According to reports, Sarah Michelle Gellar will be reprising her role as the slayer of the supernatural in a reboot-sequel series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A new Buffy series is reportedly “nearing a pilot order” at Hulu. Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals) would direct the pilot.
According to Variety, while Gellar will return as Buffy, the series will focus on a new slayer. Gellar would appear in a recurring role, not as its lead star. Sister writing team Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, showrunners on Poker Face, are said to be writing the pilot, executive producing, and showrunning the sequel series. Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon is reportedly not involved.
The 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer, written by Whedon and starring Kristy Swanson as the title high school student/slayer, introduced the character of Buffy Summers. Reimagined as a television show in 1997, Buffy the Vampire Slayer lasted for seven seasons, the latter two on UPN and the first five on The WB. The series developed a devoted fan base due to its humor, LGBT themes, theatrical twists, and iconic antagonists.
Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head, David Boreanaz, Seth Green, and James Marsters were among the other cast members. Angel, a character portrayed by Boreanaz, had a five-season television series of his own. Whedon oversaw three further “seasons” in comic book form following the seven-season run of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Numerous Buffy comic adventures were published by publisher Dark Horse, and the character has also been further developed in young adult novels and audio series.
The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer series currently streams on Hulu.