Consideration Scoobies! There’s a brand new Slayer on the town who may have you shaking in your fashionable but reasonably priced boots. After over 20 years of dwelling in a world with out a chosen Slayer, Hulu had determined to proper that unsuitable by bringing again Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the genre-bending, good sequence with an empowered feminine hero who understood why it was silly to go to battle in a skirt.
Initially airing from 1997 to 2003, Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for 144 episodes throughout seven seasons and two networks. Greater than only a cult favourite, the sequence helped form fashionable style tv, paving the way in which for reveals like Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, and Stranger Issues. It redefined small-screen horror, pushed boundaries for LGBTQ+ illustration, and showcased deceptively intelligent writing by utilizing supernatural components as metaphors for real-life struggles. It even made musical episodes a viable (and celebrated) storytelling format.
Right here’s the whole lot we all know up to now in regards to the upcoming Buffy revival, together with casting particulars, potential plot factors, and when you may anticipate to sink your tooth into the primary episode.
Who’s starring within the Buffy revival?
Sarah Michelle Gellar will return as Buffy Summers and function an govt producer on the revival. Whereas her slaying days seem like over, she is getting into a brand new function much like Rupert Giles, initially performed by Anthony Head, serving as a Watcher and mentor to the subsequent era. Though particular particulars about her involvement are restricted, experiences recommend her function might be extra of a supporting one.
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Ryan Kiera Armstrong has been solid as the brand new Slayer. Not like Buffy, this Chosen One is described as shy, bookish, and extra reserved, providing a distinct sort of hero for a brand new period.
On July 24, it was introduced that Sarah Bock, Ava Jean, and Faly Rakotohavana had been added to the solid as sequence regulars, enjoying the roles of Gracie, Larkin, and Hugo. It’s speculated that the trio will play mates of the Slayer, maybe the brand new Scoobies.
Jack Cutmore-Scott and Daniel di Tomasso may even be a part of the solid as sequence regulars, portraying Mr. Burke and Abe, respectively.
Bock is finest identified for her function on AppleTV+’s Severance by which she performed the disquieting function of Miss Huang, a baby supervisor whose function at Lumon Industries was each mysterious and threatening. Cutmore-Scott is thought for his function as Freddy Crane, Frasier’s son, on Fraiser, and his function as Cameron Black on Deception.
Unique solid members together with James Marsters (Spike), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Inexperienced (Daniel “Oz” Osbourne), and Head (Rupert Giles) have expressed curiosity in returning, however nothing has been formally confirmed.
“I really like that character, and if there was extra story to inform, I’d be there to inform it,” mentioned Inexperienced of his doable return to ComicBook.com. “The upside of getting Sarah [Michelle Gellar] concerned so intimately with that revival is that she’s extremely protecting, not simply with the standard of the work however the way in which folks really feel about it.”
What is going to the brand new Buffy sequence be about?
The unique sequence adopted teenage Buffy in Sunnydale, California—aka the Hellmouth—the place she fought monsters together with her loyal Scooby Gang. Collectively, they battled evil, saved the world greater than as soon as, and proved that heroism may include heartbreak, friendship, and a killer sense of fashion and sarcasm.
Although particulars in regards to the new sequence are nonetheless restricted, it’s been famous that the tone might be extra lighthearted, echoing the early seasons earlier than it took a darker flip. The revival may even discover extra fashionable points related to right now’s viewers.
“It will likely be lighter than the previous few seasons of the unique,” Gellar mentioned to Self-importance Honest. “We’ll attempt to discover a stability between new and outdated characters. My dream is to deliver again everybody who has died, however area should be made for brand spanking new tales as effectively.”
“One of many stunning features of Buffy is that it’s at all times been a crossover sequence,” continued Geller. “We’re attempting to determine modernize the themes of the sequence, particularly what it means to really feel like an outsider in a world dominated by social media. What we wish to discover are the space-time boundaries that have an effect on society right now.”
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How did Buffy finish over 20 years in the past?
Once we final left Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy had activated the Slayer potential in each eligible woman world wide, creating a military of super-powered teenagers in want of management. In the meantime, Sunnydale was swallowed by the Hellmouth.
Among the many Scooby Gang, Anya (Emma Caulfield) died an undeserved, brutal dying, and Spike sacrificed himself, solely to return on the spin-off Angel shortly after.
What occurred AFTER Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended?
Simply because Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended doesn’t imply the story did. The adventures continued in Season 8, the official comedian guide continuation overseen by Joss Whedon and revealed by Darkish Horse Comics, with crossover components from Angel.
Within the comics, Buffy leads a military of activated Slayers from Scotland, working with Giles, Xander, Willow, Daybreak, Religion, and Andrew. As their affect grows, the U.S. authorities labels them a menace and recruits acquainted enemies, together with Amy, a resurrected however skinless Warren, and a masked determine named Twilight, who’s ultimately revealed to be Angel. The gang returns to Sunnydale for a last battle, Giles is killed by a possessed Angel, and Buffy destroys magic on Earth to stop additional disaster.
The comedian sequence continues for a number of extra “seasons,” and loads unfolds. Listed below are a number of key takeaways:
- With magic gone, witches and magical beings lose their powers, resulting in a dramatically altered world.
- Buffy and Religion resurrect Giles, however he returns as a pre-teen boy with all his recollections intact.
- When magic is ultimately restored, Buffy and her mates are tasked with serving to to jot down its new guidelines.
- Xander and Daybreak briefly date, which many followers discovered icky.
- Concord outs vampires to the world, turning into a celeb and touchdown her personal actuality present.
It’s unclear whether or not any of those occasions are thought-about canon to the televised sequence regardless of being label the “official continuation,” however they’re attention-grabbing to know all the identical.
There are additionally video video games, an audio sequence titled Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, dozens of tie-in novels, and extra comics, together with Angel: After the Fall and a reboot comedian from Increase! Studios which options the solid again in highschool.
Who’s behind the digicam of Buffy revival?
Nora and Lilla Zuckerman are set to function showrunners and writers for the upcoming Buffy revival. Their earlier work contains Poker Face and Brokers of S.H.I.E.L.D., giving them strong expertise in each female-led storytelling and action-driven tv.
Chloé Zhao, the Oscar-winning director of Nomadland, will direct the pilot and in addition be a part of the mission as an govt producer.
Govt producers additionally embody Gail Berman, Fran and Kaz Kuzui, and Dolly Parton.
Sure, you learn that proper. Unique Buffy producer Dolly Parton — identified for “Jolene,” “9 to five,” and usually making the world a greater place — is as soon as once more bringing her down-home magic to the Buffyverse. As if we would have liked one more reason to adore her.
Joss Whedon isn’t concerned.
When will the Buffy revival premiere?
There isn’t a official premiere date but for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival, however Hulu ordered a pilot and the mission is advancing rapidly. Filming is anticipated to start later in 2025, with the potential of a completed pilot in late 2026.
Untitled Buffy the Vampire Slayer Revival Venture, TBA, Hulu