Ryan Coogler to reunite with his Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Autumn Durald for the X-Files reboot series 

Ryan Coogler's Sinners already made headlines after emerging as one of the most powerful performers at BAFTA 2026. Now, according to reports, he is set to reunite with Academy Award-nominated Autumn Durald for the upcoming X-Files rendition.

Autumn Durald is a renowned cinematographer who has worked behind the lens for many prestigious projects, including Palo Alto and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She was launched into fame with Sinners, where she worked with Cooglers.

Speaking to Variety, Durald mentioned:

"You dream about those things. It’s a dream come true."

Ryan Coogler and Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Autumn Durald will collaborate for the X-Files reboot

Speaking to Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast, Autumn Durald opened up about how he met Coogler:

“I saw him once at a cafe, and I told him this after the fact. We were both eating, and he was with (his wife and producer) Zinzi, and I remember I was with my agent having lunch, and I saw that he was at the table next to me, but we had never met. I didn’t know if he knew who I was. So that was the first time I was in the same space as him, and I clocked him.”

According to reports, Durald and Ryan Coogler are in talks about Black Panther 3, which, when brought to life, will be their third collaboration. Their journey and collaboration as creative powers began with the 16 Oscar-nominated film that was released in 2025. The film earned Coogler worldwide recognition. Sinners got 13 BAFTA nominations.

Ryan Coogler's period drama offered a fresh blend of music, drama, and thrilling storytelling that takes viewers back to the 1930s American South. The film offers deep engagement with many themes, such as violence and survival.

Offered from a visually striking lens, Sinners used a refreshing scale and intimacy. Its technical ambition stood out during awards season, where the film grabbed many nominations across platforms. It was closely followed by Hamnet.

Ryan Coogler has shown a penchant for character-driven stories that operate within both independent cinema and major studio systems. His first entry was Fruitvale Station. The director's next work was Creed, and he later revitalized a legacy franchise, and then brought his talent to the Marvel landscape with Black Panther.

X-Files is a popular 1993 sci-fi series that ran till 2002 and involved two FBI agents investigating paranormal cases. This project will then mark the duo's second horror collaboration after Sinners.

Ryan Coogler 's work has earned major honors, including Cannes awards, multiple Oscar nominations, and consistent recognition from guilds and critics’ groups, establishing him as one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation.

Autumn Durald has built a strong name with her immersive storytelling skills. Her immersive technique is displayed across film and television, including The Sun Is Also a Star and Marvel’s Loki.

Durald commented on her work with Buddy Guy in Sinners:

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“It was a very special day because we were shooting these two formats that had never been together before, and then also just having Buddy Guy on set your first day of shooting, the pressure was on but it went beautifully.”

The collaboration with Coogler launched her into record-setting success. She emerged as the first female cinematographer to shoot on IMAX 65mm and Ultra Panavision 70. Apart from BAFTA, she was also recognized by prestigious platforms like the American Society of Cinematographers and the British Society of Cinematographers.

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