Just weeks after it was officially confirmed that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is making a comeback, Sarah Michelle Gellar has given fans a promising update on its production, and things are moving quicker than anticipated.
While speaking with People, Gellar revealed that production offices are already set up, marking a significant step forward. “Things are progressing probably faster than I had anticipated,” she shared, adding that reviving Buffy will be a process that takes time and care.
“To do it the way it needs to be done, everyone has to be patient with all of us, because this isn’t something that [will just happen].”
The reboot picks up two decades after the original series ended and introduces a new generation of vampire hunters. Gellar will return in a recurring role and also serve as an executive producer.
She’s joined by original Buffy producers Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui, Kaz Kuzui, and Dolly Parton. Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals) is set to direct and executive produce the pilot for Hulu, while Nora and Lila Zuckerman (Poker Face, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) will handle showrunning and writing duties.
Gellar is thrilled about the creative team behind the revival, calling them “an incredible group.” She expressed her gratitude for working alongside talent like Zhao and the Zuckermans, saying, “I pinch myself every day when I get into these rooms, and I’m looking at Gail Berman, the Zuckermans, and Chloé Zhao.”
Gellar explained: “There was no world where I thought Chloé Zhao was going to call me and partner with me, and ask my advice on things and my opinion — especially because she hasn’t done television.
“She’ll call me, and she’ll say, ‘Well, I have to defer to you,’ and I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ Those aren’t words I ever thought I would hear.”
While many details remain under wraps, Gellar is invested in making sure the revival honors the legacy of the original while resonating with new audiences. She hopes to capture the same magic that made Buffy a cultural phenomenon.
“As an actor, you just want to do work that stands the test of time, that people still enjoy, not just when it comes out, but years later, and it still is impactful for them.
“So the fact that this show is still so impactful to the people that watched it the first time along with me, to young kids today that are just discovering it and feel like it still speaks to them, being able to bring more people to her, it’s the greatest gift an actor could ever ask for. Truly.”
For now, fans will have to wait and see how this next chapter of Buffy unfolds. But if Gellar’s excitement is any indication, the Slayer’s return is shaping up to be something really cool.
