How’s this for a wild conspiracy theory: Fox’s upcoming X-Files revival doubles as a backdoor pilot for a possible new series starring The Flash‘s Robbie Amell and Six Feet Under‘s Lauren Ambrose.

Crazy, right?! Well, rumor has it the idea to potentially spin off Mills and Einstein, the new alien-hunting FBI agents played by Amell and Ambrose in the forthcoming continuation, was bandied about. But it appears the project has gone the way of the Smoking Man (AKA it’s dead… but could come back to life?).

When I spoke to series creator Chris Carter last month at New York Comic-Con, he didn’t deny that the potential for a new, Amell-and-Ambrose-fronted series was out there. But he didn’t confirm it either. Instead, he noted that the pair’s X-Files contracts do not contain “a series deal beyond” the six-episode revival, adding, “People can speculate, but [their pacts] weren’t negotiated that way.”

Asked if the thought of an Amell/Ambrose X-Files offshoot ever crossed his mind, Carter replied, “Right now I’m focused on doing the show with David [Duchovny] and Gillian [Anderson].”

Speaking of which, the X-Files returns with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 following the NFC Championship Game, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8/7c). In addition to Carter, Anderson and Duchovny, cast members Mitch Pileggi and William B. Davis will be on hand for the event series, as will writer-producers Glen Morgan, James Wong and Darin Morgan.