Sarah Michelle Gellar Shares Why She Turned Down Chloé Zhao’s ‘Buffy’ Reboot and What She Learned Along the Way
Sarah Michelle Gellar Reflects on Returning to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Sarah Michelle Gellar, renowned for her role as Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has revealed her initial hesitance regarding a possible return to the franchise. Since the show’s conclusion in 2003 after seven successful seasons, Gellar had expressed doubts about reprising her iconic character.
However, her perspective began to shift as she agreed to participate in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, where she reflected on the evolving nature of career opportunities. “I actually like when people bring up that I said ‘never,’ because I really felt that way,” Gellar told ComicBook. “So, lesson learned, first of all, young children… Never say never. Say, ‘I don’t see it happening,’ but don’t say ‘never,’ because then you have egg on your face.”
She elaborated on her journey to agreeing to return, stating, “But I truly thought that’s where I was at. I never heard a take or a reason to do it. Then Chloé Zhao came to me, and she had the reasons, and she had the take. Also, I was in a different place. The world was in a different place. With that being said, it’s still taken us four years to get to this place because I would say, ‘Yes,’ and then I would call a month later and say, ‘No. No, no, no. I can’t.’”
Zhao, who will direct the pilot of the reboot, played a significant role in changing Gellar’s mind. Despite the allure of working with the Oscar-winning director, Gellar admits to initially turning Zhao down multiple times. “I just asked people to give me the time and understand that it took us six years to get a sequel to Ready or Not. When you want to do things right, it takes time. Mind you, I also said no to Chloé many times in the beginning,” she explained.
In a recent appearance on the Shut Up, Evan podcast, Gellar discussed the factors that led to her reconsideration. “Chloé Zhao came to me and not just her passion, because I’ve seen people with passion before, but she knew how to go into the world. She knew what the world was, and she knew the way,” Gellar said. “And that was the first time I said, ‘Maybe, could I possibly do this?’ And this went on for three years now… me and Chloé going back and forth, saying I could do it, saying I can’t, and really spending the time to develop what it is and why it is.”
Gellar’s journey highlights the complexities of returning to a beloved role, revealing how personal and professional contexts can shape an actor’s decisions.
