Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment is set to guest star in the Skinner-centric episode of Season 11 of “The X-Files.” Pictured: Osment attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “'Entourage” at Regency Village Theatre on June 1, 2015 in Westwood, California. Getty Images/Frazer Harrison

Haley Joel Osment has landed a guest-starring role in Season 11 of Fox’s “The X-Files.”

Details about Osment’s character are being kept under wraps, but Deadline reported that the actor will be featured heavily in the episode that will reveal Skinner’s (Mitch Pileggi) backstory.

“You’re going to find out a lot more about his past,” Pileggi told TVLine of what viewers can expect from the Skinner-centric episode. “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 episode will reveal that his cranky FBI boss is much more than just a guy “who sits in the office grumbling at Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny).” “Ultimately, he is their champion,” the 65-year-old actor said of his character.

As revealed during the show’s panel at the New York Comic Con earlier this month, the Skinner-centric episode was written by series co-producer Gabe Rotter. “He did a great job with it,” Pileggi said (via Entertainment Weekly) of Rotter. “I’m very happy [about it]. You’re all going to be finding out more about Wally.”

Shortly after news of Osment’s casting was announced, Pileggi took to Twitter to share that it was a “treat” to work with Osment.

Osment rose to prominence for his performance as Cole Sear in M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller “The Sixth Sense,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for best support actor. The 29-year-old actor subsequently appeared in leading roles in several high-profile Hollywood films, including Steven Spielberg’s “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” and Mimi Leder’s “Pay It Forward.”

On TV, Osment recently recurred on HBO’s “Silicon Valley” and TVLand’s “Teachers.” He’s also part of the cast of the upcoming Hulu series “Future Man,” which also stars Josh Hutcherson, Eliza Coupe and Derek Wilson, among many others.

Aside from Osment, other actors who will make their “The X-Files” debut in Season 11 are Brian Huskey as Reggie and Barbara Hershey as Erika Price.

In addition to Skinner, Duchovny and Anderson, other returning cast members for the upcoming installment are William B. Davis as Cigarette Smoking Man, Annabeth Gish as Monica Reyes, Robbie Amell as Miller, and Lauren Ambrose as Einstein.

“The X-Files” 10-episode Season 11 will premiere midseason on Fox.

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