During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the 47-year-old Sarah Michelle Gellar, who once took on the series’ titular role, revealed that she was now open to reprising the part after years of initially saying no. She explained, “It’s funny. I always used to say no, because it’s in its bubble, and it’s so perfect. But watching Sex and the City [revival series, And Just Like That] and seeing Dexter[: Original Sin], and realizing there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, ‘Well, maybe.’” Gellar, who stars in the upcoming Dexter prequel, spoke about the potential premise for a new version of Buffy. She said, “It could be anything. It’s a universe. And it makes you realize that in this world, we need those heroes, I think, more so than ever.”

Her Past Stance on Returning to Buffy

In 2022, Gellar revealed that she wasn’t interested in stepping back into Buffy’s shoes. She told SFX Magazine, via Movieweb, “I am very proud of the show that we created and it doesn’t need to be done. We wrapped that up.” However, she gave her blessing for Buffy the Vampire Slayer to continue with a new female lead. She said, “I am all for them continuing the story, because there’s the story of female empowerment. I love the way the show was left: ‘Every girl who has the power can have the power.’ It’s set up perfectly for someone else to have the power.” She also added, “But like I said, the metaphors of Buffy were the horrors of adolescence. I think I look young, but I am not an adolescent.”

The Possibility of a Reboot

Though it hasn’t been confirmed if Gellar will be involved, Dolly Parton, an uncredited producer on the original series, revealed that a reboot of the supernatural drama series was still in the works after it was initially put on the back burner in 2022. A revival of the beloved series was first announced in July 2018 with Joss Whedon attached as an executive producer. He previously wrote the 1992 film and created the beloved WB series that ran for 7 seasons from 1997 to 2003. A network was not attached at the time of the announcement. However, Monica Owusu-Breen, who worked with Whedon on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., was set to serve as showrunner and head writer. The series was also set to star a Black actress in the lead role, but Owusu-Breen clarified: “There is only one Buffy.” Parton, 78, told Business Insider in January 2024 that they’re still working on bringing the series back and revamping it. She also noted that she was “very involved” behind the scenes of the original series, despite living in Nashville while the show was filmed in Los Angeles. She said, “A lot of my work was done just conversing back and forth with the business people there. I have to give more people more credit on Buffy the Vampire Slayer than me. A lot of people did so much sweat on that. That little show did great.”Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream in full on Hulu. Dexter: Original Sin premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, Dec. 13.