- ↳ 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 again, not intended to be a repetition nor a continuation 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, 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.[1]
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 probably our most ripe show for a remake, it’s something we talk about frequently,” he said in March, noting that the choice to do so ultimately was up to Whedon.[2]
Original Cast
Apparently, Nicholas Brendon won't be 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!”.[3]
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.”[4]
Emma Caulfield, in turn, simply twitted: “uh....#buffy #buffyreboot”.[5]
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.”[6]
References
- ↑ Lesley Goldberg, “‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Inclusive Reboot in the Works With Joss Whedon”. Hollywood Reporter, July 20, 2018.
- ↑ Debra Birnbaum, “Fox Boss on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Revival: ‘It’s Something We Talk About Frequently’”. Variery, March 13, 2018.
- ↑ Nicholas Brendon on Twitter, July 21, 2018.
- ↑ Anthony Stewart Head on Twitter, July 21, 2018.
- ↑ Emma Caulfield Ford on Twitter, July 20, 2018.
- ↑ Avery Thompson, “Alyson Hannigan: A ‘Buffy’ Remake With A New Cast ‘Would Hurt’ — ‘I Would Like To Be Involved’”. Hollywood Life, July 13, 2018.