Disney's Hulu streaming service had announced plans for the follow-up series Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale - directed by the Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloe Zhao - in 2025 but star Sarah Michelle Gellar says the network is no longer moving forward with the show.
"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 said in a video posted on social media.
"I want to thank 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 all of you. And this doesn't change any of that, and I promise if the apocalypse actually comes, you can still beep me."
The unaired series was set to star Ryan Kiera Armstrong as new slayer Nova, with Gellar appearing as Buffy on a recurring basis.
The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer series aired for seven seasons between 1997 and 2003 and Gellar recently confessed she was not always interested in reprising one of her best-known roles.
"I actually like when people bring up that I said 'never', because I really felt that way," she told ComicBook.
"So, lesson learned, first of all, young children … Never say never. Say, 'I don't see it happening', but don't say 'never', because then you have egg on your face.
"But I truly thought that's where I was at. I never heard a take or a reason to do it. Then Chloe Zhao came to me, and she had the reasons, and she had the take," the Dexter: Original Sin star continued.
Also, I was in a different place. The world was in a different place. With that being said, 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.' I'm Cameron Frye from Ferris Bueller. 'Again, again, again …'"
Gellar admits it was Zhao's passion that convinced her to star in the now-shelved reboot.
"Chloe Zhao came to me and not just her passion, because I've seen people with passion before, but she knew how to go into the world. She knew what the world was, and she knew the way.
"And that was the first time I said, 'Maybe, could I possibly do this?' And this went on for three years now … me and Chloe going back and forth, saying I could do it, saying I can't, and really spending the time to develop what it is and why it is."
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