The groundbreaking show that (re)introduced us to Buffy Summers and the world of vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces has been off the air for over 15 years. The cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer was first broadcast in 1997 and ran for seven seasons, totaling 144 episodes. The show was a smash hit and was praised for its feminist messages, exploration of female sexuality, and complex female protagonists.

Back in 2011, it was reported that a television studio had acquired the rights to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Since then, there hasn’t been much news about the show except for brief mentions that an updated version with an African American woman would lead the next assault on darkness as the chosen slayer. No mention, that is, until it was revealed that it had been put back in the coffin and placed in the morgue.

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Is Now a Perfect Time for a Buffy Reboot?

     20th Television

One might first question why a studio would do a reboot of a beloved cult classic – and then re-think, wait, classic? Fifteen years absent from our tv screens is an eternity in TV land. But this may just be the perfect reboot opportunity.

Back in 2018, when the reboot was initially announced by The Hollywood Reporter, Monica Owusu-Breen, serving as showrunner for the reboot with Joss Whedon as executive producer, faced similar backlash when she revealed that the show would feature a Black female lead. Owusu-Breen was quick to respond, stating:

Yet, fans of the original series would be remiss if they didn’t know the lore behind the Slayer. Making several appearances and interacting with Buffy and the other characters was Sineya. An African woman who was the first of a long line of strong female warriors who would fight the forces of evil.

“For some genre writers, it’s Star Wars. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my Star Wars. Before I became a writer, I was a fan. For seven seasons, I watched Buffy Summers grow up, find love, kill that love. I watched her fight, and struggle and slay… Joss Whedon’s brilliant and beautiful series can’t be replicated. I wouldn’t try to.”

Will Buffy Fight Her Way Back to TV Without Joss Whedon?

Since then, there has been complete silence regarding the project until this week’s long-awaited update. Probably not helping the production were the numerous charges of wrongdoing against the contentious writer and director, Joss Whedon.

Since 2020, when Justice League actor Ray Fisher accused Whedon of engaging in “gross, aggressive, and unprofessional” behavior during filming, the reaction against the filmmaker has been intensifying. Since then, several Buffy alumni have spoken up about disturbing encounters, including Charisma Carpenter, who claimed that Whedon’s actions scarred her. Whedon left his HBO series The Nevers amid the controversy, and he hasn’t yet announced another project. It is unknown if he was to have any further involvement other than as executive producer on the project.

In the book Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born: How Buffy Staked Our Hearts, original series star Sara Michelle Gellar states:

According to executive producer Gail Berman, the project has now been placed “on hold” indefinitely. The language essentially indicates the series is trapped in purgatory, according to a recent edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top 5 podcast, which broke the revelation.

While there are no further updates on the relaunch, as any Buffy fan knows, Buffy has battled her way out of much worse situations. In fact, this may be the perfect opportunity to continue the legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and bring back must-watch television.