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Gillian Anderson heading to Netflix to get ‘Sex Education’

By Cynthia Vinney

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Earlier this year, Emmy winner Gillian Anderson said she would not be returning to “The X-Files,” and now it seems she’s chosen her next act: a Netflix dramedy called “Sex Education.”

In a tweet, the streaming service announced that Gillian Anderson would play an “uninhibited sex therapist” in the series. Asa Butterfield, from movies like Ender’s Game and Hugo, will also appear as Anderson’s socially awkward son, a virgin “who sets up an underground sex therapy clinic at his high school.” The show will debut in 2019.

Fans may be disappointed that Anderson will no longer be searching for the truth that’s out there as FBI Agent Dana Scully. But Anderson’s new role promises to present her with different challenges—something she said she was hoping to find when she announced she wouldn’t be back on The X-Files.

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In January, TVLine reported that during the Television Critics Association winter press tour. Anderson explained her reason for leaving her most famous role. She said,

"…there are lots of things that I want to do in my life and career. It’s been an extraordinary opportunity. I’m extremely grateful. [But] I don’t want to be tied down to doing one thing for months and months… I like to be challenged as an actor. That’s why I got into this business. And it’s time for me to hang up Scully’s hat. This is it for me — I’m really serious."

While as usual the finale of the latest season of The X-Files, its eleventh, was open-ended, Fox declined to renew the series for the 2018-2019 season, according to Entertainment Weekly. Gary Newman, CEO, and chairman of Fox Television said there were no plans to make more X-Files anytime soon.

Next: American Gods replacing Gillian Anderson: 5 Perfect actresses to take her place

Despite fans’ continued identification of Anderson with Scully, her career has actually been quite varied. She’s appeared on numerous television series including Hannibal, The Fall, and American Gods.

Are you excited to see Anderson take on a new role in the new Netflix series? Or would you rather she and Fox gave another season of The X-Files a chance? Let us know in the comments!

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