Chris Carter Hints At An ‘X-Files’ Finale Cliffhanger — And More Seasons May Be On The Way

There’s one episode left of Fox’s six-part “X-Files” revival miniseries, and series creator Chris Carter promises a nail-biter.

“Get ready for the finale,” Carter told International Business Times. “Put your seat belts on, because it’s a big one.”

Airing Monday, the episode titled “My Struggle II” will pick up where the season’s premiere left off. Conspiracy theorist and web TV show host Tad O’Malley (played by guest star Joel McHale) warns of “a discovery so shocking you’ll want to prepare yourself.” Panic spreads when people around the country start becoming gravely ill — and it’s up to Agents Mulder and Scully to uncover the truth.

Sounds like a lot of ground to cover in just one hour. Will “X-Files” fans finally get the answers they’ve waited 23 years for?

Carter hints that the finale might not tie everything up: “It wouldn’t be ‘The X-Files’ if it didn’t end on a cliffhanger.”

Fans who remember waiting an excruciating six months between the Season 4 finale in May 1997 (ZOMG, is Agent Mulder really dead?!) and the next season premiere in November are well practiced in patience when it comes to the elusive truth. But that’s a little harder to stomach when there’s uncertainty about when — and even if — a season 11 will happen.

Rest easy, assures Carter, citing the solid ratings “The X-Files” has grabbed every week since it returned in January. The show has managed to win every Monday night in the coveted 18-49 demographic except Feb. 15, when it aired against the Grammys.

“The ratings have been good — I can’t imagine there won’t be more. Ratings are what it’s all about,” said Carter. “But no specific conversations have been had. It was mentioned [by Fox executives] in passing to me, but it was tangential to another conversation.”

But “X-Files” fans know better than to take Carter’s obfuscations at face value: They were raised on the show’s “trust no one” mantra, after all. Given that “The X-Files” is a property that basically mints money, it’s unlikely that the higher-ups at Fox aren’t scrambling to nail down the availability of stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. In fact, Fox co-Chairman and CEO Gary Newman said earlier this year that scheduling is the biggest impediment to a new season.

Until then? Carter hopes the finale will excite fans. “We came back to do fresh, original material,” he said. “The response has been very satisfying.”

“The X-Files” miniseries concludes Monday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. EST on Fox.