Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale
Genre
Written by
Directed byChloé Zhao
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHulu
Related

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale is an unaired television pilot for an American supernatural drama television series that was set to serve as a continuation of the original television series. Its cast included Sarah Michelle Gellar, returning as Buffy Summers, as well as Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Faly Rakotohavana, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock, and Daniel Di Tomasso. It was set to premiere on Hulu sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.

On March 14, 2026, it was announced that Hulu had decided not to move forward with the project. Sarah Michelle Gellar shared the news via her Instagram account.

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Jensen Gering as Cole
  • Kingston Vernes as Carson

Guest

Production

A sequel series of the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran between 1997 and 2003, was reported to be in development in early 2025 by Hulu, with a pilot episode written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman and directed by Chloé Zhao, with Dolly Parton, whose production company Sandollar made the original series, serving as an executive producer.[1] Also serving as executive producers on the series are Sarah Michelle Gellar, Zhao, Nora and Lilla Zuckerman as well as the original series’ executive producers Gail Berman of the Jackal Group and Fran Rubel Kuzui & Kaz Kuzui via Suite B. It was reported that Gellar would be reprising her signature role as Buffy Summers from the original series.[2] Zhao was the one who convinced Gellar to reprise the role of Buffy.[3]

In May 2025, Ryan Kiera Armstrong was announced to be joining the cast.[4] Faly Rakotohavana, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock, Daniel Di Tomasso, and Kingston Vernes joined the cast in July 2025.[5][6] Production started that August, with filming of the pilot taking place in Los Angeles.[7][8] In August, Chase Sui Wonders, Merrin Dungey, Audrey Hsieh, and Audrey Grace Marshall joined the cast in guest roles.[8][9] That same month, Zhao stated that they had finished filming on the pilot and that the new series was set 25 years after the original.[10]

In an interview with ET Online, Gellar clarified that the show is not a reboot but a "continuation of the world".[11] It was also meant to be "approachable" for audiences who had not watched the original.[12] The show was given the official title of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale.[3] According to Zhao, they were to bring back characters from the previous show.[13] The show was expected to premiere on Hulu in 2026.[14] However, in March 2026, Gellar confirmed in a video posted on Instagram that the show was canceled.[15]

References

  1. ^ Cain, Sian (February 3, 2025). "Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot in the works with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning to the titular role". The Guardian. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 3, 2025). "'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Reboot Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar Nears Hulu Pilot Order With Chloé Zhao Directing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Malkin, Marc (October 22, 2025). "Sarah Michelle Gellar 'Never Thought' She'd Play Buffy Again, Says You Can Understand 'Vampire Slayer' Reboot Without Watching Original Show". Variety. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  4. ^ Porter, Rick (May 15, 2025). "'Buffy' Update at Hulu Casts Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the New Slayer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 24, 2025). "'Buffy' Reboot Casts Faly Rakotohavana, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock & Daniel Di Tomasso". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 24, 2025). "'Buffy' Reboot: Kingston Vernes Joins Hulu Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  7. ^ Rahbar, Sabba (August 9, 2025). "Sink Your Teeth Into First Look at Sarah Michelle Gellar Reprising Role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer". E! Online. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Blyth, Antonia (August 11, 2025). "Chase Sui Wonders On 'Buffy' Reboot Role: "It's The Dream To Bring Back A Show Like This" And Sarah Michelle Gellar Is "Incredible"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 11, 2025). "'Buffy' Reboot: Merrin Dungey, Audrey Hsieh & Audrey Grace Marshall Join Hulu Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  10. ^ Rottenberg, Josh (August 31, 2025). "Chloé Zhao went through a 'very painful fire' before turning heartbreak into 'Hamnet'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 31, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  11. ^ "Sarah Michelle Gellar on 'Buffy' Return, 25 Years Later and Resurrecting Helen Shivers (Exclusive)". ET Online. September 22, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  12. ^ Whitbrook, James; Jackson, Gordon (October 24, 2025). "Sarah Michelle Gellar Teases Even More About the 'Buffy' Reboot". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  13. ^ Davis, Clayton (November 14, 2025). "Chloé Zhao on Channeling Feminine Power in 'Hamnet,' Four-Year Break After 'Eternals' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Sequel With 'OG Characters'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 15, 2025. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  14. ^ Schneider, Michael (November 7, 2025). "How Millennials' Y2K Nostalgia Is Fueling This New Round of TV Revivals — Including 'Scrubs,' 'Buffy' and 'Malcolm in the Middle'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 15, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  15. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (March 14, 2026). "'Buffy' Reboot Dead at Hulu, Sarah Michelle Gellar Says: 'If the Apocalypse Actually Comes, You Can Still Beep Me'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 14, 2026. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
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