Gillian Anderson is leaving both The X-Files and American Gods

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Gillian Anderson is standing firm, taking every opportunity to reiterate that she is done with The X-Files. The latest reconfirmation of her exit came during her appearance on a panel that was part of the Television Critics Association's winter press tour. Speaking to the gathered press, Anderson said,

It's time for me to hang up Scully's hat. It just is. I'm finished, and that's the end of that.

I arrived at the decision before we did the previous six, but I was really curious. I felt that the previous six was going to be it. It was dipping our toe back in again … and getting to play these wonderful characters again. I think as [series creator] Chris [Carter] has said himself, that short stack of episodes felt like we were learning how to walk again and that this season of 10 feels like the pace is up and we're running.

I wouldn't necessarily have been happy if those six were how we said goodbye. … There's lots of things that I want to do in my life and in my career and it's been an extraordinary opportunity and extraordinary character and I am hugely grateful."

The X-Files isn't the only show Anderson is leaving. She has also announced that she will not be returning to the Starz series American Gods, in which she played the New God Media, a role that allowed her to take on the guise of multiple pop culture icons. Anderson is dropping out of American Gods in solidarity with former showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, who left the series over budgetary issues.

I'm not doing any more American Gods. Bryan and Michael Green aren't either, as has been announced."

X-Files creator Chris Carter has expressed some uncertainty over how the franchise might carry on without Anderson's character. Whatever the future holds for the series, co-star David Duchovny is at peace with it. If the series ends with the current season or if it continues without Anderson, Duchovny says he's "good either way".

I've tried to say goodbye to Fox Mulder many times and I failed. And they all went and did the show without me, so how do you like that?"

(Duchovny was largely absent from the eighth and ninth seasons of The X-Files.)

Now in its eleventh and possibly final season, The X-Files airs on Fox on Wednesday nights.