Fans of 1990s teen TV rejoiced with news that a beloved series may finally see new life. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the female-led groundbreaking series Buffy the Vampire Slayer is slated for a reboot at Hulu. Early reports state the show’s star, Sarah Michelle Gellar (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Dexter: Original Sin) will return.
The original series created by Joss Whedon (Firefly, The Avengers) saw Gellar play Buffy Summers, a mere teenager who tackled arithmetic and prom in between battles with night creatures and beings from Hell. Based on the cult classic film starring Kristy Swanson (Higher Learning, The Phantom), the show ran on the WB and later UPN from 1997 to 2003. It catapulted Gellar and much of its young cast to superstardom and saw a worthy spinoff in the series Angel.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources state Gellar will not be the central character as the series will focus on new, younger slayer. Reports of a potential reimagining surfaced a few years ago with Monica Owusu-Breen (Lost, Alias) attached to write along with Whedon. However, it never came to fruition. The show was to feature a Black teen take on the slayer role.
In addition to Gellar’s involvement, The Hollywood Reporter states series writers Nora and Lilla Zuckerman (Haven, Prodigal Son) will executive produce with director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, The Eternals), original EP Gail Berman (Elvis, Unlikely Angel) Gellar, Fran and Kaz Kuzui (Angel, Orgazmo), and Dolly Parton (Joyful Noise, Steel Magnolias).
Gellar, known to have been uninterested in a return to the show, changed her tune in recent interview on The Drew Berrymore Show. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she wasn’t interested in revisiting the show “because it’s in its bubble, and it’s so perfect.” However, seeing other shows return, including franchises like Sex and the City and Dexter, had her think “Well, maybe.”
All seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are available to stream on Hulu and Tubi.