Excitement is buzzing as the reboot of the beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer series kicks off production. Sarah Michelle Gellar, who stars and serves as an executive producer, shared an exciting update about the reboot, revealing that the first table read for the new pilot episode took place on Monday, July 21. 
The behind-the-scenes photos posted by Gellar on Instagram show a glimpse of the cast and crew coming together for the read-through. Naturally, fans are diving into these images for clues about what’s to come in the new series.
One of the most intriguing details spotted in the photos is Gellar’s script, labeled simply as Episode 101 “Pilot”. While the name of the rebooted show remains a mystery (with Gellar’s script intentionally censored), fans are particularly focused on a list of character names seen on the reverse side of the script. At the top of this list is the name “Buffy Anne Summers,” which suggests that Buffy might be operating under the radar again, possibly using her middle name as a pseudonym.
Fans believe they’ve deciphered the names of several other characters in the episode, including Poppy, Hugo, Gracie, and Mr. Burke. These names are not entirely new to dedicated followers of the series. In fact, they were first teased in a casting breakdown leaked back in March by industry insider Daniel Richtman. Gracie, as reported, is a fan of Buffy and best friends with the reboot’s lead character, Nova (though some fans have speculated her name could be “Poppy”). Hugo is rumored to be a nerd from a wealthy family who has a crush on the new lead, while Mr. Burke takes over the iconic role of the school librarian, a position once filled by Giles in the original series.
The mystery surrounding the main character’s name-whether it’s Nova, Poppy, or something else-adds an extra layer of intrigue. As often happens in pre-production, character names sometimes change or are obscured to prevent leaks like these. Nevertheless, the excitement continues to build as fans eagerly await further details.
In an earlier interview, Gellar expressed her desire to bring back the original cast of characters, even those who met their demise in the past. One character fans are hoping to see is Cordelia, played by Charisma Carpenter. Carpenter has hinted at her interest in being involved in the reboot, despite the tragic end her character met in the original series.
With so much speculation and anticipation swirling around the project, it’s clear that the new Buffy series has already captured the attention of long-time fans. The question now remains: will the reboot live up to the original’s legacy?