Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Charisma Carpenter shares her candid thoughts about returning as Cordelia after the character’s controversial death. It was confirmed in early February that Hulu greenlit a pilot order for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot. Sarah Michelle Gellar will recur, reprising her iconic role as Buffy Summers, though the focus will turn to a new slayer. Oscar-winning Nomadland director Chloé Zhao will direct the pilot, with Poker Face showrunners Lilla and Nora Zuckerman writing the script. The project has not been picked up yet, although fans are wondering which original cast members might return.
According to Collider, while speaking at the Indiana Comic-Con over the weekend, Carpenter touched on the possibility of returning as Cordelia. The actor, an original cast member for the first three seasons of Buffy, before moving on to the spinoff Angel, acknowledged that the Hulu pilot is still in its early stages. But despite Cordelia’s death in Angel season 5, and despite the fact that she asked for the character not to be killed off, Carpenter says she does hope to be substantively involved with the reboot. Read the quote below:
“I hope so. From what I understand, there isn’t even a pilot at the moment, so I hope — if I am involved — I hope so in some fashion it’s more in a substantive way. That would be my dream.”
What Cordelia’s Return Might Mean For The Reboot
It Could Be A Chance To Do Things Over
Carpenter spoke out about the workplace abuse allegations against Buffy creator and Angel co-creator Joss Whedon, recalling how he targeted her and lashed out at her because of her pregnancy. This experience that Carpenter shared arguably manifested on-screen, in the eyes of many fans, with how drastically Cordelia’s storylines shifted before the character was written off at the end of Angel season 4.
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In the book Slayers & Vampires: The Complete Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Buffy & Angel by authors Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman, Carpenter spoke about returning as a special guest star for the Angel season 5 episode “You’re Welcome.” In the episode, which is also Angel‘s 100th episode overall, Cordelia makes her final appearance. She awakes from her coma and helps David Boreanaz’s brooding vamp on his journey one last time. The character does appear in the post-show comics, which are considered canon.
The Zuckermans will executive produce the reboot, as will Zhao and Gellar alongside original producers Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui, and Kaz Kuzui. Dolly Parton, an uncredited producer during the original, is also among the executive producers for the 20th Television and Searchlight Television reboot. Whedon is not involved in the project,
In the oral history, Carpenter shares that her one request for returning was that Cordelia wouldn’t be killed off. This was agreed to, Carpenter recalls, which left her surprised when she read the script. The actor acknowledged that Cordelia’s send-off was emotional and touching. But for the fandom that adored the character, it’s hard not to view the story through the context of how Carpenter was treated overall.
Our Take On Carpenter’s Potential Return
It Depends On How It’s Done
In her capacity as the returning star and executive producer, Gellar has said that the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is progressing well. There are likely many conversations now about which characters to bring back and how. As Carpenter says herself, it would have to be done in a meaningful way. That’s not always a guarantee with reboots.
Source: Collider