Sarah Michelle Gellar Confirms: New Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series Is Not a Reboot
Sarah Michelle Gellar sets the record straight: Hulu’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn’t a reboot — it’s a continuation of the original saga.
Let me stop you right up front: Hulu’s new Buffy project is not a reboot. Sarah Michelle Gellar said it, and she said it clearly. This is the Buffyverse picking up decades later, not a redo of what you already know by heart.
Not a reboot, a continuation
"I want to be careful to make everyone understand it’s not a reboot. It’s a continuation of a world. So it’s picking up 25 years later in a world of Buffy."
That’s Gellar, in a chat with ET, setting expectations the way only the Slayer can. Translation: the timeline moves forward, the history still counts, and we’re not starting from zero.
Where things stand
Earlier this year, Hulu ordered a pilot for a sequel series set in the Buffy universe. They’ve already shot that pilot. Gellar is back as Buffy Summers, but in a recurring capacity this time, and she’s also an executive producer on the new chapter.
The lead is Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Nova, an introverted high schooler who also happens to be the newest Slayer. So yes, classic Buffy DNA, but with a fresh center of gravity. Gellar says the whole thing is equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking, and she’s very up front about making it for the fans. She knows everyone’s got opinions; this was made with a lot of thought, love, and care, and the team is clearly bracing for the discourse.
Who’s involved
- Leads: Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Nova; Sarah Michelle Gellar returns as Buffy Summers (recurring) and serves as executive producer
- Cast: Faly Rakotohavana, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock, Daniel Di Tomasso, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Merrin Dungey, Audrey Hsieh, Audrey Grace Marshall, and Chase Sui Wonders
- Showrunners/Writers/EPs: Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman
- Pilot Director/EP: Chloé Zhao
- Home: Hulu
- Status: Pilot shot; no release date yet
The inside-baseball part
Two things that jump out: Gellar calling it a continuation (not a reboot) is a smart way to keep the original intact while opening the door for new lore, and Chloé Zhao directing the pilot is an attention-grabbing swing. It tells you they’re aiming for mood and scope, not just nostalgia.