Buffy the Vampire Slayer is next through the revival escape hatch.
20th Century Fox Television is rebooting the cancelled Joss Whedon drama with writer Monica Owusu-Breen penning the new take, per THR:
Whedon will be an exec producer on the series and has been working with Breen on the script, which features a black actress stepping into the role of Buffy made famous by Gellar.
Gail Berman, Joe Earley, Fran Kazui and Kaz Kazui (who produced Whedon’s original Buffy film that inspired the TV series) will also serve as exec producers on the potential series. A network is not yet attached for the new Buffy, talks for which began last fall. Producers Fox 21 TV Studios will pitch the Buffy re-do to streaming and cable outlets later this summer in a package bound to ignite a bidding war. It’s unclear if Whedon will have any additional role on the new Buffy due to his other commitments, which include HBO’s recent straight-to-series order The Nevers.
Talks for a new Buffy began last fall. A decision to move forward was determined after Breen was identified as the right writer for the reboot. A script or director has not yet been determined. Casting for the central role of Buffy has also not yet been determined. The new version, sources say, will be contemporary and build on the mythology of the original. Like today’s world, the new Buffy will be richly diverse, with some aspects of the series, like the flagship, seen as metaphors for issues facing society today.
Is the time right for a Buffy reboot? Should the show stay cancelled? Stay tuned as we continue to track Buffy’s reboot journey…
Xander says
It’s been too long for a buffy reboot, I very much doubt anyone can rekindle the the the action that made buffy so successful on the little screen.
TOL says
Without Gellar no way I watch it. She needs to be part of it!
Craig Duck says
Could be interesting but most likely it will be like the Ghostbusters reboot, cute and fun to watch for 90 minutes but not relevant anymore, and what new ground can they cover?
You can only kill vampires and other monsters so many times before it gets boring.
Buffy ran for at least a season too long and it was my absolute favorite show
B. Skipalis says
You can’t improve upon original Buffy. It’s a modern classic for a reason. Now a spin-off I’d be completely in favor of, perhaps focusing on one of the many new slayers who resulted from Willow’s spell in Season 7. Or a continuation, moving forward from the events in the series or the comics. But a reboot? Just … no. That’s just really not a good idea.
Bob P says
NOPE!! It just WILL NOT be Buffy without Sarah Michelle Gellar. So, I doubt I would even try to watch it. And, without the real involvement of Whedon, it would not be the same.
Paul Simpson says
Keep the lead White and Blonde its too much of a jump to go black… Bring Faith back too