A Pop Culture Phenomenon
Into every generation, a TV show is born that surpasses societal expectations and embeds itself into the heart of pop culture. For Millennials, that TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Whether you’re a slay-hard fan or have yet to experience its glorious presence on your TV screen, chances are you’re relatively familiar with the show. Despite its mid-season debut on a new network following a flopped theatrical release of the same name, Buffy the Vampire Slayer garnered a loyal viewership during its seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. Since then, the series has become a pop culture phenomenon, spawning a TV spin-off, an animated series, comic books, novels, video games, merch, and an audio series.
Not only that, Buffy has inspired decades of television storytelling, paving the way for shows like Charmed, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Veronica Mars, iZombie, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and so many more of which we’re probably not even aware. Buffy was one of a handful of TV shows back in the day that introduced audiences to a strong, badass female protagonist with relatable complexities and an endearing personality that went beyond the stylish outfits she wore and the dreamy guys she dated.
Needless to say, Buffy was that girl.
Resurrecting the Slayer
Fast forward to February 3, 2025, when Buffy fans got the news of our lifetime–Sarah Michelle Gellar was once again picking up Mr. Pointy and slipping back into her iconic role in a reboot series!
Now, there have long been rumblings of a reboot.
In 2018, it was reported that Monica Owusu-Breen was working on a new Buffyverse series, with Joss Whedon as an executive producer and writer. However, that version did not move forward. What sets this reboot apart, beyond Whedon’s absence, is Sarah Michelle Gellar’s return, both as the star and a key producer. That’s HUGE because Gellar has always said her Buffy days are behind her, that the story was perfectly told as is, and that it’s essentially a chapter best kept closed.
But she seemed to have had a change of heart when she appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2024 to promote her new series, Dexter: Original Sin. When asked if she would ever consider taking part in a reboot of the show, Gellar admitted the success of reboots like Sex and the City and Dexter had inspired her to rethink her stance on resurrecting Buffy. Here’s a TikTok video I posted about that interview.
So, naturally, when the news came out that SMG had signed on for a legit reboot, I wasn’t that surprised.
(You can read her official statement about it here.)
What We Know About the Reboot So Far
- Gellar and Oscar-winning Director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Marvel’s The Eternals) are leading the charge. The series is reportedly nearing a pilot order at Hulu, per Deadline and Variety, which were the first to report the news.
- Nora and Lilla Zuckerman are attached to write, showrun, and executive produce. The sister showrunning duo are veteran TV writers and have several popular shows under their belt, such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Suits, and Poker Face.
- Also returning are the original series’ executive producers Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui, and Kaz Kuzui. Dolly Parton, who was an uncredited producer on the hit ’90s show through her company, Sandollar Entertainment, will also return.
- The series will focus on a new slayer, with Gellar appearing in a recurring role.
Development on the series is progressing quickly, according to Gellar. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, she says, “We’ve set up our offices, which means things are progressing probably faster than I’d anticipated. 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].”
She goes on, “I pinch myself every day when I get into these rooms, and I’m looking at Gail Berman, the Zuckermans, and Chloé Zhao. It’s an incredible group…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,” Gellar continues. “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.”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon on set. (Source: The Tab)
The Reboot is a Giant ‘F*** you’ to Joss Whedon—Here’s Why
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is sacred to Joss Whedon, who has always held its characters and stories tightly under his thumb. After all, he did create the Buffyverse, including the original film (yep, the one with MAGA princess Kristy Swanson), the TV series, and its spinoff Angel. Currently, Whedon is not attached to the new series and would most certainly not be invited to serve as any sort of consultant or producer due to his alleged transgressions in the past.
In case you’re not caught up on that controversy, here’s a quick rundown: *pauses to sip tea*
- Toxic Work Environments: Multiple cast and crew members, especially from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, claimed Whedon fostered a toxic and abusive work environment marked by emotional mistreatment, manipulation, and favoritism.
