Sarah Michelle Gellar Shuts Down BUFFY Reboot Haters and Teases How the New Series Honors the Original
Sarah Michelle Gellar is making it clear she doesn’t have time for negativity when it comes to the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.
In a recent interview with USA Today, the actress said she believes reboots and revivals have an important role in entertainment, creating “work that not just stands the test of time (and) that people still remember, but they still enjoy.”
When they give new generations a chance to connect with beloved stories, she said:
“I’ve been fortunate enough that I’ve had work that people remember from all different times. If your art that you’ve created is still meaningful and also as the world changes that it still has emotional resonance to the fans, that’s all we could ever ask for.”
Gellar acknowledged that audiences can be tough on reboots, but she’s confident this one is being made for the right reasons. She explained that success comes from building something that stands on its own while “capturing the DNA of the original” rather than simply repeating what came before.
The new Buffy series is leaning into that philosophy. Rising star Ryan Kiera Armstrong is stepping into the role of the chosen vampire slayer while Gellar returns in a recurring supporting role.
Speaking separately with IGN, she emphasized that the new show isn’t just relying on nostalgia.
“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. The fact that people still carry such love for the show after all these years is incredibly special.”
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Gellar has revisited an old role. She recently reprised her character Helen Shivers in I Know What You Did Last Summer and admitted her perspective on returning to the past has shifted over time. For her, what matters is whether the project feels fresh and meaningful to today’s audiences.
The untitled Buffy sequel has already wrapped filming on its pilot episode and is set to premiere on Hulu. With Gellar backing it and promising that the show honors the “original DNA” while carving its own path.