Gillian Anderson confirms authenticity of "X-Files" car crash, discloses additional mishap in scene

Gillian Anderson has disclosed that filming a memorable scene for The X-Files involved not one, but two genuine accidents. The revelation came during her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, where she confirmed that the car crash seen behind her in the season 3 episode "War of the Coprophages" along with a man colliding with her immediately afterward were both real incidents.

When host Jimmy Kimmel asked if the crash behind her was authentic, Anderson simply replied, "Yeah, it was." She clarified that the people involved were likely stunt performers, adding context to the unexpected occurrence during filming.

The episode, inspired by H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, follows Scully and Mulder investigating whether a swarm of killer cockroaches terrorizing a small town are actual insects or extraterrestrial robotic probes. Despite the on-set chaos, Anderson remained composed, though she admitted she would likely react very differently if a similar accident occurred today. "I mean, these days, I probably would've said, 'Oh my God, are you kidding me?'" she said. "But I just went on with it."

Kimmel also noted that a frantic man bumps into Scully as she enters a convenience store near the crash. Anderson confirmed that this too was probably an accident, making it two unplanned incidents in a single shot.

Delighted by the revelation, Kimmel exclaimed, "Two accidents in one shot? It's an X-File in and of itself! When asked if the director, Kim Manners, was pleased that she continued filming, Anderson responded that she couldn't remember, but assumed the footage added tension and value to the scene.

The X-Files premiered in 1993 and grew into a cultural phenomenon with nine seasons, two films, multiple spinoffs, and a revival for two more seasons from 2016 to 2018. The series may see further developments, as director Ryan Coogler has confirmed plans for a reboot, and Anderson has already expressed her interest in collaborating with him on the project.

Anderson told This Morning in May that she encouraged Coogler to pursue the reboot and invited him to involve her, saying, "Call me."

Author: Natalie Monroe