Buffy the Vampire Slayer (reboot)

↳ Note: This article is about the reboot. For the original series, see Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

A new version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series is a project in development announced in July 20, 2018, to be produced by Fox 21 Television Studios. Defined as a reboot, this means the previously established Buffyverse canon would begin anew, not intended to be a repetition (remake) nor a continuation (revival, spin-off) of the original series.

Production

According with the reports, Monica Owusu-Breen has been hired to pen the adaptation and serve as a showrunner, while original creator Joss Whedon will be an executive producer of the series. They are working together on the pilot script, with Gail Berman (who had produced both Buffy and Angel series), Joe Earley, Fran Kazui, and Kaz Kazui serving as additional executive producers.

No official script has been ordered, and the casting for the central role of Buffy Summers is yet to be determined, but the producers intend to hire a black actress to step into the role. The new version, which will be pitched to streaming and cable networks summer 2018, will be contemporary, building on the original mythology.

The announcement to reboot Buffy comes a few months after Fox and 20th TV chairman and CEO Gary Newman hinted that the title could soon find itself into the studio’s development pipeline. “[Buffy] is the most ripe show we have for bringing back, it’s something we talk about frequently,” he said in March, noting that the choice to do so ultimately was up to Whedon.

Responding to the online backlash, Monica Owusu-Breen seemed to imply that the reboot will involve new characters in place of the originals. In Twitter, she shared the statement: “For some genre writers it’s Star Wars. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my Star Wars. Before I became a writer, I was a fan. For seven seasons, I watched Buffy Summers grow up, find love, kill that love. I watched her fight, and struggle and slay. There is only one Buffy. One Xander, one Willow, Giles, Cordelia, Oz, Tara, Kendra, Faith, Spike, Angel… They can’t be replaced. Joss Whedon’s brilliant and beautiful series can’t be replicated. I wouldn’t try to. But here we are, twenty years later… And the world seems a lot scarier. So maybe, it could be time to meet a new Slayer… And that’s all I can say.”

Original Cast

Apparently, Nicholas Brendon has not been involved in the project, as he tweeted the following after news went live: “Reading the articles I’m pretty sure the new Buffy is a reboot (continuing stories) and not a remake (new actors playing the original roles).” He also responded to a fan asking how he felt about the reboot saying he was “just happy [Joss Whedon] is involved!”.

Similarly, Anthony Stewart Head seemed supportive of the reboot, who wrote: “Whether a reboot or a spin-off, or Re-vamp (see what I did there) it is finally something that Joss will oversee, and it is his universe.”

James Marsters also expressed his support, writing: “Holy crap! ‘Buffy’ is getting a reboot?!! Awesome! Black teen Buffy, cool! Joss is producing, thank god! Empowering the female youth, spectacular!!! Personally I hope that the new show retains the message of ‘Don’t give up, not on yourself, not on the world.’ What do you think?”. Reaffirming his support, he also mentioned his interest on participating in the new series: “Never say never. Joss’ mind is always surprising. I’m open to playing Spike if Joss is involved, I am open to whatever Joss has in mind, whether that’s Spike or something else. I think the world very much needs a new Slayer right now. I think that we’d have have to get some really good lighting together to sell Spike. What would be great is if he comes back and he’s like ‘Buffy, you look terrible. I still love you, of course.’”

Emma Caulfield, in turn, had simply twitted: “uh....#buffy #buffyreboot”. She eventually elaborated, saying that “perhaps quite selfishly, I want Buffy to remain like a fly encased in amber,” in comparison to the disaster of the world of Jurassic Park, but still mentioned multiple conflicting questions she still had, concluding: “As the saying goes, ‘Time will tell.’”

In response to fans’ negative reaction to the news, David Fury published his opinion: “As one who’s credited with the most teleplays in the BUFFYVERSE (save for Joss himself), I’m dismayed that so many fans are not seeing this news as a thing to rejoice. I can only suspect that it’s the term ‘reboot’ that’s not sitting well with them. This project is in its infancy, but I can almost guarantee the new series will be a continuation of the original universe, not a ‘do-over.’ It can just as easily be called Daphne the Vampire Slayer if she doesn’t adopt the mantle of Buffy as an homage to a legend. The point is JOSS IS OVERSEEING NEW SLAYER STORIES FOR TELEVISION!! The trademark humor, social consciousness, genre-bending will all be there. It won't replace the original. It will expand the saga (and not in a comic-book form). Will any of the characters from the OS appear? Maybe. Who cares? That universe is the best. (Much better than this one.) I can’t wait to watch! Addendum: Some of you are confusing ‘reboot’ for ‘remake.’ Reboot just means the machine’s starting up again, not like they’re going to retell the same stories. Yeesh. C’mon, people.”

Drew Z. Greenberg was receptive of the announcement, tweeting directly in response to Monica Owusu-Breen’s statement: “Truly could not be more excited to see the #Buffy universe expanded to include more stories. And with my friend and hero @monicabreen at the helm, I cannot wait till I get to watch this show.”

Also in reply to the statement, Clare Kramer tweeted: “Welcome to the #Buffy family, @monicabreen! I know I can’t wait to learn more about the inclusive vision you and @joss have for today’s Slayer, fighting today’s battles in an even bigger world. #butdontmakeherarobot #engage”

While Alyson Hannigan hasn’t said anything since the news broke, few weeks earlier she told that, if they were to do another iteration of the show, she would want to be involved. “It would be weird to see a remake with younger people… It would be like, ‘No, don’t do that!’ I would not want to see that. Like, if they remade Buffy with like a new cast… That would hurt… That would hurt.”