Chloé Zhao clarifies that the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer present is just not a reboot. The Academy Award winner directed the pilot episode of the brand new Buffy sequence, which continues to be awaiting a full sequence order from Hulu, and she or he can be an govt producer.
Zhao revealed in September that filming had wrapped on the pilot episode, which options Sarah Michelle Gellar reprising her titular function and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew actor Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the brand new Slayer and protagonist named Nova.
Throughout an interview with Selection, Zhao was requested what she may reveal in regards to the new Buffy pilot episode. Although the sequence has been incessantly known as a reboot, she explains that this isn’t correct and it’s as a substitute a sequel. Zhao emphasizes that along with Gellar returning, the unique forged of Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters may by no means get replaced, and followers ought to anticipate extra “OG characters” to return. Try her feedback under:
It isn’t a reboot. It’s a sequel. You’ll be able to by no means substitute these characters. I might by no means permit that. And Sarah’s again. I like my forged, the brand new forged. We’ll carry again OG characters for certain. And it’s a present that bridges two generations — it’s not simply in regards to the youngsters. I believe the fandom is so vital to us. We would like the fandom to see themselves mirrored within the authentic fandom. And naturally, we would like new followers to hitch, and it’s very a lot about each generations.
I watched religiously. I used to be at Mount Holyoke. We might all collect — I believe it was each Thursday or Tuesday — and we’d watch, since you solely get one episode and also you’re ready per week. It’s such a ritual. I keep in mind the final episode ending, and we sat there; everybody was crying, and we have been all holding palms. I keep in mind wanting on the display, tears streaming down my eyes, and I mentioned, “Good luck to you, Buffy Summers, good luck to you.” Seeing Sarah in actual life was in all probability one of the vital tense moments of my life.
As an alternative of being a reboot, the brand new Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a revival. It isn’t going to start out the story fully over once more with a complete new forged, however is as a substitute meant to be a mix of acquainted and unfamiliar faces constructing on every thing that has already occurred within the established universe. The unique characters are supposed to signify the prevailing fandom, which Zhao has been a loyal a part of for years, whereas the brand new characters signify the brand new followers.
Zhao’s feedback additionally verify that Buffy Summers won’t be the one authentic character to return. Different beloved characters who survived Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s ending have a robust likelihood of returning as nicely, together with Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hanigan), Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon), and Rupert Giles (Anthony Head). By supernatural means, authentic useless characters could have the potential to look too.
The main target will largely be on the brand new forged, which, together with Armstrong, options Sarah Bock, Faly Rakotohavana, Ava Jean, Daniel di Tomasso, Jack Cutmore-Scott, and Kingston Vernes. Many of the authentic character appearances will possible be to help and cross down important information to this new era as they battle vampires, demons, and different forces of darkness in Sunnydale, California.
There have been experiences that the Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel sequence will make its Hulu premiere in 2026. Whereas the pilot episode may very well be prepared by then, Hulu nonetheless wants to provide the present a full sequence with a purpose to transfer ahead. If this does occur, followers can relaxation assured that it’ll not change the present they love through a reboot, and it’ll as a substitute be a continuation helmed by a longtime fan.