Late last week, TVWise broke the news that Fox was on the verge of handing an official green-light to a limited series revival of The X-Files, with series stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny on-board to reprise their roles. The network made that official today by formally greenlighting the project with a six episode order.

The network also confirmed that Chris Carter is on-board and will pen the scripts and serve as an executive producer on the limited series, which is set up at sister studio 20th Century Fox Television and Ten Thirteen Productions. Production is set to commence this Summer, though no air date has yet been set.

The revival comes some 13 years after The X-Files wrapped its intial run on the network, and some seven years after the release of second feature film I Want To Believe. “I think of it as a 13-year commercial break,” said Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files. “The good news is the world has only gotten that much stranger, a perfect time to tell these six stories.”

“We had the privilege of working with Chris on all nine seasons of The X-Files – one of the most rewarding creative experiences of our careers – and we couldn’t be more excited to explore that incredible world with him again,” said Fox toppers Gary Newman and Dana Walden. “The X-Files was not only a seminal show for both the studio and the network, it was a worldwide phenomenon that shaped pop culture – yet remained a true gem for the legions of fans who embraced it from the beginning. Few shows on television have drawn such dedicated fans as The X-Files, and we’re ecstatic to give them the next thrilling chapter of Mulder and Scully they’ve been waiting for.”

Fox fell short of confirming any further details, however, TVWise previously revealed that other key cast members – including Mitch Pileggi – are being eyed to reprise their roles in the X-Files revival. I hear that locations are currently being scouted in Vancouver for the limited series, which will close out storylines left unresolved by the initial nine season run and both feature films.

Meanwhile, offers are understood to be going out to former members of the production team who worked on The X-Files, including Frank Spotnitz. Casting is also underway for several new characters on the limited event series, with Fox looking for some big name actors for “key roles”.