THE BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER REVIVAL WILL EXCLUDE PROBLEMATIC ELEMENT

Serialized television has been around for decades, but for many, it hit its peak with the 1997 cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In the burgeoning feminist movement of the '90s, the horror comedy series hit the sweet spot of cable television. A high school drama wrapped in the metaphors of monsters, Buffy was the first show to do a lot of things. Putting an unlikely hero to the forefront, Buffy Summers saves her Southern California town from vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness. It mixes the ever-popular monster of the week format with long-form storytelling that gets to the heart of what it means to be human.

Buffy stands the test of time and is a frequent source of nostalgia for many fans. Though pagers have come and gone, Buffy's message of internal power and endurance through hell remains fresh. Now, Sarah Michelle Gellar is putting her weight behind such a project, this time at Hulu. There have been reports that Buffy the Vampire Slayer has inspired a follow-up series that will feature Gellar as Buffy Summers in a supporting role. The as-of-yet untitled project will follow a new slayer with Buffy recurring in the series. Fans rejoiced over the exciting update, only to be hit by news of the tragic passing of Buffy star Michelle Trachtenberg. In this current timeline, it seems Buffy is needed now more than ever, but the future of the reboot seems uncertain. Thankfully, the most controversial aspect of the original series won't be present in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.

Updated on May 15, 2025, by Arthur Goyaz: While fans anxiously wait for updates on the recently announced Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, they can at least breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the show's controversial creator won't be taking part in the project. This article was updated to include the latest news about the reboot and to reflect CBR's current formatting standards.

Buffy Has Been a Source of Many Allegations

The Backstage of the Show Was Full of Controversy

For seven years and a series of comic runs, Buffy continued to be a role model for anyone who felt out of place. But time has not been kind to the series, or more accurately, the series' creator. Years after its final episode, the legacy of Buffy was thrown into jeopardy when Joss Whedon became the subject of many controversies. The show's creator was Buffy's architect, first getting the character on the big screen in the 1992 feature film starring Kristy Swanson. The film did poorly critically but became the match that lit the fire of a television series for The WB. The show follows the canon of the film, recasting the titular role with Sarah Michelle Gellar. In it, Buffy is kicked out of her Los Angeles high school and relocates to Sunnydale, which happens to reside on top of a Hellmouth. The first three seasons chart Buffy's journey in high school and all the trials that come along with it. As meaningful as the metaphors of the series were, Buffy harbored a dark secret.

Whedon self-titled himself as a champion of women, but behind the scenes, he allegedly took advantage of them. Charisma Carpenter, who played the popular mean girl Cordelia Chase, has been upfront about the abuses that she was subjected to on set. She has cited Whedon subjecting her to cruelty, including fat shaming her while pregnant and firing her from Angel. Amber Benson, who played Tara on Buffy from Season 4 to 6, supported Carpenter's claims, agreeing that the set was toxic. Whedon's behavior was a known secret until he directed The Justice League in 2018 and subjected Ray Fisher to similar treatment.

Women were not the only targets of Whedon's abuse. Fisher was vocal about Whedon being unprofessional on set as well as abusive. James Marsters, who played Spike for some of the most traumatic scenes, recently also spoke out against the atmosphere on the Buffy set. On Michael Rosenbaum's podcast, "Inside of You," Marsters recounted an experience where Whedon appeared furious at the popularity of Spike and pushed the actor against a wall. More stories have come out like this, throwing the creative in a harsh light. Whedon wrote an op-ed for New York Magazine, defending his behavior, but has not worked professionally in the industry since 2021. Whedon's betrayal of the fanbase and toxic treatment of stars have sullied the name of Buffy. But just as The Chosen One fights her way through unconscionable darkness, there too is light at the end of the tunnel for fans of the original series.

Joss Whedon Is Not Involved In the Upcoming Project

Instead, A Team of Talented Women is Taking the Reins of the Project

A new Buffy the Vampire Slayer show is in early development on Hulu, but details are still sparse. Chloé Zhao of Eternals and Nomadland fame is set to direct the pilot, which has not yet gone to series. The main point of exciting news is the return of Buffy Summers herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Since the conclusion of the series in 2003, Gellar has continued to act in genre work and dabbled in voice acting. However, any potential for Buffy to return seemed like a non-starter. Gellar has remained stoic throughout these trying times but has always shot down returning to Sunnydale because of the quality of the series. Buffy means too much to people and has become too celebrated to ever stand a chance as a reboot. There is no improving on perfection, a concept that Gellar has stood behind.

