Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros
Topics: Hulu, Film and TV, Nostalgia
Ellie Kemp
Sarah Michelle Gellar is reportedly in talks to reprise her role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a sequel of the hit cult show.
It's been 22 years since the star last graced our screens as Buffy Summers in the popular TV show, which ran from 1997 to 2003.
Created by Avengers director, Joss Whedon, Gellar starred as Buffy, a slayer destined to battle supernatural entities, enlisting the help of her faithful friends along the way, all while trying to be a normal teenage girl.
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Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters also starred alongside Gellar for its seven-season run.
It even had a few famous guest stars, including Pedro Pascal, Amy Adams and Ben Affleck - though his one line was dubbed over without his knowledge.
The franchise also spawned a spin-off show in the form of Angel, focusing on David Boreanaz's character.
For people who grew up in the noughties, Gellar is the quintessential Buffy, so when Variety reported that a Buffy sequel is 'nearing a pilot order' at Hulu, with sources claiming Gellar is in 'final talks' to return to her iconic role - as well as executive produce - people were delighted.
Nomadland's Chloé Zhao is set to direct the new project, while Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D's Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman will serve as writers, showrunners and executive producers.
But the untitled project would see Gellar potentially feature in a recurring role rather than the lead, with a new slayer being the focus of the series, Variety further claimed.
But even the most die-hard fanatics appeared to have one simple question: Why?
Taking to social media, fans were quick to share their thoughts on the potential reboot.
One person posted to X: "Imo some things - like Buffy - are sacred and should be left as they were. Everyone involved in this could have the best of intentions…but please leave her be!"
A second agreed: "If [Sarah Michelle Gellar] is not the main role then cancel it I’m so serious," adding that they want to see 'Buffy in her 40s still kicking ass.'
A third agreed, pleading producers to 'keep the show centered around her.'
Ironically, back in 2023, Gellar herself shut down rumors of a Buffy revival, claiming it 'doesn't need to be done.'
Meanwhile, others were curious as to whether Whedon would be involved in the new project.
The director has faced allegations of abusive behavior and workplace harassment from his colleagues, ex-wife and even a few Buffy cast members, including Carpenter.
In February 2021, the star claimed the show creator had made passive-aggressive comments toward her while filming Angel, allegedly calling her 'fat' when she was four months pregnant, and accusing her of 'sabotaging the show' before 'unceremoniously fired [her] the following season', according to The Independent.
Whedon has denied the allegations made against him, and in an interview with Vulture, he said: "If I am upsetting somebody, it will be a problem for me."
He also told New York Magazine (via Deadline) that his experiences with Carpenter were 'delightful and charming'.
He said: "She struggled sometimes with her lines, but nobody could hit a punch line harder than her," adding that he 'did not call her fat'.
Whedon is noticeably absent from the sequel's creative team and doesn't appear to be at all involved.
Should the Buffy reboot go ahead, it'll join Prison Break as the latest series to be revived on Hulu.
UNILAD has contacted Hulu and 20th TV for comment.