Buffy the Vampire Slayer remake on the cards: All you need to know

The never-ending cycle of nostalgia-bait continues with the announcement that Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be returning to the small screen. While nothing is confirmed, multiple sources have asserted that a sequel series is in the works and nearing a pilot order at Hulu.

It is rumoured that fan favourite and media darling, Sarah Michelle Gellar, is in talks to play the titular character, but the focus of the show would be on a new slayer with Gellar’s character serving more as a mentor than the lead.

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A Brief History of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was first introduced to the mainstream on the big screen. In the 1992 feature the protagonist was portrayed by Kristy Swanson, who was coming off a significant career uptick after her role in Pretty in Pink. The film was written by Joss Whedon (a now universally recognised figure) with Fran Kuzui serving as the director.

Only 5 years later, the Buffy series was green lit on The WB, with Gellar in the lead role. The show would spend its initial five year run on the network, before its final two seasons were syndicated by UPN. The cast included notable figure like Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, Michelle Trachtenbergand, and Seth Green to name a few, who would later use the show as a launching pad for lengthy and successful careers. Boreanaz who played Angel, even earned his own spinoff show in response to the Buffy’s triumphant success.

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Ushering in a New Class

This eagerly-awaited next chapter from the Buffyverse is said to be helmed by director Chloe Zhao and co-written by Nora and Lilia Zuckerman. Zhao is best known for her directorial efforts on Nomadland as well as Marvel’s Eternals. The Zuckerman sisters for their part have served as staff writers and story editors for several large projects.

More recently the pair served as the showrunners and executive producers of Poker Face, a Peacock mystery crime drama created by Ryan Johnson and starring Natasha Lyonne. Also of note, country music legend and superstar Dolly Parton is reported to be the pilot of the show.

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Whedon’s Exclusion

The reboot has been ordered from 20th Television and Searchlight TV. As per reports, it is highly unlikely that the original cast members would return to highlight the show’s new crew. What is of note is that Joss Whedon, the show’s original scribe has not even been mentioned in any of the current reporting. While his credentials speak volumes in terms of what he can put to paper, accusations of workplace harassment have derailed his career. His fall from grace has been closely documented and sadly the harassment claims in question extend back to his time on the original series.

In February 2021, Buffy and Angel actress, Charisma Carpenter, alleged that Whedon had "abused his power on numerous occasions", calling him a "vampire" and "casually cruel". In a later tweet, Carpenter accused Whedon of calling her "fat" and asked her "if [she] was going to keep it" upon learning of her pregnancy, and repeatedly threatened to fire her. Her co-stars Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg corroborated her claims and voiced their support for Carpenter, while the leading Gellar also lent her support.