Hulu has decided to scrap Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, its planned continuation series that would have once again featured Sarah Michelle Gellar as the show’s original Slayer.
Gellar shared news of the shock decision directly with fans today via a brief statement on her Instagram, without explaining Hulu’s decision further. Instead, Gellar simply thanked Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao for her work pitching the series, which now will no longer come to be.
Hulu’s decision is a surprise, considering the lengthy work that had gone into the show since its initial announcement a year ago, the public reveals of its new, younger cast — set to be led by Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’s Ryan Kiera Armstrong — and the broad support it had gained from both fans of the original series and its many former cast members, several of whom expressed a desire to return.
“I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me,” Gellar told fans today. “Unfortunately, Hulu has decided not to move forward with Buffy: New Sunnydale.
“I want to thank Chloé Zhao, as I never thought I’d find myself back in Buffy’s stylish yet affordable boots, and thanks to Chloé I was reminded how much I love her, and how much she means — not only to me, but to all of you. And this doesn’t change any of that. And I promise, if the apocalypse actually comes, you can still beep me.”
Buffy: New Sunnydale would have followed Kiera Armstrong’s new young Slayer as she navigated high school in the present day with a fresh cast of classmates and teachers — plus Gellar returning as veteran undead fighter Buffy Summers, tying the new episodes into a deeper plotline.
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A pilot episode was filmed last year, whose production was widely reported on and pored over by fans for more details of its story and setting. Gellar was closely involved, after being tempted back to her cult classic role by Zhao’s vision for the continuation. Still, it was reported that she had only filmed a brief and mysterious cameo for the pilot, with her character set to feature more in future episodes — which now will not be made.
Hulu had previously planned to air the series later this year, though word on its development had gone quiet in recent months. Still, in January, Gellar spoke out to reassure fans that the wait was simply down to the series’ creative team working to ensure it was good enough to not “sully the legacy” of the original beloved show.
IGN previously spoke with original Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Charisma Carpenter about the new series, who told us that she was “hopeful” for a New Sunnydale return after an “unjust” end to her character Cordelia.
Image credit: Robby Klein/Getty Images for IMDb
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
