Buffy the Vampire Slayer Is Coming Back With This Change
Here's everything we know about the return of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so far.
This article is more than 2 years old
Will there be a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot or won’t there? For two years now the talk has been that the reboot is in the works. In fact, Buffy’s original creator is said to be involved. Here’s everything we know about the return of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so far.
DERAILED BY DIVERSITY?
It was 2018 when the announcement came that a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot was in the planning stages. Series creator Joss Whedon was set to executive produce along with original series’ exec producers Gail Berman, Fran Kazui and Kaz Kazui as well as Joe Earley from Berman’s Jackal Group.
Monica Owusu-Breen, veteran TV writer-producer, has been brought on as the reboot’s showrunner. Owusu-Breen’s history includes being the co-creator of Midnight, Texas as well as being the writer on TV series such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Fringe, Lost, Alias, and Charmed.
The most common Hollywood keyword right now is “diverse”. As word of the possible “reboot” started to emerge, sources said that the producers intent was to have the reboot have a woman of color in the title role, Owusu-Breen decided to come out to express that while a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is in the works, it isn’t a true reboot.
The initial announcement from the producers went like this: “Like our world, it will be richly diverse, and like the original, some aspects of the series could be seen as metaphors for issues facing us all today.”
There was no response to the lead being a woman of color, though in this day and age, it should be a given. Thankfully, the backlash over this announcement was directed more at the fact that there was a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot being planned instead of a sequel. Here are some of the gripes.
But not everyone was unhappy.
With all that in mind, here was Osusu-Breen’s reply.
SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR ON THE REBOOT
Of course, Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar, was asked to chime in on the possibility of a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, and whether she be up for being in the show.
Gellar explained her position to BuzzFeed News’ AM to DM, “I’m all for them rebooting it. I think it’s an important story. I think there’s a way to modernize it and tell a different story now. I think the way we ended lends itself to it, but at the same time, I’m so proud of the show that we made.”
But she also told them about the chances of her reprisal at the role that made her famous, “I’m not an adolescent anymore,” meaning the show must go on without her. And then “Buffy” leaned into her show, ending with asking the question many have asked. “What I think is even more impressive is that it’s still relevant today — that people find it and watch it for the first time, and it still means exactly the same if not more now that there’s more lessons to take, there’s more empowerment to take from it.” And then the most important question, “So does it really need to be done again?”
While Michelle-Gellar looks to be okay with another version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it doesn’t seem like she thinks it’s necessary.
ORIGINAL CAST MEMBERS WHO ARE IN FOR THE REBOOT
Count James Marsters, who played Spike in the original Buffy, as one who is not only on board with the reboot, but is ready, willing, and able to jump on board if asked. He told IndieWire, “I think it is fabulous,” he said. “I saw a tweet by [Owusu-Breen], and she wants an entirely new slayer within the universe established by Buffy. So she’s not going to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer — she’s going to be Sabrina or whatever it is. I think that’s a great way to go and I’m very excited about it.” And then he added about his involvement, “I am open to whatever Joss [Whedon] has in mind — whether that’s playing Spike or something else. I told him that a long time ago. Joss’s mind is always surprising, so yeah. I’m open to playing Spike if Joss is involved.”
Another yes came from Buffy’s sister Dawn, played by Michelle Trachtenberg. Anthony Head, who played Rupert Giles, also responded with a resounding “yes.” He told the New York Post, “Yes. I wouldn’t know what as, because Giles has aged a little bit,” he says. “Maybe I’m the head of the Watcher’s council now. But to be honest, of course I would. It was so formative.”
WHERE IS THE NEW BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER REBOOT NOW?
And yet, with all the positive words, there doesn’t seem to be any movement in bringing Buffy the Vampire Slayer back for a reboot. The project isn’t dead, but there hasn’t been any update for awhile. Whether the plan is the same or maybe it’s changed is currently unknown.
