L) Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Buffy’.Photo:
Kristina Bumphrey/Billboard via Getty; Getty
On Feb. 3, PEOPLE confirmed that a ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ was in the works more than two decades after the show took its final bow
Sarah Michelle Gellar says the rumors are true!
Shortly after news broke that a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot was nearing a pilot order at Hulu, the actress, who played the titular character in the original late 90s series, addressed the potential series and shared just how involved was in the project.
“So….. you might have heard some news this week, but I realize you haven’t heard from me,” Gellar, 47, began in a statement shared on Instagram. “Three years ago, I got a call from my dear friend and mentor, Gail Berman. She told me that she wanted me to sit down with Chloé Zhao to hear her take on a potential ‘Buffy’ revival.”
Gellar recalled feeling “blown away” that the Oscar-winning director knew who she was. Despite feeling like there was no way forward with a modern Buffy reboot, the actress agreed to a “twenty minute” coffee, wanting to meet Zhao and hearing something “different” in Berman’s voice.
What was supposed to be a short meeting turned into a “four hour adventure” where the trio laughed and cried, “but mostly we both talked about how much this show means to us.”
“While I didn’t agree to anything at that meeting, I did shock myself by agreeing to continue the conversation,” she continued. “These conversations did, in fact, continue over the next few years and eventually we added the incredible Nora and Lilla Zuckerman to our little tribe until ultimately, one day, we landed on an idea.”
(L) David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’.
Hulton Archive/Getty
Gellar added that she’s “always listened to the fans and heard your desire to revisit ‘Buffy’ and her world,” but wasn’t sure she wanted to sign on “unless I was sure we would get it right.”
“This has been a long process, and it’s not over yet. I promise you, we will only make this show if we know we can do it right. And I will tell you that we are on the path there,” she continued.
“I feel so lucky to be on this journey with these four unbelievably talented women, all of whom love ‘Buffy’ as much as I do,” she concluded. “And as much as you do. Thank you to all the fans who never stopped asking for this. This will be for you.”
On Feb. 3, PEOPLE confirmed that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was in the works more than two decades after the show took its final bow.
Gellar is expected to reprise her career-defining role as titular slayer Buffy Summers, but the new series will follow a new slayer with the actress slated to appear in a recurring role.
Zhao will direct and executive produce the Buffyverse pilot, while Nora and Lila Zuckerman are attached are writers, showrunners and executive producers, both outlets reported.
