Sarah Michelle Gellar confirms ‘Buffy’ revival: “This will be for you”
Sarah Michelle Gellar has confirmed that a revival of Buffy The Vampire Slayer is in the works, following reports that the show is set to return.
Earlier this week, Variety reported that Gellar was in talks to reprise her role of Buffy Summers in a sequel series to the hit supernatural drama, which originally ran from 1997 to 2003.
The outlet claimed that the as-yet-untitled show would focus on a new Slayer, with Gellar appearing in a recurring role rather than playing the lead character. It was said that Gellar would serve as an executive producer alongside Gail Berman.
Variety reported that Nora and Lila Zuckerman were attached to write, showrun and executive produce. It said that Chloé Zhao – best known for her Oscar-winning film Nomadland (2020) – would serve as director and an executive producer.
Now, Gellar has responded to the news in a post on social media. She confirmed her involvement in the project, and but did not reveal if it would be a reboot or sequel.
“So… you might have heard some news this week, but I realise you haven’t heard from me,” the actor began, before recalling a phone call from Berman three years ago.
“She told me that she wanted me to sit down with Chloé Zhao to hear her take on a potential Buffy revival,” Gellar wrote.
“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.”
She continued: “I eventually agreed to go (mainly just to 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.”
Gellar went on to say that she “didn’t agree to anything” at the time, but did “continue the conversation” over the following years. Showrunners and writers Nora and Lilla Zuckerman subsequently got on board “until ultimately, one day, we landed on an idea”.
“I have always listened to the fans and heard your desire to revisit Buffy and her world, but it was not something I could do unless I was sure we would get it right,” she added. “This has been a long process, and it’s not over yet.
“I promise you, we will only make this show if we know we can do it right. And I will tell you that we are on the path there.”
Gellar concluded: “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.”
Nora and Lilla Zuckerman have previously worked together on shows like Fringe, Suits and Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Dolly Parton is reportedly among the executive producers through her production company Sandollar, which worked on the original Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel TV series. 20th Television and Searchlight Television are slated to produce.
Fans have been sharing their reaction to the reports of a Buffy… revival online. The original show remains beloved among fans and critics. Late last year, it was named as one of the best horror TV series ever.
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Tom Skinner
NME
