'X-Files' Revival Casts 'Community' star Joel McHale

All of the X-Files casting to date has followed the return of old school stars like Mitch Pileggi and William B. Davis, but the latest acquisition for FOX’s 2016 revival comes from a different school altogether. Fresh off the (series?) finale of Community, Joel McHale will trade in Greendale for little green men.

According to the reports, Community lead and The Soup host McHale will pop up on The X-Files as Tad O’Malley, the anchor of a popular conservative Internet news network who becomes an unlikely ally for Mulder. McHale’s is also the first casting not borne of the original series, a pattern likely to continue as production begins this summer.

Thus far, FOX’s X-Files return has also confirmed Mitch Pileggi and William B. Davis to reprise their roles beside David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, apart from a shortlist that named Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish as candidates to return. On the creative side, writers and producers Chris Carter, Glen Morgan and Jim Wong will return to write and direct, with Frank Spotnitz also eyed to pitch in, and composer Mark Snow also coming aboard.

The X-Files will shoot this summer for a January 2016 premiere, but what other new stars might Mulder and Scully investigate?

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