‘I Will Eat My Words’: Why Sarah Michelle Gellar Joined The New Buffy The Vampire Show After Saying She’d ‘Never’ Return

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In early 2025, it was announced that Buffy the Vampire Slayer would be returning, with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Hulu teaming up to bring back the popular fantasy show. Hulu ordered a pilot episode, and Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao joined the project. Now, almost a year later, Gellar has revealed more about her reasons for creating the new series.

Sarah Michelle Gellar recently discussed the upcoming Buffy The Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale series in an interview with Evan Ross Katz. She shared her detailed thoughts on the reboot, saying:

I used to be adamant about something, but I’ve realized how much can change, and it’s been a tough lesson. It really proves the saying ‘never say never’ is true. I was wrong, and I accept that. I didn’t understand how things could turn out this way, or why it could actually be something really good. I’m not aiming to surpass what’s been done before; I just want to preserve the legacy and honor everything we built. I know people have complicated feelings about it, but so many people poured their hearts and souls into making what I believe is a fantastic show, and I’m incredibly proud of that.

It’s understandable why Sarah Michelle Gellar would have wanted to move on from Buffy after seven seasons, but she recently revealed what made her reconsider revisiting the show. Here’s what she had to say:

Chloé Zhao impressed me not just with her enthusiasm, but with her deep understanding of the world and her ability to connect with it. That’s when I started to think I could actually do this project. We’ve been collaborating for three years now, really taking the time to shape the project and figure out its purpose. We’re still exploring the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ behind it all.

Between May and August of 2025, several new actors joined the cast of New Sunnydale. This included rising young stars like Ryan Kiera Armstrong (from The Skeleton Crew), Faly Rakotohavana, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock, Daniel Di Tomasso, and Jack Cutmore-Scott. Chase Sui Wonders was cast after appearing alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar in the recent I Know What You Did Last Summer. Additionally, the show’s creator, Zhao, has hinted that more original cast members will also be appearing.

Okay, so as a total TV fanatic, I was excited to see Hulu’s offering a 30-day free trial right now! Seriously, you get access to everything – and I mean everything, including all episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (yes, really!). It’s great for new subscribers or if you’ve had Hulu before and are eligible. After the free month, subscriptions start at around $9.99 a month. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something new to binge!

Before this, Gellar described Zhao as a genuine fan who wants to recapture the spirit of the original show, not change it completely, and said the new version would appeal to both longtime viewers and newcomers. She admitted it’s been stressful trying to create something fans will enjoy, but she’s dedicated to delivering that. She went on to say:

I understand people today want things instantly, and it might feel like this is taking a while. But we want to make sure whatever we release truly honors what we’ve already created and feels right. I won’t share something until I’m completely confident it’s perfect and worthy of the existing work.

Based on recent discussions, it seems Sarah Michelle Gellar and Marti Noxon are still finalizing the storyline for the new Buffy series before production begins, but progress is being made. Gellar also explained whether the show will be a reboot, stating:

This isn’t a sequel or a fresh start; it’s more of a continuation of Buffy’s story. We’re exploring where she is now and what the world looks like both with and without her. It won’t immediately jump back with the original characters, and that’s why the title ‘Buffy: New Sunnydale’ felt important – it’s still Buffy, but a new chapter in her journey.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer originally aired on The WB from 1997 to 2001, then moved to UPN for its last two seasons. The series finale aired on September 24, 2002, meaning the last time we saw Buffy Summers was almost 25 years ago. We’ll share any news about a potential ‘New Sunnydale’ as we get it. In the meantime, Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy, will be returning to the horror genre in the movie Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which comes out in theaters on March 27, 2026.

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2026-01-08 16:39