A Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot isn't an idea I would be on board with, but if this director’s idea for a reboot happens, I think it would work pretty well. Reboots have been one of the biggest trends in both film and TV in recent years, and they can happen in different ways – either with sequels, ignoring sequels or seasons, or just one season to catch up with the characters. Like everything, not all reboots have succeeded, and the truth is that not every movie and TV show needs a reboot.
It seems like every popular TV or movie franchise has to at least be considered for a reboot at some point. However, in most cases, it’s just speculation and nothing really comes out of it, but there are some, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, that quickly spark conversation about the potential of a reboot. Although a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot isn’t in development at the time of writing, some directors already have an idea of how it could be, and if one of them happens, I would totally change my mind about a reboot.
I've Long Been Wary Of A Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reboot
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Doesn’t Need A Reboot
As I mentioned above, not all TV shows need to be rebooted, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of them. Back in 1997, the world met Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy moves with her mother to Sunnydale, a small Californian town located on Hellmouth, which is a portal between realities and a convergence point of mystical energies, which is why vampires and other creatures often show up there. With the help of her friends and her Watcher, Giles (Anthony Seward Head), Buffy confronts all types of monsters, mostly vampires.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series is based on Joss Whedon’s 1992 movie of the same name, but they’re separate and unrelated.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven seasons full of action, drama, vampires, and some twists and shocking reveals. Buffy the Vampire Slayer got a fitting ending for Buffy, Giles, and the rest, and though some appeared in the spinoff series Angel, I’d say the main series got a satisfying ending that doesn’t require any expansion on TV (because it continued in comic books). There’s also a very 1990s-2000s charm in Buffy the Vampire Slayer that gives it an extra nostalgic touch that makes it all the more untouchable to me, so a reboot isn’t something I would be excited about.
On top of that, a reboot has been rumored for so long that it just keeps making me lose interest. A Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot was first in development in 2018, with series creator Joss Whedon serving as executive producer (via THR). It was also reported that the reboot would be “richly diverse” and there were plans for the new slayer to be Black. In 2022, executive producer Gail Berman revealed the reboot was on pause indefinitely (via IGN), and in 2024, Dolly Parton (yes, that Dolly Parton) revealed that the reboot was still in the works (via People).
Dolly Parton was an uncredited producer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Now, after Sarah Michelle Gellar had shown reluctance to play Buffy again and return to that world, she showed more openness to it during an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2024. Knowing that Gellar could be on board if a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot happens is a relief, but what changed my mind about it is Jane Schoenbrun’s interest in it.
Jane Schoenbrun Would Be Perfect For Buffy After I Saw The TV Glow
If Someone Can Do Justice To It, It’s Jane Schoenbrun
Jane Schoenbrun gained worldwide recognition with their 2024 supernatural horror movie I Saw The TV Glow. Written and directed by Schoenbrun, I Saw The TV Glow follows Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Owen (Justice Smith), two troubled teenagers who bond over their love for the young adult TV show The Pink Opaque, which is actually more obscure than what it seems. Maddy feels deeply connected to The Pink Opaque and its main characters, driving her and Owen to question their realities and identities.
I Saw The TV Glow is the second entry in Schoenbrun’s Screen Trilogy, following their 2021 movie We’re All Going To The World’s Fair and preceding the upcoming novel Public Access Afterworld.
I Saw The TV Glow was a critical success, with an 84% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a “fresh” label, along with a 71% audience score. I Saw The TV Glow has been praised for its visual aesthetic, tone, creativity, and the themes addressed in it, such as identity and trauma. I Saw The TV Glow has a perfect blend of psychological horror and drama, and I’m not sure if I’m scared of the twisty things the characters experience related to The Pink Opaque or their personal struggles and trauma.
That’s exactly what would make Schoenbrun perfect for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot. Buffy mixed comedy, horror (not hardcore but enough to give your mind something to think about), and drama, with serious topics such as gaslighting, trauma, and abuse. Schoenbrun knows how to handle these and add them to an engaging story that can be equal parts scary, dramatic, and fun – and luckily, Schoenbrun has already shown interest in a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.
I Agree With Jane Schoenbrun Making A 22-Episode Buffy Season
A Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reboot Has To Be Done The Right Way
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
With the conversation about a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot revived thanks to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s comments, Jane Schoenbrun has also shared interest in it. Schoenbrun took to Twitter/X to say they should call them for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot and they will make them 22 episodes a season. Aside from the first season, which had 12 episodes, every season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had 22 episodes, and I agree with Schoenbrun on this being the way for a reboot.
Nowadays, the norm – especially on streaming – is having eight to 10 episodes per season, which makes it easier to binge-watch shows, but that doesn’t mean that format would work for every show. The beauty of over 20 episodes per season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is that they allowed the main conflict of each season to develop at the right pace, while also giving space to episodes that didn’t connect to it but showed more of the characters’ dynamics and relationships – and all this wouldn’t be possible in just eight to 10 episodes.
What Could A Buffy Reboot Actually Look Like?
A Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reboot Would Have To Be Different
It’s hard to say what a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot could look like, as it would depend on who’s in charge of it – however, one thing that would surely happen is fixing some of Whedon’s mistakes and things that haven’t aged well about the show and its characters, mostly Xander (Nicholas Brendon). A Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot could follow Buffy in the present day, whether she’s still doing her work as a slayer or training new ones, or probably living a peaceful life that is disrupted by the sudden appearance of vampires and other creatures.
If Jane Schoenbrun is involved, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot would have a very specific and beautiful visual aesthetic, and in terms of narrative, it might have a bigger emotional charge.
Another option could be focusing on a new slayer, with Buffy now serving as a mentor similar to what Giles was to her. If Jane Schoenbrun is involved, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot would have a very specific and beautiful visual aesthetic, and in terms of narrative, it might have a bigger emotional charge and bring more terrifying monsters, not just physical ones, but also psychological and emotional. A Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot with Jane Schoenbraun on board is a project I would definitely be excited to watch.
Sources: THR, IGN, People.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
Custom image by Ana Nieves.
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
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