Robert Patrick is totally willing to return as Doggett for more X-Files

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

By the end of the seventh season of The X-Files, it was clear that David Duchovny wanted out. An agreement was eventually reached which would see the actor return for roughly half of episodes in the eighth season, but Scully (Gillian Anderson) would need a new partner. Robert Patrick wound up being that partner, stepping into the role of Agent John Doggett, and the series was certainly lucky to have him. The X-Files wasn't the show it once was, exactly when that decline began varies from fan to fan, but for me, Robert Patrick represented a breath of fresh air in a series which was quickly growing stale. Doggett's partnership with Scully was obviously quite different from her relationship with Mulder, but it nonetheless grew into something quite special. When it was announced that The X-Files would be returning for a six episode revival series, I had hoped that Robert Patrick might put in an appearance as Doggett, but due to his commitments on CBS' Scorpion, he was unable to take part.

With The X-Files gearing up for another season, there's still time for Robert Patrick to step back into the world of aliens, monsters, and government conspiracies, which he's apparently totally willing to do.

I haven’t heard from [The X-Files creator] Chris [Carter], but I am totally willing to go back if I think it’s the right thing to do and if they want me to do it. But at this point, no one has asked me anything; I would certainly be interested. But I’m always the last to know with this kind of stuff. I think the world of Chris, and I certainly loved the experience on The X-Files. I see no reason to not go back and do it.

At the moment, only David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and Mitch Pileggi are confirmed to be returning for the upcoming season, but I'd certainly welcome the return of Robert Patrick as John Doggett as well. Scripts for the ten episode season are currently being written and production is set to kick off in Vancouver later this summer for what will hopefully be an improvement over the past season. As for what sort of stories will be told, we're not sure, but the first episode will (hopefully) resolve the sizable cliffhanger we were left with. It's also been rumoured by Michael Ausiello at TVLine that Scully "won't be in the best of shape" when the series returns, and, much like last year, the season will be book-ended by mythology episodes written and directed by Chris Carter.

Although the past season didn't come close to living up to my expectations, I was still able to enjoy it for what it was and appreciate the opportunity to spend a little more time with Mulder and Scully. However, with just six episodes to reintroduce audiences to the characters and concepts of the series, it wound up feeling a little rushed, but the upcoming season will thankfully give us a little more breathing room. David Duchovny recently spoke with IGN about that very issue.

I think the handicap of the last season with only six episodes was just that — six episodes. So much ground had to be covered even in the first two [episodes], which was reiterating or repeating or reminding people of the show and [its] issues … and the characters and their issues. It was a lot of treading water that had to be done to satisfy both old and new viewers. And by the time we did that we were already almost halfway through what we were doing. I think now that we have ten [episodes], obviously, there’s going to be a little bit of recap, a little bit of refresher — I’m assuming. … But once we handle that, then I think we’re off and running for a good nine and a half episodes. This is gonna be great. It will be more relaxed. I think it will be a better season.

Would you like to see Robert Patrick return for more X-Files? Which other X-Files characters would you like to see put in an appearance in the new season?