While the "X-Files" revival has plenty of new faces, much of the original series cast is also on board to appear in the sequel series -- including Mitch Pileggi, who portrayed FBI Agent Walter Skinner on the hit FOX show. The actor recently opened up about his excitement to return to the series, and shared his fear of not being asked to come back.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Pileggi recounted his experience when he heard about the "X-Files" revival: "My thought was, 'I wonder if they're going to call?' ['The X-Files' creator Chris Carter] didn't tell me I was in the second movie until halfway through shooting it; they're shooting the movie, and Chris is like, 'You're in the movie.' And I was like, [Joking] 'Oh, really? Thanks for the info.'"

According to Pileggi, "X-Files" and the character of Skinner have always been a major part of his professional life, noting, "I was ready to do whatever they wanted me to do. It's a great character, a great show, and the excitement about it coming back is palpable. It's a huge part of my life. And it's a huge part of my career."

Pileggi continued, "I told Chris, 'I owe a huge part of my career to you, and to Wes Craven.' [Craven wrote/directed the 1989 film, Shocker, which Pileggi starred in.] Those two people are the most instrumental people in any success I've had. So it's very important to me."

Describing his character's relationship to Mulder and Scully in the revival, Pileggi says Skinner is the one who motivates Mulder to get back in the game: "Them being back in the picture, he has this connection with them, and it's a very important connection; he's attached to them. And he's also telling Mulder, there's shit going on out there, and you need to do something about it. Things, perhaps, I don't know how to do — paths you know how to follow that I don't. And methods you use that I don't. It's just the nature of who Mulder is — Skinner says, 'You need to figure this shit out.'"

"The X-Files" returns Sunday, January 24 on FOX.