WhenThe X-Filesreturns with its highly-anticipatedevent seriesnext year, fans will be reunited with Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and a number of familiar and new characters alike. One of the returning characters is none other than CGB Spender, better known as The Cigarette Smoking Man, played byWilliam B. Davis. Today,TV Linehas a new poster, which teases the return of Spender, and while his face is obscured, it’s clear that The Cigarette Smoking Man hasn’t quite kicked the smoking habit yet.
William B. Davisappeared in 37 episodes ofThe X-Filesbetween 1993 and 2002, last appearing in the two-part series finale,The Truth. While it appeared that he was killed off in the finale, which lead to his exclusion in the 2008 movieThe X-Files: I Want to Believe, series creator and executive producerChris Carterhas resurrected theCigarette Smoking Man. In the original series, The Cigarette Smoking Man wasMulder’s arch nemesis, who was revealed to be named C.G.B. Spender inThe X-Files Season 6.
In related news,TV Linealso reports that a new trailer will debut on Fox during tonight’s episode ofGotham, which will feature never-before-seen footage. While it isn’t known if the Cigarette Smoking Man will be featured in thisX-Files trailer, we’ll keep you posted when the trailer debuts online. Hopefully we’ll find out soon how CGB Spender was presumably brought back from the dead as the countdown continues toThe X-Files' premiere.
The X-Files Revival is set thirteen years after the original series run, the next mind-bending chapter ofThe X-Filesis a thrilling, six-episode event series from creator/executive producerChris Carter, with starsDavid DuchovnyandGillian Andersonre-inhabiting their roles as iconic FBI AgentsFox MulderandDana Scully.Mitch Pileggialso returns as FBI Asst. Dir. Walter Skinner, Mulder and Scully’s boss, who walks a fine line between loyalty to these investigators and accountability to his superiors. This marks the momentous return of the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history.
The X-Filesdebuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jul 29, 2025 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC Championship Game, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The upcoming event series will encompass a mixture of stand-alone episodes and those that further the original show’s seminal mythology. The season premiere, entitledMy Struggle, follows Mulder and Scully as they take on the case of a possible alien abductee.David Duchovny,Gillian AndersonandMitch Pileggiwill be joined by original series starsAnnabeth Gishas Monica Reyes,William B. Davisas “Cigarette Smoking Man” and the computer hackers known as The Lone Gunman, Ringo Langly (Dean Haglund), Frohike (Tom Braidwood) and Byers (Bruce Harwood). The all-new episodes will feature appearances by guest stars, includingJoel McHale(Community),Robbie Amell(The Flash),Lauren Ambrose(Dig, Six Feet Under),Annabeth Gish(The Bridge), Annet Mahendru (The Americans),Rhys Darby(Flight of the Conchords),Kumail Nanjiani(Silicon Valley). Check out the new poster, and stay tuned for more onThe X-Files.
