Slay all day: The ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ revival is happening…

“What are we going to do now?” asked Dawn in the final scene of the show. 

We’re heading back to destroyed Sunnydale, that’s what we’re going to do!

More than two decades after the hit nineties supernatural series created by Joss Whedon ended its (glorious) seven-season run (1997-2003), Buffy The Vampire Slayer is coming back with a revival which, according to recent reports, is nearing a pilot order from Hulu.

And before fans start sharpening their vampire-kebabing stakes and crying out for Hellmouth to throw up its very worst, Sarah Michelle Gellar, 47, is expected to return as Buffy Summers for the revamp.

Variety reported that Gellar was in “final talks” to play the iconic character, although she would not lead the new series, which would focus on a new slayer. 

As if that wasn’t good news enough and the sign that some other original cast members will probably return, the show’s no-longer-secret producer Dolly Parton is on board and Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao – a self-professed Buffy fan – is set to direct the next chapter in the Buffyverse. 

Gellar has posted a message on Instagram confirming her involvement. 

“So….. you might have heard some news this week, but I realize you haven’t heard from me,” she began. “Three years ago, I got a call from my dear friend and mentor, Gail Berman. She told me that she wanted me to sit down with Chloé Zhao to hear her take on a potential Buffy revival. I was blown away that Chloé even knew who I was, but, as I’ve always done, I told Gail that I just didn’t see a way for the show to exist again. We’d always been aligned on that, but this time I heard something different in her voice. I eventually agreed to go (mainly just to meet Chloé) and our twenty minute coffee quickly turned into a four hour adventure. We laughed, we cried, but mostly we both talked about how much this show means to us.”

She added that she did “shock” herself by agreeing to continue the conversation “until ultimately, one day, we landed on an idea”.

“I have always listened to the fans and heard your desire to revisit Buffy and her world, but it was not something I could do unless I was sure we would get it right,” Gellar continued. “This has been a long process, and it’s not over yet. I promise you, we will only make this show if we know we can do it right. And I will tell you that we are on the path there.” 

We have faith.

Zhao’s third feature, Nomadland, won 3 Oscars in 2021 – including Best Picture and Best Director. She also co-wrote and directed Marvel Studios’ underappreciated Eternals. 

It almost goes without saying that Whedon has no involvement in the reboot, as he has not worked in Hollywood since facing misconduct allegations in 2021.

So, all we can do now is pray that Alyson Hannigan and Anthony Stewart Head are keen to return, as the show wouldn’t be the same without Willow and Giles.

“In every generation there is a Chosen One,” announced the latter. We can’t wait to meet the new, Buffy-mentored one.

Additional sources • Variety