Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot Will See Classic Characters Return, Even If They’re Dead

Sarah Michelle Gellar, the iconic star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is bringing the series back to life with a reboot that promises both new faces and a return of classic characters – even those who have long been laid to rest. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Gellar shared her hopes for the series, emphasizing a mix of fresh and familiar faces. Her vision aims for a lighter tone than the later, darker seasons of the original show, especially Season 6 and 7.

Gellar will not only star in the pilot but also play a recurring role, passing the Slayer mantle to Ryan Kiera Armstrong’s new lead.

While Gellar is confirmed to return, her comments suggest that we may also see a reunion with other familiar faces from the original series, even those whose characters met tragic ends. She expressed a desire to “bring back everyone who has died,” though she acknowledged that the show must also create room for new stories to unfold. This intriguing suggestion raises the possibility of resurrecting beloved characters from the past, which was a hallmark of Buffy, where death was never permanent.

Throughout the original series, major character deaths were rare, but the later seasons saw the deaths of fan favorites like Tara and Anya. The spin-off series Angel was no stranger to the concept of death either, as it saw several of its main characters – including Cordelia and Wesley – perish in its later seasons. However, in the world of Buffy, death rarely means goodbye. Characters often returned from the grave, or their undead status led to memorable plot twists. Buffy herself died several times throughout the original series, and her closest friends and lovers often had complicated relationships with death, whether through vampirism or resurrection.

Gellar also recently reunited with co-star Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow, in a video that put rumors of a feud to rest. This has sparked hope among fans that Willow might also return, though there has been no confirmation yet. The original Buffy series, which aired from 1997 to 2003, also starred Nicholas Brendan as Xander, Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia, David Boreanaz as Angel, and Anthony Stewart Head as Giles. The reboot will be free of Joss Whedon’s involvement, though, which could signal significant changes in the series’ tone and direction.