The proposed series had been developed as ‘the next chapter in the Buffyverse’, with Gellar expected to return
Hulu has decided not to proceed with its planned reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ending the latest attempt to revive the franchise for the Disney-owned streaming platform.
The proposed series had been developed as “the next chapter in the Buffyverse”, with Sarah Michelle Gellar expected to return in a recurring role and Ryan Kiera Armstrong cast as a new, younger Slayer leading the story.
Gellar confirmed the news in a video shared on Instagram, telling fans she was “really sad” that the project had fallen apart. She also thanked director Chloé Zhao, who had been attached to direct the pilot episode, for helping her reflect on the legacy of the series.
According to Gellar, Zhao reminded her how much the Buffy character continues to mean to both the actor and the audience. She said that while the reboot would not move forward, it did not change what the character represents.
Armstrong, known for appearing in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, also responded on social media. In an Instagram Story message, she thanked the creative team and fans for their support and wrote, “It’s not going anywhere. So who knows what the future will hold.” She also offered fans the first look at her character in the show in a post captioned, “🖤 your slayer”
The reboot attracted attention when Zhao joined the project as director. The series was intended to continue the story rather than remake the original show, shifting the focus to a new Slayer while Gellar returned in a supporting capacity.
While Dolly Parton was serving as an executive producer, original Buffy creator Joss Whedon was not involved in the development of the new version. The pilot was reportedly titled Buffy: New Sunnydale.
