Gillian Anderson Confirms She's Leaving The X-Files

The future of The X-Files is more uncertain than ever in the wake of Gillian Anderson's annoucement that she is officially leaving the series. Over the past few months, Anderson has made several comments suggesting she may not return for another season of The X-Files, but today she made the decision official.

"It's time for me to hang up Scully's hat. It just is," she told reporters during the Television Critics Association winter press tour. "I'm finished, and that's the end of that... 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."

It sounds like Anderson's decision is final, and not only that, she's not leaving the door open to return again in a smaller capacity. Even though her mind is made up, her co-star David Duchovny is less certain. He told reporters he'd "be good either way," if the show went on without Anderson, or if her exit marked the end of the series.

Fox Probably Won't Make More The X-Files Without Gillian Anderson

It sounds like we should all be worried about cancellation, seeing as creator and showrunner Chris Carter recently told Collider that Anderson's involvement was always crucial for him. "For me, The X-Files is Mulder and Scully. I think if it were without Scully, I wouldn't do it. That's not my X-Files," Carter said.

Chairman and CEO of Fox Dana Walden spoke to the issue of renewing The X-Files without Anderson's involvement last week, saying, "It seems like if those are the circumstances there won't be any more X-Files."

Anderson confirmed that she won't be coming back for a second season of American Gods, on which she played the god Media. American Gods showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green left the Starz series after the end of Season 1.

The X-Files is currently airing on Wednesday nights at 8/7c on Fox.