So, it's happening. Buffy is back. This was always inevitable, and the only surprise is that it's taken this long. Still, best believe I did a double take when I saw the news.
The HUGE takeaway? SMG is returning. This pleases me, though I don’t think it was fully necessary. I’ll explain why in a bit.
Chloé Zhao is tipped to direct. No word yet on the actual showrunner(s), but I think it’s safe to say that Joss Whedon will have nothing to do with this revival.
The first big relief? With SMG returning, this isn’t an actual reboot. I mean, she’s still playing Buffy, right? My biggest fear in the modern age was a full reboot—new cast, new Buffy. That would have been an unmitigated disaster and made me very salty. So the fact that this isn’t happening is very good news.
Doesn’t mean I’m not nervous, though. I still hold a ridiculous level of obsession with this show 27 years later. There’s barely a week that goes by without some Buffy media on in my house—whether it’s an episode playing in the background, a Buffy podcast, or the huge, glaring poster of Gellar staring at me from the wall. Hell, I’ve got the full Buffy and Angel VHS collections right next to the full DVD collections, all sitting beside my computer. This place is fully immersed in the Buffyverse, and I will have strong opinions.
The problem? There’s no way to know if this will be good or not. It could be. It could not be. I know, world-class insight here. I'm here all week.
I’ve always liked the idea of a historical Slayer show. Set it in the past with a Slayer we’ve never heard of. Hell, even one we have heard of—imagine a Buffyverse show with Nikki Wood as the Slayer in the ‘70s? Done right, that would be awesome. An anthology series would’ve been a really cool idea too. That's the great thing about the Buffyverse. It doesn't actually need any of the original cast to make a great show. The amount of potential untapped stories is almost endless.
I’m less hot on a timeline continuation, but it’s still drastically preferable to a hard reboot.
Who Could Return?
Obviously, SMG is confirmed. The first problem is Spike and Angel. I guess you could finagle some plot where Spike turns human to explain the ageing, but... eh. It’s not unprecedented—Angel turns human in the comics at some point, Darla gets resurrected, and the blood of a Mohra demon can do it. So, it’s not a total ass-pull. But I still don’t like it. Probably better to leave them out.Giles? Seems highly likely. ASH is still active as an actor, and I doubt it would take much to bring him back.
Willow? No reason they wouldn’t ask Hannigan back, and no reason she wouldn’t return.
Dawn? Michelle Trachtenberg just posted on Insta with a
emoji. I’m calling that a yes.Xander? With how Nicholas Brendon is these days, I’d be very surprised if they don’t kill him off off-screen or handwave his absence. (Yes, I know he’s dead in the comics—more on that later.) No chance he comes back.
Seems likely that this show will focus on a new cast and Slayer, with Buffy and the old crew in more of a supporting capacity. If this takes off and is a hit I wouldn't expect to see the old guard in every episode or anything.
Still, plenty of room for fun cameos. Even dead characters like Anya and Wesley aren’t completely off the table. This is the Buffyverse—being dead doesn’t always mean much.
Dealing with the comics
Will they bother? I know that the Joss penned comics are considered canon, but that doesn't mean they are going to be adhered to here. My guess is that they will ignore the comics. It becomes very fantastical and weird, and trying to set this revival after season 12 would alienate a lot of casual nostalgia viewers that have fond memories of the show but don't even know the timeline continues in the comics. I just think it is too messy, and they will ignore all of it.
Emma and Michelle reactions are all I can find from the cast so far. Add more in the comments if you find them:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot in the works with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning to the titular role
Oscar-winning director – and longtime Buffy fan – Chloé Zhao is onboard to direct, with Dolly Parton as executive producer
www.theguardian.com
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Sequel Series With Sarah Michelle Gellar Returning Nears Hulu Pilot Order
Variety has learned that a follow up to the beloved show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is nearing a Hulu pilot order with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning
variety.com
‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Reboot Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar Nears Hulu Pilot Order With Chloé Zhao Directing
Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot starring Sarah Michelle Gellar is getting a Hulu pilot order. Chloé Zhao will direct, Nora & Lilla Zuckerman wrote it.
deadline.com
OK, so what are we feeling about this crew?
