Trending Now - Sarah Michelle Gellar Reflects on 'buffy' Reboot's Sudden End
WHO:
Sarah Michelle Gellar, actress
Chloé Zhao, director of Hamnet
Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group
Sarah Michelle Gellar, actress
Chloé Zhao, director of Hamnet
Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group
Ryan Kiera Armstrong, actress playing the new Slayer
Hulu, streaming service
Searchlight Television, production company
WHAT:
Gellar stated, “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 expressed that the cancellation was announced right before she was set to take the stage for the premiere of "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" on Friday, March 11th, 2026.
Hulu canceled the reboot of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," titled "Buffy: New Sunnydale."
Gellar announced the cancellation on social media on Saturday, March 12th, 2026.
Gellar expressed disappointment about the cancellation and the timing of the decision.
The pilot was written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman and was deemed not strong enough by sources.
Gellar described the new version as working well during production.
WHERE:
The announcement was made during the SXSW Film & TV Festival, where Gellar was set to premiere "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come."
WHEN:
Gellar shared the cancellation news on social media on Saturday, March 12th, 2026.
The cancellation was announced on Saturday, March 12th, 2026.
Gellar received the call about the cancellation on Friday, March 11th, 2026.
WHY:
Gellar mentioned the timing of the cancellation was ironic as it coincided with Zhao's nominations at the Oscars, stating, “For them to call us on the Friday of what should have been Chloé’s victory lap for an incredible film... That says something.”
Gellar attributed the cancellation to an executive who was not a fan of the original series and had not watched it in its entirety.
The timing of the cancellation was criticized as it coincided with Zhao's nominations at the Oscars.
HOW:
Gellar noted that she and Zhao felt “disappointment” and worry about letting fans down, saying, “That hurts. Saddened at how it was handled and when it was handled.”
Gellar and Zhao discussed their feelings of disappointment regarding the cancellation.
Sources indicated that there was a rewrite of the pilot in an attempt to salvage the project, but ultimately, Disney/Hulu decided not to reshoot the pilot or order the series.
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 01:30 UTC)
In a recent social media post, actress Sarah Michelle Gellar revealed her disappointment over the cancellation of a project just before she was set to premiere "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" on March 11. Gellar expressed her frustration about an executive involved in the show who openly admitted to not being a fan of the original series, highlighting the irony of the cancellation coinciding with director Chloé Zhao's Oscar nominations. Both Gellar and Zhao shared their feelings of sadness and concern for their fans, emphasizing how the timing and handling of the cancellation was particularly disheartening.
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(UPDATED March 17, 2026 19:29 UTC)
In a surprising turn of events, Hulu has canceled the reboot of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," titled "Buffy: New Sunnydale," with actress Sarah Michelle Gellar announcing the news on social media last Saturday. Gellar expressed her disappointment over the decision, which she attributed to an executive who was not a fan of the original series, and she revealed that the pilot, written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, was ultimately deemed not strong enough. The announcement came during the SXSW Film & TV Festival, where Gellar was set to premiere "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come," and it coincided with director Chloé Zhao's nominations at the Oscars, adding to the controversy surrounding the timing of the cancellation.