The reboot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, is no longer going ahead.
In February last year, the actor confirmed that a sequel series was in the works, with Hulu set to develop a pilot. Gellar was to return to her lead role of Buffy Summers, although the plan was to shift the focus to a new slayer, to be played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong (American Horror Story: Red Tide).
Now, though, Gellar has confirmed in a video posted on Instagram that the show, which was to be titled Buffy: New Sunnydale, has now been cancelled.
“I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me. Unfortunately, Hulu has decided not to move forward with Buffy: New Sunnydale,” she said.
Gellar went on to thank Chloé Zhao, the director known for Hamnet, Nomadland and Eternals, who had been set to direct and executive produce the show, having been a lifelong Buffy fan.
“I want to thank Chloé Zhao, because I never thought I would find myself back in Buffy’s stylish yet affordable boots,” Gellar continued. “And thanks to Chloé, I was reminded how much I love her and how much she means not only to me but to all of you. And this doesn’t change any of that, and I promise if the apocalypse actually comes, you can still beep me.”
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Variety has reported that Hulu is still interested in developing a separate Buffy project, with one source being quoted as saying, “basically, the door is still open.”
The supernatural drama aired between 1997 and 2003, overseen by showrunner Joss Whedon, although he was not due to return for the revival. In 2024, it was named as one of the best horror TV series ever.
Elsewhere, Gellar is starring in the new horror sequel, Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come. In a three-star review, NME wrote: “There are some entertaining showdowns and Weaving again excels as the funny and fearsome Grace, one of modern horror’s toughest protagonists. If this film does as well as the first, we should probably expect a threequel – whether you’re ready or not.”