Why passing on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot was a mistake
When Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans heard the beloved series was getting a reboot with Sarah Michelle Gellar ready to sharpen her stakes for another dance with the undead, the collective gasp of surprise was deafening. It’s been more than two decades since Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and its spinoff series, Angel, starring David Boreanaz as the smoldering vampire detective (of sorts), prowled the streets of Sunnydale beneath a full moon, creating more than enough space for people to crave a revival. Yes, the Buffyverse continued in comic book form thanks to Dark Horse Comics, but as you know, a live-action reunion hits different. For an IP as monumental and formative as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, nothing short of a tried-and-true live-action revival will do. So, when Hulu announced its passing on the highly anticipated Buffy reboot, elation quickly turned into torches and pitchforks. Did Hulu make a mistake by canceling plans to reboot the series? Yes. Yes, they did.
What was Gellar and Zhao’s vision?
Before I get up on my soapbox, let’s press rewind on this situation.
Sarah Michelle Gellar recently told People that she never thought she’d return to Sunnydale. However, four years ago, Eternals and Hamnet director Chloé Zhao, a self-proclaimed Buffy superfan, approached Gellar about continuing the slayer’s story, and Gellar quickly discovered she could not say no. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, titled New Sunnydale, was designed as a continuation of the original world rather than a straightforward remake. While Gellar would have starred in the new show, the focus would be on a new, 16-year-old “Chosen One” named Nova, played by Star Wars: Skeleton Crew stand-out Ryan Kiera Armstrong. While talking about the setup, Gellar said the story would “bring back characters from the previous show” while making room for new stories and characters. Buffy Summers would act as a specter of Sunnydale of mentor to Nova, much like Rupert Giles (Anthony Head) did for Buffy in the original series, with Sunnydale becoming something of a tourist destination for folks hoping to catch a glimpse of the town’s vampire population.
Chloé Zhao shot the pilot, which carried a lighter tone than the later seasons of the original series. Unfortunately, after reviewing the pilot, Hulu decided to pass on what Zhao and Gellar had worked so hard to produce. To twist the ornate knife even more, Hulu informed Gellar about the show’s cancellation just as she was about to address a room full of fans at this year’s SXSW celebration. Gellar, completely blindsided by Hulu’s decision, broke the news to eager fans, both in person and in an online address.
“The dialogue flew off the tongue,” Gellar told People in an exclusive interview. “When I was on set, it was craziness. It was like, ‘Oh, we’re here. We’re doing this.’ I loved the duality that we had this new, younger slayer who was where Buffy was when the show started, and then we would pick up with where Buffy was now.” Gellar added, “And I’d like to use this moment also to say that Ryan Kiera Armstrong is a superstar. I’m gutted that no one will see her as a slayer.”
Who’s to blame for this mess?
So, what happened?
According to Gellar, it was one person who killed the project. “We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original, but was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn’t for him,” Gellar told People. “That’s very hard when you’re taking a property that is as beloved as Buffy, not just to the world, but to me and Chloé. So that tells you the uphill battle that we had been fighting since day one, when your executive is literally proud to tell you that he didn’t watch it,” Gellar added.
Are you f***ing kidding me? One sour apple in the bunch ruined the revival for all of us? I call shenanigans!
Ranting while out of depth
I’m not an executive, and I don’t know what it takes to get a show like this up and running. Still, I am a fan, and I can read the tea leaves. I find it challenging to believe that Chloé Zhao, together with Sarah Michelle Gellar, would have produced a bogus vision for this project. One of the hardest parts about building a successful reboot is finding creative forces who believe in the project. You want people with a clear vision of what a continuation of a beloved series can be. Gellar is a given, but Zhao is an incredibly talented, Oscar-winning director (Nomadland) with Buffy love flowing through her veins. Let me ask: Who would you rather be calling the shots for this project? Her, or some executive who never finished watching the original series?
What’s more important? Passion for the characters and honoring the legacy, or selling t-shirts? Shareholders will tell you the project’s marketability is paramount, but as fans, we know what truly matters. Stepping back from the money side of things (again, that’s not my wheelhouse), how do you let an opportunity to revive the Buffyverse slip through your fingers while the GOAT, Sarah Michelle Gellar, is on board? Oh, Hulu’s still interested in exploring the Buffy property with other projects? You had one! You had the one! Who’s to say that Gellar will still be interested once you discover a new path?
Remember to breathe
Okay, let’s take a breath. In. Out. Ahhh. I’m not saying someone else can’t come up with a killer idea to reboot the Buffyverse, but I firmly believe Gellar and Zhao should have had the chance to reintroduce the series. Unlike many people, I enjoyed Zhao’s Eternals a great deal, and Hamnet is easily one of 2025’s best films. Applying her visual style and emotional camerawork with Buffy is something I’d like to see. I realize this is not conducive to the people in charge of all the money, but I’d rather the passionate people do their thing and fail than have an out-of-touch executive who wants something more streamlined and accessible.
There’s a chance that all is not lost. Another Buffy reboot could come along. But what will morale look like? Will Gellar be on board? It’s not like she doesn’t have other significant opportunities coming her way. Could Buffy get the animated treatment like the newly announced Firefly reboot? That could be fun. Still, the stars were aligned! Sunnydale was about to get a new slayer! Buffy Summers was ready to take her to school! Way to go, Hulu! I hope the pilot leaks!
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