Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s reboot is another step closer to bringing back more original characters and actors. So far, Sarah Michelle Gellar is the only OG cast member confirmed to be returning for the revival. And with filming on the Buffy reboot pilot now finished, it seems likely she’ll be the only one to appear in that first episode, assuming it is eventually picked up to series by Hulu. The greater focus will be on the new generation, led by Ryan Kiera Armstrong’s new Slayer, who is believed to be called Nova, and her own version of the Scooby Gang.
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Still, it would be a real surprise if Gellar wasn’t joined by some familiar faces. This has been a common trend across multiple TV revivals and reboots, and a blend of old and new would make sense. This is supported by recent comments from Gellar to IGN, where she spoke about the series capturing the DNA of the original show: “For me, the heart of Buffy was always about found family — that sense of belonging and being loved for who you are — and that’s more important now than ever. That’s what makes this new chapter so meaningful, it’s not just revisiting the past but honoring the show’s original DNA.”
Buffy’s Reboot Must Bring Back Multiple Characters (But Get The Balance Right)
Gellar’s remarks speak to what the new show is doing: that Nova’s friends will likely serve as her own found family, offering a sense of community around her as she navigates her new secret life as a Slayer. But they also show why more characters from the original series will probably return: because, given their importance to Buffy, it wouldn’t feel right not to have some included. She was the Slayer, but they were still crucial not only to her heroism, but her entire life, and should still be involved, even if it’s now in a more limited capacity.
With Gellar herself seemingly the only returnee in the pilot, it’s quite possible that Buffy Summers and the other Scooby Gang members no longer live in Sunnydale, despite the town being rebuilt. Her relationship with the others could even factor into her story, as it’s plausible she’s no longer as close to some of them as she used to be, which is simply part of adult life. But if there’s a major new threat to deal with, then it wouldn’t be staying true to Buffy the Vampire Slayer if she didn’t call on the likes of Giles or Willow for support.
Anthony Head and Alyson Hannigan are both very much still active, and the latter recently appeared alongside Gellar in the Ask2BSure campaign to raise awareness about meningitis. That naturally sparked speculation Hannigan would be returning for the reboot and, while it hasn’t been confirmed, it would be a major shock if the reboot gets picked up to series and Willow isn’t a part of it.
Charisma Carpenter recently said she isn’t in the Buffy reboot, but that doesn’t mean she won’t eventually be asked to reprise her role as Cordelia. While having a great character arc, her story didn’t end the right way, and bringing her back could do the character justice. The Audible series Slayers: A Buffyverse Story featured several returning stars, including Head, Carpenter, Amber Benson (Tara), James Masters (Spike), and Emma Caulfield (Anya), which does suggest there’d be interest from cast members in coming back.
At the same time, there does need to be a balance here. The onus will be on the new characters, because being a Slayer is a generational story (although, post-Willow’s spell, that’s something the reboot will need to address in some way). It can’t just become a de facto Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 (if it ignores the comics), and yet not doing enough with the original characters would also be a missed opportunity. That’s not an easy needle to thread, but all the comments so far, and its more cautious approach, suggest it’ll get it right.
All seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are available to stream on Hulu.
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Image courtesy of Focus Features.
