Latest news with #ChloéZhao
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sarah Michelle Gellar shares ‘Buffy' reboot hopes: ‘My dream is to bring back everyone who has died'
Sarah Michelle Gellar is offering fresh insight into the long-developing Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot. In a new interview with Vanity Fair Italia, the actress shared new details about the upcoming Hulu series and what finally convinced her to reprise the iconic role more than two decades after the original show ended. 'For so many years, I said no to a possible return of the series,' said Gellar, who received a Golden Globe nomination for Buffy but never had an Emmy bid (she did, however, win a Daytime Emmy for her breakout role on All My Children). 'I didn't want to reintroduce something we had already seen. I waited for the right time to come. Then Chloé [Zhao], a big Buffy fan, proposed the project to me, and I accepted.' More from GoldDerby Benson Boone reviews are in: Critics flip off 'American Heart' Why Simone Ashley is walking the 'F1' carpet - even though she was cut from the Brad Pitt movie The Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt 'Interview With the Vampire' feud rumors, explained The reboot has been in development quietly for several years. Nora and Lilla Zuckerman (Poker Face, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) will be the showrunners and Zhao will direct the pilot and executive produce alongside Gellar, original series producers Fran and Kaz Kuzui, Gail Berman, and Dolly Parton, who also backed the original under her Sandollar banner. While Gellar will reprise her role as Buffy, she won't be the sole focus of the new series. Instead, the torch is being passed to a new generation. Ryan Kiera Armstrong, 15, known for roles in Firestarter and The Tomorrow War, will play the new lead — a teenage Slayer navigating modern high school life and supernatural threats. Gellar will appear in the pilot and then continue in a recurring role, stepping into a mentor-like position. 'It will be lighter than the last few seasons of the original,' Gellar said. 'We will try to find a balance between new and old characters. My dream is to bring back everyone who has died, but space will have to be made for new stories as well.' The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003, first on the WB and later UPN. It followed Buffy Summers, a seemingly ordinary teenager chosen to battle vampires and demons. The show became a critical and cultural landmark for its blend of supernatural action, teen drama and feminist themes. It also launched the careers of stars like Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Seth Green, and Michelle Trachtenberg. In this new version, the creative team is reimagining what it means to be an outsider in a digital world. 'One of the surprising aspects of Buffy is that it's always been a crossover series,' Gellar explained. 'We're trying to figure out how to modernize the themes of the series, especially what it means to feel like an outsider in a world dominated by social media. What we want to explore are the space-time boundaries that affect society today.' While Gellar has long distanced herself from Whedon, who is not involved in the reboot following multiple misconduct allegations, she has expressed excitement about reclaiming the legacy of the series with a new generation. 'So. ... you might have heard some news this week, but I realize you haven't heard from me,' Gellar wrote in a Feb. 6 Instagram post alongside a photo of herself as Buffy and the character's famous quote, 'If the apocalypse comes, beep me.' She continued, 'I have always listened to the fans and heard your desire to revisit 'Buffy' and her world, but it was not something I could do unless I was sure we would get it right.' Best of GoldDerby Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2 Adam Brody, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and the best of our Emmy Comedy Actor interviews Kristen Bell, Tina Fey, Bridget Everett, and the best of our Emmy Comedy Actress interviews Click here to read the full article.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sarah Michelle Gellar shares her wild idea about the upcoming Buffy reboot
Sarah Michelle Gellar has a few ideas about what she'd like to see included in the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot. The actress,48, who recently reunited with her Buffy co-star Alyson Hannigan on a red carpet, opened up about her hopes for the highly anticipated show in an interview with Vanity Fair. 'It will be lighter than the last few seasons of the original,' the Emmy winner who played the title role for seven seasons told the publication while attending the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival. 'We will try to find a balance between new and old characters,' she said of the series being helmed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao. The actress and executive producer then opened up about something that could thrill Buffy fans of all ages. 'My dream is to bring back everyone who has died, but space will have to be made for new stories as well. Gellar hinted there could be opportunities to expand the Buffy universe again. 'One of the surprising aspects of Buffy is that it's always been a crossover series,' she explained. 'We're trying to figure out how to modernize the themes of the series, especially what it means to feel like an outsider in a world dominated by social media,' she explained. The action star added that she feels 'lucky' not to have had to deal with that when she first took on the role. 'What we want to explore are the space-time boundaries that affect society today.' Gellar explained why it took her so long to agree to a reboot. 'I didn't want to reintroduce something we had already seen. I waited for the right time to come,' she said. The versatile star explained that Zhao, who is a self-admitted fan of the show 'proposed the project to me, and I accepted.' 'The gestation was long. It's been three years, and we're still working on it,' Gellar said. Sharing her hopes for the reboot, the actress revealed 'My dream is to bring back everyone who has died, but space will have to be made for new stories as well' The actress and executive producer said the tone 'will be lighter than the last few seasons of the original' Scripts are being written by Poker Face scribes Nora and Lilla Zuckerman Little is known about the reboot, except that Ryan Kiera Armstrong, 15, will star as a new Vampire Slayer, alongside Gellar's Buffy. 'From the moment I saw Ryan's audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side,' the welcoming star wrote on social media in May. 'To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room.'
