Sarah Michelle Gellar is officially returning for a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer series at Hulu. Gellar originally played the role for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003 in the series created by Joss Whedon. Since the series concluded over two decades ago, Gellar has been adamant that she would not reprise her role. However, in December 2024 she publicly softened her stance, opening the door for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.
Variety reports that Gellar will potentially reprise her now-iconic role in a new sequel series set for Hulu, which is nearing a deal to produce a pilot. Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao would direct with a script from Nora and Lilla Zuckerman. Buffy would be featured in a recurring role, with the series focusing on a new Slayer.
Original series’ executive producer Gail Berman will return with Fran Kuzui and Kaz Kuzui. Dolly Parton will also act as executive producer, who silently produced the classic series. Gellar would act as a producer, a role she did not previously have. Whedon will not return in any capacity following allegations of misconduct that came to light in 2021.
What This Means For The Future Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer
It Will Act As A Sequel Series
Buffy the Vampire Slayer has never truly gone away. In 2007, an official canonical comic book series that was written by Whedon, Buffy writers, and other sci-fi alum lasted until 2018. The same was true for the spinoff Angel, which had its story continued in comic book form by a similar stable of creatives. Those series concluded due to Disney purchasing the licensing rights from Fox, and a new comic book universe kicked off. There was also an audio drama, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story that featured many returning cast members, though Gellar declined a chance to return as Buffy.
This sequel series will likely ignore all the past iterations of the comics and audio dramas, despite being considered canon up until this point. A sequel series will get a fresh start with a new Slayer taking up the mantle. Following the Buffy season 7 finale, an entire new generation of Slayers was born, opening up the universe to new possibilities.
Our Take On A Buffy The Vampire Slayer Sequel Series
It’s Past Time For Buffy To Return
In an era of reboots, remakes, and legacy sequels, it makes perfect sense for Buffy to return. The series is a beloved show with an impressive legacy. At this point, it is unclear if any other characters would appear. Some like Angel and Spike would be difficult, as they are ageless vampires, and it has been over 20 years since they were seen in live-action. However, depending on the budget, Hulu could always de-age them.
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14 Buffy The Vampire Slayer Characters Who Must Return In A Reboot
Though the reboot is currently stalled in production, a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot would need to include these 14 major and minor characters.
The series is also rightfully turning to a female creative team to bring Buffy the Vampire Slayer back. For a show that largely focused on female empowerment, especially in its first and final seasons, a new team of creatives should show a fresh perspective on what the show was, and how it could evolve.
Source: Variety