The Slayer is Almost Back! Buffy Revival with Sarah Michelle Gellar Nears Hulu Deal
More than two decades after the iconic supernatural series ended, Sarah Michelle Gellar is reportedly in final negotiations to return as Buffy Summers in a brand-new reboot.
Sources reveal that Hulu is close to ordering a pilot for the highly anticipated revival, with none other than Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao set to helm the first episode. Zhao, a longtime Buffy fan, is teaming up with writers Nora and Lilla Zuckerman to bring the next chapter of the Buffyverse to life.
The reboot is coming from 20th Television, the same studio behind the original, and Disney-owned Searchlight TV, where Zhao has a first-look deal. But here’s where things get even more exciting: Dolly Parton, whose company Sandollar was involved in the original series, is also looking to executive produce the new project.
It remains unclear whether any of the original cast members will join Gellar, but given the growing nostalgia for ’90s and early 2000s television, fans are hopeful that familiar faces will return.
One person who won’t be involved is Joss Whedon, the original creator. Whedon, who faced multiple allegations since 2021, is not connected to the reboot in any way.
If greenlit for a full series, this will mark the third installment in the Buffy franchise, following the original (1997-2003) and its spinoff, Angel (1999-2004). This isn’t the first time a Buffy reboot has been attempted. Back in 2018, a project led by Monica Owusu-Breen, with Whedon as an executive producer, was in development, but it never materialized.
Dolly Parton hinted last year that something Buffy-related was brewing, saying, “They’re still working on that. They’re thinking about bringing it back and revamping it.”
Interestingly, Gellar was once against the idea of revisiting Buffy, but her stance seems to have changed. In a December interview, she admitted, “It’s funny, I always used to say no, because it’s in its bubble and it’s so perfect. But watching Sex and the City and seeing Dexter, and realizing there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, ‘Well, maybe.’”
While Hulu is in advanced discussions regarding the Buffy reboot, the show’s production has yet to be officially finalized with the streaming platform. Industry insiders suggest that negotiations are progressing well, but no formal deal has been announced. Fans eagerly await confirmation as excitement builds around Sarah Michelle Gellar’s return and the fresh creative direction under Chloé Zhao. Until then, Buffy devotees will have to remain on the edge of their seats for the official green light.
