Sarah Michelle Gellar Says One Hulu Exec Axed ‘Buffy’ Reboot

Sarah Michelle Gellar shares why the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" reboot isn't happening, revealing one Hulu executive wasn't a fan. The Sarah Michelle Gellar Says One Hulu Exec Axed ‘Buffy’ Reboot first appeared on The Blast

Sarah Michelle Gellar has confirmed that the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot will not be moving forward, and fans are disappointed. The actress is now offering more insight into why the project fell through, saying that it was completely unexpected.

According to Gellar, it came down to one Hulu executive who wasn’t a fan of the show. As for the series, the actress says it’s premature to say what will happen, but the show’s legacy remains.

The ‘Buffy’ Reboot Was Announced In 2025

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Michelle (@sarahmgellar)

In February 2025, the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot was announced, with Deadline reporting Gellar returning as the titular character and director Chloé Zhao helming the series.

The original series aired for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003, with Gellar playing Buffy Summers, a young Vampire Slayer who initially seeks a normal life but ultimately embraces her calling to fight the forces of evil. The series also starred Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters, Charisma Carpenter, and Michelle Trachtenberg.

As The Blast previously reported, a disappointed Gellar took to Instagram on March 14 to tell her followers that Hulu will not be moving forward with the reboot.

The Actress Said The Bad News Was Unexpected

In a conversation with People, Gellar addressed the cancellation and shared the moment she received the bad news. The actress was at SXSW over the weekend to promote her movie, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” and just before she went on stage, she was told “Buffy” was not happening.

“I was just about to take the stage in front of all the fans. Hulu had decided not to move forward with the Buffy revival. Let me tell you, nobody saw this coming,” she told the outlet. It was also the same weekend of the Oscars, where Zhao was nominated for best director for “Hamnet.”

“For them to call us on the Friday of what should have been Chloé’s victory lap for an incredible film, and my world premiere of something that I worked very hard for is… That says something,” Gellar shared.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Shot A Pilot

The actress had been working with Zhao on the reboot for a few years, and they were excited about bringing back the beloved series for fans. As Gellar said, she was excited to bring together the original series and the reboot, and they shot a pilot episode.

“I loved the duality that we had this new, younger slayer who was where Buffy was when the show started, and then we would pick up with where Buffy was now,” she explained.

Gellar said she spoke with Zhao about the update, sharing that they were both disappointed about the news. They were heartbroken for the many fans who were looking forward to the reboot. Moreover, Gellar felt sad about “how it was handled and when it was handled.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar Said A Hulu Executive Wasn’t A Fan

According to Gellar, there was one person responsible for axing the reboot. The actress said a Hulu executive, whom she did not name, was not a fan of the original series. Not only that, he “was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn’t for him,” Gellar revealed.

Gellar explained that it was a difficult situation, and they went through hurdles to get the reboot made. “That tells you the uphill battle that we had been fighting since day one, when your executive is literally proud to tell you that he didn’t watch it,” she shared.

Fans Expressed Their Disappointment

Thousands of fans showed their disappointment, commenting on Gellar’s Instagram announcement. One wrote, “Whoever is running things at Hulu is either too old or too young to understand the magnitude of what they’re passing on.”

Another commented, “UGH. I’m very disappointed in this. We need Buffy in this day and age. Won’t support Hulu.” Yet another called out Hulu, saying, “Hulu is not very smart.”

Gellar said it isn’t known what will become of the project, but fans are hopeful that someone else can pick it up. Despite the bad news, the actress said that “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is “timeless,” telling fans, “That legacy is still there, and this doesn’t diminish it. It doesn’t change it.”

The Sarah Michelle Gellar Says One Hulu Exec Axed ‘Buffy’ Reboot first appeared on The Blast