As Buffy the Vampire Slayer prepares to sharpen up the old stake for a new generation, some things remain the same.
Sarah Michelle Gellar recently explained how Chloé Zhao‘s upcoming Hulu pilot preserves “the show’s original DNA” after the supernatural teen drama ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003 on The WB.
“Fandoms like Buffy still resonate today — because it’s not just about the show, but about the community that’s grown around it,” Gellar told IGN.
“For me, the heart of Buffy was always about found family—that sense of belonging and being loved for who you are—and that’s more important now than ever. That’s what makes this new chapter so meaningful, it’s not just revisiting the past but honoring the show’s original DNA,” she added. “The fact that people still carry such love for the show after all these years is incredibly special.”
Deadline exclusively revealed this week that Ryan Keira Armstrong will play the new Slayer in the untitled Buffyverse project, which Gellar executive produces in addition to reprising her titular role as Buffy Summers. The new character is described in casting materials as an introverted high-school student.
“From the moment I saw Ryan’s audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side,” said Gellar in a statement. “To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room.”
In February, Deadline reported that the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot has neared a pilot order from Hulu, with Chloé Zhao directing the pilot, written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman.
Along with producers Gellar, Zhao and the Zuckermans, Dolly Parton is returning as an executive producer on the series after producing the original under her Sandollar banner.
Buffy creator Joss Whedon, who also wrote the 1992 movie the series was based on, has no involvement in the reboot. He has not worked in Hollywood in any official capacity since facing a slew of misconduct allegations in 2021.
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