Director Chloé Zhao reveals that the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer series is not a reboot

22 years after the original series's conclusion, when it was announced that a Buffy the Vampire Slayer series was in the works with Sarah Michelle Gellar reprising her role, fans were quick to assume that a reboot was on the way. However, Chloé Zhao, the director behind the pilot episode for the new series, was quick to put these assumptions to rest and clarify her vision for the Hulu series if it were to take flight.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has one of the most loyal fan bases, who have been waiting for decades for the series' return. When reports surfaced regarding a pilot episode being shot with Geller reprising her role and a new actor being cast as a young protagonist, fans assumed that the new series was a reboot of the original show.

Keep reading to understand Chloé Zhao's vision for the new show as a director and an executive producer for the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Director and EP Chloé Zhao on the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer show

Reports regarding Ryan Kierra Armstrong's casting as a young protagonist for the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer show were quick to convince the audience and major outlets that the new show was set to be a reboot of the original show.

In a recent conversation with Variety, Director and EP Chloé Zhao took the chance to clear up these assumptions. She explained that the new show was being designed as a sequel and not a reboot. She went on to make it clear that a reboot was never an option for the creatives involved, as the OG characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer could never be replaced. With Geller reprising her role as Buffy, there was a very high chance that other OG characters could also make an appearance in the new series if it were to be picked up by Hulu.

"It is not a reboot. It’s a sequel. You can never replace these characters. I would never allow that. And Sarah’s back. I love my cast, the new cast. We will bring back OG characters for sure."

Zhao went on to explain how the new show was set to relate to the original one as a bridge to cover the gap between the old fandom watching the show now and for the new fans to relate as well:

"It is a show that bridges two generations — it’s not just about the kids. I think the fandom is so important to us. We want the fandom to see themselves mirrored in the original fandom. And of course, we want new fans to join, and it’s very much about both generations."

Zhao then went on to defend her decision to build a sequel instead of a reboot, citing her religious worship of the original show as a major motivation. A true fan of the original show, Zhao could never dream of rebooting Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She was instead creating a new group of characters who existed in the same universe after everything that happened in the established universe:

"It’s such a ritual. I remember the last episode finishing, and we sat there; everyone was crying, and we were all holding hands. I remember looking at the screen, tears streaming down my eyes, and I said, “Good luck to you, Buffy Summers, good luck to you.”"

Filming has been wrapped up on the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer pilot episode, so it might not be long before we find ourselves back in the world.

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