Sarah Michelle Gellar Confirms Hulu Scraps ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Reboot

Fans of the Buffyverse were dealt a tough blow this weekend. Sarah Michelle Gellar, the actress who made Buffy Summers a household name, took to Instagram on March 14 to share that Hulu has decided not to move forward with the highly anticipated reboot, Buffy: New Sunnydale.

“So I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me – unfortunately Hulu has decided not to move forward with Buffy: New Sunnydale,” Gellar, 48, wrote. “I want to thank [director] Chloe Zhao because I never thought I would find myself back in Buffy’s stylish yet affordable boots and thanks to Chloe I was reminded how much I love her and how much she means not only to me but to all of you.”

Even as she broke the news, Gellar kept her signature humor intact: “And this doesn’t change any of that. And I promise if the apocalypse actually comes you can still beep me.”

Revisiting the Buffyverse

The announcement comes after months of excitement for the reboot. In February 2025, Us Weekly confirmed that Gellar would reprise her iconic role in Hulu’s follow-up series.

The show was set to explore the next chapter of the Buffy universe, focusing on a new slayer portrayed by Ryan Kiera Armstrong.

For those who need a refresher, Gellar originally starred as Buffy on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the WB hit that ran from 1997 to 2003.

“It’s incredibly emotionally overwhelming,” Gellar told Us in August 2025, reflecting on her time back on set more than two decades after leaving Sunnydale. “It’s just a place I didn’t know that I would find myself. While it was new, it was also incredibly familiar, and I feel very lucky.”

The Long Road to Saying Yes

Gellar also opened up about the journey that ultimately led her to agree to the reboot. In an interview with ComicBook’s Bryan Clairns on March 13, she explained that the decision wasn’t instantaneous.

“It’s still taken us four years to get to this place because I would say, ‘Yes,’ and then I would call a month later and say, ‘No. No, no, no. I can’t,’” she admitted. “I’m Camerone Frye from Ferris Bueller. ‘Again, again, again…’”

She elaborated that fans and collaborators needed patience: “I just asked people to give me the time and understand that it took us six years to get to a sequel to Ready or Not. When you want to do things right, it takes time.”

More Than Just Buffy

During this period, Gellar was also busy with her film career. She stars in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, the follow-up to the 2019 hit Ready or Not, where she plays Ursula Danforth.

Her character masterminds a deadly new game, frequently clashing with her twin brother, Titus Danforth (Shawn Hatosy).

Gellar emphasized that her decision to finally join the Buffy reboot had nothing to do with money. “This is not a crash grab to have a job,” she said. She also noted that she initially said no to director Chloe Zhao multiple times.

“Her passion, and her reasoning for wanting to do it, and why now, and why it is necessary,” convinced her to come on board—though fans won’t get to see it after all.

The Buffy reboot may have fallen through, but Gellar’s connection to the character and the fans remains as strong as ever. For those still holding onto hope, she’s left the door slightly ajar: if the apocalypse shows up, you know who to call.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Buffy. Come back here often for all Buffy spoilers, news, and updates.