- Mismanagement of Buffy Cast: Allegations from Sarah Michelle Gellar and others have pointed to Whedon’s poor treatment of cast members, with Gellar specifically calling the environment “toxic.” Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia, accused Whedon of verbal abuse and mistreatment, especially during her pregnancy.
- Behavior on Justice League Reshoots: Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg in Justice League, accused Whedon of creating a hostile, abusive environment on set during reshoots, alleging racist behavior and misconduct. Fisher also claimed that Warner Bros. ignored his complaints. Likewise, Gal Gadot, who starred as Wonder Woman in the film, has said she was “shocked” by how Whedon spoke to her and that he “kind of threatened my career and said if I did something, he would make my career miserable.”
- Sexual Harassment Allegations: Whedon has faced accusations of inappropriate behavior toward women, with some actresses and former colleagues alleging he used his power to manipulate and control their careers.
Meanwhile, Whedon has pretty much been exiled from Hollywood and hasn’t worked on a high-profile project since Justice League.
In February 2021, after her Buffy costar Charisma Carpenter came forward with allegations against Whedon, Gellar posted a statement on social media in support of her former costars and peers, saying she is “proud” to have her name attached to Buffy Summers, but does not want “to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon.”
While she acknowledged the set of Buffy was “extremely toxic,” she said later in an interview that she will never tell her full story about working with Whedon because “nobody wins, everybody loses.”
At the time, I feared Gellar’s refusal to say much in the wake of the allegations was perhaps playing it safe. I, and many Buffy fans everywhere, wanted to know what her experience was like with Whedon. We wanted to know why and how much we should hate the man who gave us one of the greatest TV shows of all time. Her testimony would have been the nail in his coffin (pun intended).
But when this new reboot was announced, I realized something that brought the same smile to my face as Buffy in the final scene of the series. (IYKYK.)
Taking Back the Power
Replacing Whedon at the helm of this new reboot with strong, successful, creative women at her side is even better than if Gellar had shared her story in a tell-all interview or an Instagram post. For a narcissist like Whedon, taking his most prized creation and molding another version from it without him is a far worse punishment than any negative claims hurled at him.
After all, his legacy has never been about a facade of pleasantness and likability the way it was for other canceled celebrities (ahem, Ellen). Whedon was never really all that likable. He’s practically said as much, admitting in the aftermath of the allegations that he was not always “civil” on set.
Did he cultivate an image of being a feminist ally but behaved in ways that were contradictory to those ideals? Absolutely. But I would venture to say that those who worked closely with him and under him were likely not surprised by those allegations. (The rest of us, however, were shaken to our core.)
So no, Whedon’s power doesn’t lay in his Hollywood reputation; it lies in the groundbreaking storytelling of Buffy and the memorable characters he developed, and the respect and success that it earned him. To our knowledge, Whedon hasn’t said a word publicly about the new series so far. The last time he spoke on the possibility of a reboot was back in 2010, when he expressed mixed feelings, saying, “I don’t love the idea of my creation in other hands.”
Therefore, for Buffy, herself, to take up the mantle (let’s imagine said mantle as an all powerful Slayer scythe for funsies) and not only take ownership of it, but to share that power with other women through the assemblage of this brand new all-powerful-mostly-female creative team—is a beautifully ironic embodiment of life imitating art.
As fans of the show know—SPOILER ALERT—the series ended with Willow channeling the essence of a mystical scythe forged for Slayers, literally empowering any girl in the world who might be a Slayer to be a Slayer. Every girl who could have the power, to have the power.
Just as Buffy and the Scoobies fundamentally changed the destiny of the Slayer employing a weapon that only existed because of the Slayer, so too will Gellar change the legacy of the series that was once created and possessed by one flawed man who essentially used the incredible talent and strength of the women around him to build an empire.
Now, the powerful legacy of Buffy will just as much belong to those who are guiding this new generation of stories and the fans who stand by them and receive them with open arms. I’d like to believe that in another couple of decades after the inevitable success of this new series, as more and more generations discover the magic of Buffy, Whedon’s will be one of the last names associated with its legacy.
And that is the ultimate “f*** you” to Joss Whedon.