In recent years, however, Gellar has started to change her tune. She appears in the new Dexter prequel Original Sin as Tanya Martin, Dexter Morgan's mentor in forensic science at Miami Metro. The Buffy star recently stated that she has reconsidered her stance considering the acceptance of these new shows. She is officially the only original cast member to be returning to the role that made her a household name. Deadline stated definitively that Joss Whedon will not be a part of this production. The writer has become scorched earth in the minds of fans and, despite his contribution, would not be accepted in the current culture.

A delightful inclusion, on the other hand, is one silent producer from the original series. Dolly Parton, who helped produce the original series through her company Sandollar, has been confirmed as a producer. Gellar is also joining in a producing capacity. This move in a positive direction could help heal, in part, some of the wounds of the series in the past.

Fans Should Still Enjoy Buffy For Its Emotional Impact

It Remains One of the Best Teen Fantasy Shows of All Time

Many self-titled feminists have come out of the woodwork to reveal that their respect for women has conditions. Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline, The Sandman, and American Gods, is only the most recent scribe to be the subject of allegations. Unfortunately, history has proven that no matter how beloved, artists are not exempt from illegal actions. Even so, that shouldn't take away from the meaningful messages in their works. Coraline comforted children who felt neglected by their parents just as Buffy was a beacon of hope for the lost. Like many teenagers, Buffy feels out of place in the world while in high school. She is apart from everyone she knows because of the great destiny that she can't tell anyone about. The slayer circumvents this by telling a chosen few about the weight of the world on her shoulders, and that gives her ties to the world, which allows her to survive the darkest parts of life.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer tells moving stories about death, grief, and addiction. Some aspects of the series haven't aged particularly well. Xander Harris is the prototypical Nice Guy who blames women for his problems. He directs his romantic obsession at Buffy, who was always clear that she didn't return his feelings. Even so, he is obsessive and jealous, exhibiting all the characteristics of a Toxic Nice Guy. Xander is just the tip of the iceberg for many issues around gender in the series. Though Buffy is an inspiring female role model, she is also punished for having sex. Not once but twice does the guy she sleeps with turn into a monster -- literally and figuratively.

These issues in the series are perfect opportunities to improve upon in a new Buffy series. With the benefit of female creatives such as Sarah Michelle Gellar and Chloé Zhao, it's safe to say that this could be a Buffy for a new era. Fans shouldn't misunderstand. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was an amazing and progressive series for its time. No one would be able to take away the imprint that the series and its characters left on the world at large. But with new leadership comes a new perspective. The Hulu series can take what was great about the original show and update it for a modern audience. An updated Buffy series would draw in nostalgic viewers who were teenagers themselves when it first aired and teenagers now who could benefit from the strength and integrity that Buffy Summers brought to the screen. Media may be overwhelmed with reboots, sequels, and continuations, but if there is a vintage character that the world needs now, it's Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Where Is the Original Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast Now?

So Far, Gellar is the Only Confirmed Returning Cast Member

While the news of a Buffy reboot happening at Hulu are exciting, there's no shortage of questions about how the project will pan out. Will the Buffy reboot retcon the canonical comics created by Whedon? How will the reboot bring back Angel and Spike if vampires aren't supposed to age? So far, plot details are still kept under wraps and the only confirmed cast member is Gellar. The lack of updates on the Buffy reboot might have something to do with Michelle Trachtenberg's tragic passing at the age of 39. The actress played Buffy's mystical sister, Dawn, in Season 5, becoming a regular character on the show. Her unexpected death took everyone by surprise -- many cast members paid emotional tributes to her.

Ahead of the confirmation of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, fans might be wondering where the rest of the cast is now. Gellar recently shared a video of her and Alyson Hannigan on Instagram, teasing a possible reunion. Hannigan played Buffy's best friend on the show, Willow, and her career has skyrocketed ever since. The actress had a recurring role in the American Pie movies and starred as Lily in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother between the 2000s and 2010s. Her most recent project was Comedy Central's TV movie Office Race.

As for other members of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's original cast, James Marsters has teased Spike's comeback, but there's no confirmation as of now. The actor is the frontrunner of a rock band, Ghost of the Robot, and he starred in Hulu's Runaways as Victor Stein. David Boreanaz, who played Angel in Buffy, recently led the war drama series SEAL Team and is currently in talks of returning for a Bones revival: fans can only hope there's room for two reboots on his schedule. Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans might be familiar with Anthony Head's role in the Apple comedy series Ted Lasso. Head, who played the fan-favorite Rupert Giles on Buffy, portrayed another Rupert in Ted Lasso: Rupert Mannion, the former owner of the soccer club AFC Richmond. No matter which cast members return, however, the new series will likely introduce even more beloved characters for fans while still including some familiar faces.

2025-02-07T12:46:18Z