The X-Files renewal: David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson on the return of Mulder and Scully

The X-Files is officially returning to TV screens with ten new episodes, with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their roles as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.

The actors took to Twitter and revealed the news to fans. Anderson posted two goofy photos with her co-star Duchovny and wrote, "You ready for more of this @davidduchovny? #TheXFiles".

Duchovny responded to his co-star's tweet and said, "Oh yes, Been ready since '93" He also tweeted a gif of Mulder and Scully with the iconic phrase: 'Truth is out there'.

The series, which originally debuted in September 1993 for a nine-season run, returned in January 2016 with a 6-episode min-series. The finale of which – titled My Struggle II – ended on a cliffhanger with a mysterious UFO appearing in the middle of a highway with a spotlight pointed directly at agent Scully. Mulder too was last seen in a poor state after contracting a Spartan virus.

Creator Chris Carter will return as an executive producer for the 10-episode season while Fox president David Madden said the next chapter of The X-Files will be a return to form featuring familiar, bold narratives.

He said, "Iconic characters, rich storytelling, bold creators – these are the hallmarks of great TV shows. And they are some of the reasons why The X-Files has had such a profound impact on millions of fans worldwide. "

He continued, "Chris' creativity, along with the brilliant work of David and Gillian, continue to propel this pop culture phenomenon, and we can't wait to see what fresh mysteries Mulder and Scully uncover in this next chapter of The X-Files." Filming for the upcoming series will begin in summer 2017 and the show is expected to air sometime in late 2017 or early 2018.