‘The X-Files’ Season 11 Spoilers: Reason Behind Mulder And Skinner’s Brawl Revealed

Mitch Pileggi as Skinner, Gillian Anderson as Scully — “The X-Files” star Mitch Pileggi revealed that Mulder (David Duchovny) and Skinner (Pileggi) are seen literally going at each other’s throats in the Season 11 trailer because of Scully (Gillian Anderson). Fox

“The X-Files” star Mitch Pileggi revealed the reason behind the unexpected physical altercation between Mulder and Skinner seen in the newly released trailer for Season 11 of the Fox series.

In a recent interview with TVLine, Pileggi said that Mulder (David Duchovny) and Skinner (Pileggi) are literally going at each other’s throats in the promo clip because of a woman they both care for.

“It’s about Scully (Gillian Anderson),” said Pileggi, before revealing that he has long attempted to send a message to the viewers that his character “might have a little crush on Scully” — an infatuation that has led him to have some “resentment toward Mulder.” Although Mulder and Skinner are friends, Pileggi said that a fist fight between the two isn’t that surprising as they are “bulls [with] a load of testosterone.”

But Pileggi pointed out that the intensity of the showdown between the two was actually brought down a notch or two during production. “It was supposed to be a lot more violent,” Pileggi revealed. “Originally, what the stunt people had blocked was a [real] brawl. And we were all like, ‘These two guys are friends. Unless they are in some kind of drug-induced state, I don’t think they would behave like that.’ So we pulled it back quite a bit.”

Despite the fight, which takes place early in the new season of the Chris Carter-created series, Pileggi said that Skinner is always on Mulder and Scully’s side.

“You’re going to find out a lot more about his past,” Pileggi told TVLine before the show’s panel at the New York Comic Con (NYCC) earlier this month. “Fans will find out who he is, where he comes from and why he is the way he is.” Pileggi went on to say that the 10-episode Season 11 will reveal that his cranky FBI boss is much more than just a guy “who sits in the office bitching at Scully and Mulder. Ultimately, he is their champion.”

During the NYCC panel, Skinner said that co-producer Gabe Rotter “did a great job” in writing the Skinner-centric episode in the upcoming season.

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