Sarah Michelle Gellar Reveals Hulu Executive’s Dislike for Buffy Led to Revival’s Cancellation

Sarah Michelle Gellar, the iconic Buffy Summers for countless fans of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise, took to Instagram on March 14 to share some heartbreaking news. The highly anticipated reboot, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, has been canceled by Hulu.

The response from fans was immediate and emotional, with many expressing their disappointment over the show’s revival and questioning Hulu’s decision to halt the project. An interview with Gellar revealed the reason behind this setback: a Hulu executive who was not only indifferent to the original series but openly admitted to never having watched it.

“We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original, but was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn’t for him,” Gellar explained. “That’s very hard when you’re taking a property that is as beloved as Buffy, not just to the world, but to me and Chloé [Oscar-winning Chloé Zhao, who was set to direct and produce the reboot]. So 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.”

To make matters worse, Gellar and Zhao found out about the cancellation during two pivotal moments in their careers. Gellar received the news at the premiere of her new film, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, at the SXSW Film & TV Festival. Zhao learned of it just before attending the Oscars for Hamnet, where she was nominated for Best Director.

While Gellar expressed her shock at the reboot’s cancellation, Zhao mentioned that she was “not surprised” by Hulu’s decision.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale was announced in February 2025, with a pilot order at Hulu, produced by 20th Television and Searchlight Television. The reboot was set to introduce a new slayer, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong from Skeleton Crew, alongside Gellar. Although the complete plot details were not revealed, it was likely that Gellar’s Buffy would be passing the torch to Armstrong’s character. With the cancellation, fans may never get to see how this new chapter would unfold.

Original series creator Joss Whedon, who has faced allegations of creating a toxic work environment and misogyny on the original set, was not involved in the reboot.

Despite the cancellation, Gellar hopes it won’t lessen fans’ affection for Buffy and what the character represents.

“Buffy is timeless. And the one thing I do want all these fans to know is that legacy is still there, and this doesn’t diminish it. It doesn’t change it. That legacy is still there — for them.”

It’s surprising that in an era where nostalgia and sequels dominate entertainment, the combination of the original star and an Oscar-winning director wasn’t enough to revive Buffy. Here’s hoping Gellar and Zhao continue to pursue their vision, undeterred by an executive who proudly admits to never having watched the show.