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Sarah Michelle Gellar Wants to "Bring Back Everyone Who Has Died" in New BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Revival — GeekTyrant
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair Italia, Sarah Michelle Gellar opened up about the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival, and her character wish-list is ambitious as she wants to bring everyone back, including the ones who didn't survive the original run. Gellar said: 'It will be lighter than the last few seasons of the original. We will try to find a balance between new and old characters. My dream is to bring back everyone who has died, but space will have to be made for new stories as well.' That's a tall order, considering how many fan-favorite characters met tragic ends in the original series. But if anyone can pull off a supernatural reunion, it's Buffy . Star Wars: Skeleton Crew star Ryan Kiera Armstrong was officially announced as the new series lead. Gellar, who returns in a recurring role as Buffy, had nothing but praise for her young co-star, saying: 'From the moment I saw Ryan's audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side. To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room.' The new series will be steered by showrunners Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman ( Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Poker Face ), with Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao ( Nomadland, Eternals ) directing the pilot and executive producing. Gellar will also serve as executive producer, joined by original series vets Gail Berman, Fran and Kaz Kuzui, and Dolly Parton, whose Sandollar Productions was one of the original producers behind the iconic show. With Buffy officially rising again, longtime fans are wondering what this new era of slaying will look like. Will we see Willow, Xander, or Spike again? Could Oz or Tara return? And how exactly would they bring back beloved characters who died years ago? Gellar may not have those answers yet, but she's clearly hoping this new series can find that magic again and bring back whoever she possibly can.
Geek Tyrant
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Sarah Michelle Gellar Reveals Kids of Original Cast Auditioned for BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Revival — GeekTyrant
The Hellmouth might be opening again, but this time it's bringing in a new generation of Slayers, and while talking with Us Weekly, original Buffy the Vampire Slayer stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan shared a fun behind the scenes detail about the upcoming reboot… the children of several OG cast members auditioned for the new series. Hannigan said during the interview: 'I know somebody who auditioned for something on the show,' and Gellar quickly added, 'I know somebody who was on the show whose child auditioned on the show. I know a few people from the show whose children came in.' With a laugh, Hannigan followed up: 'It better not have been one of my kids!' The new series is being developed for Hulu and centers on a fresh face in the Slayer lineup: Ryan Kiera Armstrong. She's set to play a quiet, introspective high schooler who discovers she's the next in line to battle the forces of darkness. Gellar, who also serves as executive producer, will return in her iconic role as Buffy Summers. 'From the moment I saw Ryan's audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side,' Gellar said. 'To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room.' Back in February, it was reported that Hulu is nearing a pilot order for the project, which will be helmed by Nomadland and Eternals director Chloé Zhao. The script comes from writing duo Nora and Lilla Zuckerman ( Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Poker Face ), who are also on board as executive producers alongside Gellar and Zhao. Dolly Parton is also back as an executive producer. She helped fund the original Buffy through her company Sandollar Productions. Joss Whedon, the original showrunner and creator of both the 1992 Buffy movie and the beloved series is not involved in the reboot. Whedon hasn't worked in the industry since multiple misconduct allegations surfaced in 2021. Still, with a new Slayer rising and the next generation of Buffy kids stepping up for auditions, it's clear the Buffyverse is far from over and I'm excited to see what this series will be! Source: Deadline
Geek Tyrant
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Sarah Michelle Gellar Talks About Why This Pitch for the BUFFY Reboot Made Her Say Yes — GeekTyrant
Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has been pitched reboots and remakes of the series plenty of times over the years, but it wasn't until she heard this most recent idea that she was ready to make her comeback official. The actress appeared on SiriusXM Hits 1's The Morning Mash Up with Buffy co-star Alyson Hannigan last week, where Gellar said it was the reboot's director, Chloé Zhao ( Eternals ), and creators Lilla and Nora Zuckerman's ( Poker Face ) decision to make the series a continuation of Buffy Summers's story rather than telling the same story again that won her over. Gellar said, 'Everyone was just trying to redo it. And they [the Zuckermans] had a continuation of where it goes now. And, you know, as Alyson and I now have teenagers, and it's – you see the circle of what's needed.' 'Absolutely,' said Hannigan. 'We used to play teens, and now we have teens.' The new Buffy series is currently in pre-production at Hulu. Gellar is reprising her beloved role alongside a new Slayer protagonist. Ryan Kiera Armstrong ( Skeleton Crew ) will star alongside Gellar in the new role, though details about Armstrong's character and the nature of her relationship with Gellar's Buffy remain tightly under wraps. Both Gellar and Hannigan reflected on why Buffy has endured since it went off air in the early 2000s, and why it merits a continuation over two decades later. Gellar said: 'You realize all these years later that the show still translates. Because sometimes you watch a show that you loved and you see it now, and you're like, 'Okay', but it doesn't have the same meaning. 'And Buffy is still hitting people who are watching it for the first time, and they're seeing themselves, and they're seeing their friends, and they're finding their chosen family.' Hannigan was quick to agree that her Buffy castmates became akin to family working on the series. Gellar then went on to share that in such a polarized political and media landscape, her hope is that the Buffy reboot series will provide its viewers with comfort and connection. She said, 'I think, more than ever right now, as we get more and more divided, we need that chosen family. So I hope to provide a new chosen family.' Are you looking forward to the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot?
