Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran from 1997 to 2003 and had an important role in shaping the tone of The WB network, which later became The CW. Fans loved Buffy for its quick wit, high stakes (I swear no pun was intended), splashy action and deep characters. Recently, reports have been going around that the series could get a revival on Hulu. Now, original series star Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy Summers herself, has confirmed that she is indeed working on one. From her Instagram Stories:
"So… you might have heard some news this week, but I realize you haven’t heard from me.
Three years ago, I got a call from my dear friend and mentor, Gail Berman. She told me that she wanted me to sit down with Chloé Zhao to hear her take on a potential ‘Buffy’ revival. I was blown away that Chloé even knew who I was, but, as I’ve always done, I told Gail that I just didn’t see a way for the show to exist again. We’d always been aligned on that, but this time I heard something different in her voice. I eventually agreed to go (mainly so I could meet Chloé) and our twenty minute coffee quickly turned into a four hour adventure. We laughed, we cried, but mostly we both talked about how much this show means to us.
While I didn’t agree to anything at that meeting, I did shock myself by agreeing to continue the conversation. These conversations did, in fact, continue over the next few years and eventually we added the incredible Nora and Lilla Zuckerman to our little tribe until ultimately, one day, we landed on an idea.
I feel so lucky to be on this journey with these four unbelievably talented women, all of whom love ‘Buffy’ as much as I do. And as much as you do. Thank you to all the fans who never stopped asking for this. This will be for you."
Chloé Zhao is the Oscar-winning director behind Nomadland. She also directed Eternals, which definitely didn't win any Oscars but we won't hold that against her. Sisters Nora and Lilla Zuckerman are the showrunners on the Peacock series Poker Face; they've also worked on shows like Fringe, Suits and Haven.
As for Gellar, she's worked consistently since Buffy ended, and is currently appearing on Dexter: Original Sin, another offshoot of a popular TV show that ended years ago. Reviving old TV shows is nothing new these days, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is definitely close to the hearts of many fans. Provided they actually found the right idea, I'd be interested in checking it out.
One place they could look is a series of Buffy comics written after the original show ended by series creator Joss Whedon, but I don't think they will, because A) Gellar's description makes it sound like they've hit on something original, and; B) Whedon has been excommunicated from Hollywood following allegations that he behaved toxically on his sets. If this revival actually does happen, Joss Whedon definitely wouldn't be involved.
Like Gellar says, the process isn't over yet. Anything could happen between now and the finish line. But if all goes well, we may be watching new episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in a few years time.
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