Scully to see if they could find the truth in their investigations? We were certainly hooked, and some of us have the DVD box sets at home to dust off every few years.
There is a lot involved in the making of a cult TV show, and The X-Files is a great example of how to make a show properly. But, we’re willing to bet that, no matter how big of a fan you are, there are probably some things about the show you never knew. Check out these awesome facts that we found out, and we bet you never knew about The X-Files – join us, as we discover these ‘truths’ about one of the best ever TV shows.
Basis in reality?
You might not be aware, but creator Chris Carter actually came up with the idea for the show based on a public opinion survey. After reading a 1991 Pulitzer Prize-winning survey which stated that close to 3.7 million Americans claimed to have been abducted by aliens, he was inspired. This is a story, Carter claimed, that everyone would want to hear. It seems he was right because the show went on to become one of the most successful and popular of all time.
Scully was modeled on Clarice Starling
Before we had The X-Files and Dana Scully, there was another spunky redhead fighting against the system, and the evils of the world – Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs. Carter was inspired by the movie, and the character, and chose to use Clarice as an influence when creating the character of Scully. In face, Carter is even quoted as stating in an interview “It’s no mistake that Dana Scully and Clarice Starling both have red hair.”
Anderson went through the ringer
Gillian Anderson is one of the finest actresses of her generation, and Scully is arguably her best-known role, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. For starters, the studio wanted someone they perceived as more ‘glamorous’ than Anderson, but Carter dug his heels in. As if that weren’t enough, during the first season of the show, Anderson was pregnant, and would often catch sleep on set during filming, as she didn’t want to sacrifice her part.
There was a spinoff
Yes, believe it or not, there was a spinoff of the series, though it was very short-lived. The Lone Gunmen, a trio of conspiracy theorists who ran a conspiracy magazine were fan favorites in the show. And this led to them receiving their own spinoff show in 2001, which ran for just one season. The show was fun, and tried to do things a little differently, but it didn’t last very long and was promptly canceled.
These are just a few of these awesome things we bet you never knew about The X-Files. The show is so iconic and influential, and there are so many areas of modern entertainment that have been influenced by the show. These are just a handful of the cool and unusual things we bet you never knew about the series.
