Could a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot be in the works?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer has remained one of the most influential genre shows since going off the air.
The series has lived on in comic book form but FOX confirms they continue to have discussions regarding a reboot. With the recent revival trend, it shouldn’t come as surprise the network commented on the beloved show.
Deadline reports that FOX CEO, Gary Newman, recently spoke about the chances of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot at the INTV conference.
"“It’s something we talk about frequently, and Joss Whedon is really one of the greatest creators we ever worked with. When Joss decides it’s time, we’ll do it. And until Joss decides it’s time, it won’t happen.”"
Whedon’s exit from a potential Batgirl film does free up his time to return to work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem that interested in bringing back his fan-favorite series last spring. With the door slightly open, fans do have a reason to hope someone could talk him into revisiting the show.
"Everything sort of finds its way back somewhere. I’ve been trying deliberately to move forward and do something a little bit different. But yeah, the great thing is everybody looks great, and the other great thing is the show is about growing up. If we did it with these guys, they’d be the age they basically are. They’d probably play a little younger because they can do that. But yeah, you’d see somebody going through their life at a different stage. It wouldn’t be like, ‘I can’t believe we’re still in high school! I wear Depends!’”"
During an interview with EW, Whedon did acknowledge the possibility of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival. The entire cast is still alive and they could reunite to parent a new generation of slayers.
However, a revival would only work if Sarah Michelle Gellar could be convinced to return to the titular role. Since the series ended, she has maintained her stance that a reboot could tarnish the legacy left behind.
"“At a certain point, when things are magical, you don’t want to go back and Godfather III it—right? I’m sure the fans are incredibly disappointed to hear that answer, but I think they’d be more disappointed if we created something and it didn’t live up to the expectation because the expectation is so incredibly high. And I love that it can live in comic form and graphic novels. There are so many worlds it can live in.”"
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Nevertheless, FOX isn’t ready to completely abandon the idea of a revival. Newman joked he “wouldn’t get out of the building alive” if he confirmed one was in the works. However, the network has built up a reputation for bringing back their successful series.
With The X-Files, Prison Break, and 24 all getting reboots, fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer now have a glimmer of hope.