‘The X-Files’: Robert Patrick May Return As John Doggett For Season 11

Robert Patrick may reprise his role as FBI Special Agent John Doggett in Season 11 of Fox’s “The X-Files.”

In an interview with TVLine, series creator Chris Carter revealed that the “Scorpion” actor was supposed to appear in one of the early installments of the new season. “I actually wrote him into an episode,” Carter said. “But then I found out he wasn’t going to be available to us [because of ‘Scorpion’] so I had to write him out of the episode.”

“Scorpion is his first priority,” Carter added, “[But] that’s not to say you won’t see him this season.”

Patrick confirmed to the news outlet that it was really a scheduling conflict with “Scorpion” that prevented him from doing the episode. But the 58-year-old actor made it clear that he’s “game” to return to the sci-fi series if his schedule permits.

Patrick told TV Insider last August that he “certainly loved” the experience he had on “The X-Files” so he sees “no reason to not go back and do it.”

Patrick appeared in 40 episodes of the show’s original run. He joined the series in Season 8 in 2000, along with Annabeth Gish, who played Doggett’s partner, Agent Monica Reyes. Unlike Patrick, Gish reprised her role in Season 10 and is already set to return for Season 11.

Patrick revealed to the Canadian Press in 2015 that he wasn’t officially asked to be part of Season 10 even though producers asked about his availability before production on the season started. But even if he got a formal invitation to join Season 10, the actor admitted that he wasn’t sure whether he would say yes.

“I had time to think about, ‘Do I want to revisit that character?’ and I wasn't so sure I did,” Patrick said at the time. “When I left the show, the show was a hit, it was still doing well in the ratings. I was not sure why they were pulling the plug on it to begin with. And at the time, I was really ready to let that play. I was committed to doing it for five years.”

Would you like to see Patrick’s Agent Doggett in Season 11? Sound off in the comments section below!

“The X-Files” Season 11 is slated to premiere midseason on Fox.