James Marsters Hints Spike Might Return in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: NEW SUNNYDALE
James Marsters might be ready to sink his teeth back into the Buffyverse. Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains one of those rare cult classics that somehow keeps pulling in new generations while longtime fans happily rewatch the whole thing again and again on Hulu.
So when Sarah Michelle Gellar confirmed she was officially back in action for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, it cracked open a whole new wave of speculation. Who else from the original series might show up? Now one familiar bleach blond vampire is teasing that he might not be done yet.
Hulu has already greenlit a full season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale following the pilot, but outside of Gellar’s return, casting details are being kept under lock and key. That hasn’t stopped James Marsters from getting fans worked up after his recent appearance on The Bitch is Back, hosted by Charisma Carpenter.
While talking about Spike, Marsters got surprisingly reflective about the character and what it would take to step back into that headspace again. He explained:
“I had to go back and watch it just to ask myself, ‘Can you play that character again?’ Nevermind the externals. Can you internally get back to that psychology?”
That comment was enough to set off alarms, but Carpenter wasn’t letting him off easy. When she pushed him on whether that sounded like a quiet confirmation, Marsters quickly tried to pump the brakes, adding:
“I am not. No. I have no idea. Let’s see. What can I say? There is interest in having me back.”
So yeah, not a confirmation, but also very much not a denial. Whether that interest is coming from fans, the studio, or actual conversations with Hulu is still unclear, but it’s hard not to read between the lines a little. The idea of Spike crossing paths with Buffy again in New Sunnydale is pretty awesome.
Of course, there are some practical hurdles. Spike is famously immortal, and Marsters has aged like a normal human since the original series wrapped in 2003. That same issue could complicate a return for David Boreanaz as Angel. Still, this is the Buffyverse. If the story wants it, the story usually finds a way.
We already know the new series will center on Buffy mentoring a new Slayer, which makes it feel almost inevitable that more legacy characters could pop up, even if it’s just for special appearances.
Alyson Hannigan’s Willow and Anthony Head’s Giles feel like natural fits, especially given their roles as emotional and intellectual anchors in the original show. Fans are also hoping the series respectfully acknowledges Dawn following the tragic passing of Michelle Trachtenberg.
There’s still no release date for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, but fingers are crossed that it lands somewhere on the 2026 TV schedule.
Until then, the full seven-season run of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is waiting on Hulu, ready to be rewatched over and over again.