Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer bid adieu to the supernatural drama way back in 2003 after watching seven seasons of Buffy Summers, the Slayer, destroy vampires and other evils in her California hometown, Sunnydale.
The show’s star, Sarah Michelle Gellar, has always indicated that her role as Buffy was a closed chapter. But on February 3, Variety reported that Hulu was very close to ordering a pilot for a reboot and that Gellar was in “final talks to once again play the iconic title character.”
Here’s everything we know about this amazing possibility so far.
Has the Buffy reboot been confirmed?
It’s not official, but Gellar herself has certainly confirmed that these talks are happening. On February 6, she posted on Instagram about the reports, including a shot of herself from the series in which her character is saying, “If the apocalypse comes, beep me.”
“So….. you might have heard some news this week, but I realize you haven’t heard from me,” Gellar wrote in the caption.
Gellar explained that she’s always said no to the possibility of bringing Buffy back, but after talking to her friend, producer and executive Gail Berman, she became open to a conversation with director Chloé Zhao.
“She told me that she wanted me to sit down with Chloé Zhao to hear her take on a potential Buffy revival,” Gellar wrote. “I was blown away that Chloé even knew who I was, but, as I’ve always done, I told Gail that I just didn’t see a way for the show to exist again…And our twenty minute coffee quickly turned into a four hour adventure. We laughed, we cried, but mostly we both talked about how much this show means to us.”
They didn’t decide anything then, but they kept having conversations.
“These conversations did, in fact, continue over the next few years and eventually we added the incredible Nora and Lilla Zuckerman to our little tribe until ultimately, one day, we landed on an idea,” the actress announced. “But it was not something I could do unless I was sure we would get it right. This has been a long process, and it’s not over yet. I promise you, we will only make this show if we know we can do it right. And I will tell you that we are on the path there.”
She concluded, “Thank you to all the fans who never stopped asking for this. This will be for you.”
What will the Buffy reboot be about?
Though Gellar is obviously excited about whatever this new idea is, there are not any details currently about where fans will meet Buffy Summers in her life again.
Who will return for the Buffy reboot?
Clearly, Gellar intends to be a big part of the show. There are no official announcements from other former cast members, several of whom played ageless vampires. In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Juliet Landau, who played the vampire Drusilla, insisted she’d love to return.
“My gosh, yes. It would be so much fun to play, absolutely,” she shared. “In terms of what everybody [the fanbase] is saying is that they really want that mix of original cast members and new talent as well. And so I think that will be a key element…I think it is perfect timing for a reboot…Buffy, the original series, is more popular now than even when it was popular on the air. It just continues to grow and grow, and a brilliant team has been assembled.”
David Boreanaz, who played Buffy’s vampire love interest Angel, simply commented on her post, “Excited for you and your journey. Enjoy the moments and continue to always give back to the fans. God Speed.”
Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase, wrote, “Could there be a more relevant time for such a story?! Long live the slayer, long live the slayer in us all! Congratulations Sarah.”
And Seth Green, Oz the werewolf, wrote, “I’ll always love that we’re in two separate Scooby gangs together.”
While much is implied in these replies, nothing is certain.
The creative team includes Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman as writers, showrunners, and executive producers, with Chloé Zhao directing. Gellar and Berman are also listed as executive producers, as well as Fran and Kaz Kuzui, and Dolly Parton, according to Variety.
This post will be updated.