'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' reboot 'New Sunnydale' gets disappointing update from show's lead star
In what comes as a dampener, the reboot of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' will not see the light of day. The news was confirmed by Sarah Michelle Gellar on Instagram. The actress posted a video to announce the latest news after a string of promising updates over the last year. The sequel series was first announced as a pilot order at Hulu last February, with 'Hamnet' director Chloé Zhao set to helm and executive produce the series.
"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. She added, "I want to thank Chloé Zhao, because I never thought I would find myself back in Buffy’s stylish yet affordable boots. 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."
Titled 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale,' the series would have also starred Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the new slayer, with Gellar reprising her role as Buffy in a recurring role. Per Variety, the show was also set to star Faly Rakotohavana as Hugo, Ava Jean as Larkin, Sarah Bock as Gracie, Daniel di Tomasso as Abe, and Jack Cutmore-Scott as Mr. Burke. Per the publication, the streamer will still consider future iterations of the hit show. 'New Sunnydale' also had marquee names behind the scenes, with Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman set to write, showrun, and executive produce. The new series was expected to redefine the 'Buffy' storyline while maintaining the original chemistry.
Zhao teased what to expect in the new installment during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. She said, "I just wrapped the pilot on the new 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' series, which is set 25 years later. My company is part of developing it. The fandom is so special to me, and I'm excited about how that’s going to go into the world." 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' was released in 1992 with Kristy Swanson as the titular character, destined to battle devils and vampires. A series adaptation was greenlit at WB with Gellar in the lead. The show spanned seven seasons and also starred Anthony Stewart Head, David Boreanaz, Seth Green, James Marsters, Nicholas Brendon, and Alyson Hannigan in key roles. For those looking to rewatch the original series, all seasons of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' are available to stream on Hulu in the US and on Disney+ for the global audience.
