Behind the Scenes of the “Buffy” Reboot: What Really Happened

Sarah Michelle Gellar, known for her iconic role as Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, recently confronted a setback regarding a reboot of the beloved series on Hulu. Gellar expressed her distress over its cancellation, stating that it has been a challenging experience for her.

Throughout last week, representatives from 20th Television and Searchlight Television, the studios behind the reboot, communicated with producers and the creative team, suggesting that a pickup for the pilot featuring Gellar and Ryan Kiera Armstrong was on the horizon. Following a rewrite by writers Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, there was optimism surrounding the project’s future.

Watch on Deadline

However, on Friday at 6 p.m., Craig Erwich, President of the Disney Television Group and head of Hulu Originals, informed stakeholders that the reboot would not proceed. Sources revealed that the announcement was unexpected and poorly timed, coming as Gellar attended the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival for the premiere of her new movie, Ready or Not 2, produced by Searchlight.

“I was in shock,” Gellar said, reflecting on the moment she received the news. The abrupt timing was particularly jarring as it coincided with significant events leading up to the Academy Awards, where Zhao was promoting her film, Hamnet, which received eight nominations including one for Best Director.

In a subsequent interview with People, Gellar expressed that the decision caught everyone off guard, including the head of Searchlight. “I got the call as we were stepping onto stage for the premiere of their own movie,” she noted.

The reasons behind Hulu’s sudden decision remain unclear, with sources describing the timing of the announcement as “misguided” and “terrible.” There reportedly wasn’t a pressing deadline, yet those involved in the pilot had been awaiting a definitive answer.

This unexpected outcome marks one year since Hulu ordered the pilot for Buffy: New Sunnydale, directed by lifelong fan Chloé Zhao. The pilot process culminated years of development, with Gellar initially reluctant to reprise her role until Zhao approached her with the concept four years ago.

Armstrong was cast alongside Gellar in the pilot, which began production in late July. Gellar previously shared her excitement about the unique storytelling opportunity the reboot provided, highlighting the contrasting journeys of a younger slayer and her matured Buffy.

Multiple sources noted that following the pilot’s completion, Hulu suggested that the show portrayed characters that were “too young,” indicating that there were concerns regarding its scope. It raises questions as to how such sentiments emerged after the pilot endured extensive stages of development and production.

Despite the feedback that the pilot needed to take more significant creative risks, Gellar and the Zuckermans made revisions, including a new 90-minute script that emphasized adult themes and featured Gellar’s character more prominently, thus aligning the project closer to streaming standards.

As discussions of a pickup intensified within the studios, Gellar pointed to an executive who expressed a lack of connection to the original series. In her People interview, she stated, “We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original but was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series.” Though she did not name the executive, sources indicate it was Erwich.

The exact implications of Erwich’s comments are unclear, but they reflect a disconnect with the typically passionate fandom surrounding the franchise. Ultimately, Erwich chose not to move forward with the reboot, and information regarding the rationale remains ambiguous. Some sources hinted that the revised project was deemed too costly, while others felt it failed to meet the high expectations set by the original series.

One insider compared the situation to completing a significant renovation only to find out foundational issues. “Instead of fixing the foundation, you just walk away,” the source remarked concerning Hulu’s decision.

Following a recent restructuring announcement, Erwich has gained oversight of 20th Television, responsible for the original Buffy series and any future adaptations, which may again target Hulu.