Inside Chloé Zhao’s failed ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ reboot: A close reading of the script, directed by Chloé Zhao, may give clues to why Hulu passed on the show, which has caused an ongoing uproar online from the “Buffy” faithful eager to see their favorite character return to television. ... Buffy has but one line in that original script.

[...] Why the absence of Buffy in the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot wasn’t flagged as a potential problem from the beginning is a mystery. Sources say, though, that Hulu is still hopeful that a new creative team can revive the revival sometime in the future. But one well-placed source close to the show said the pilot process wasn’t more difficult than launching any other television show — yet it was made “all the more difficult” by Hulu, which ultimately had “no idea what they really wanted.”

[...] On paper, there’s never been more of a slam dunk than “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale.” [...] Somehow, the stakeholders figured out how do it without Whedon, who’s considered too toxic to hire after allegations of abuse have sidelined his career. And most significantly of all, Gellar had finally — finally! — agreed to return as Buffy, after being convinced to do it by Oscar-winning director Zhao, who helmed the pilot. With Gellar and Zhao — who’s professed her love of “Buffy,” and has said she “watched religiously” — serving as stewards, what could go wrong?

[...] The issues with the pilot seem to be manifold. [...] despite her love of the original series, Zhao proved to be a mismatch for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale.” ... Those sources say that Zhao’s prodigious skills as a director didn’t lend themselves to a television pilot that requires a lot of exposition. It was undershot ... The performances from the actors playing the new characters, who need to make a strong impression as they’re introduced, were under-directed, the sources said. That Armstrong, the new Slayer, has a very young appearance — she turned 16 on March 10 — contributed to the whole enterprise playing too young.

(Mar 21, 2026 03:24 PM)confused2 Wrote: Xander has died

BBC reports:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Nicholas Brendon dies aged 54
...
Following news of her co-star's death, Gellar, quoting a famous monologue by his character in the series, wrote: "They'll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn't chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody's watching me."

"I saw you Nicky," she added. "I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg9wgj9y5no

Quote: The most damning allegation is that Charisma Carpenter was fired for getting pregnant, and that Cordelia’s storyline in season four of Angel was not merely bad writing but was in part retaliation for the pregnancy.

(Mar 22, 2026 01:20 AM)confused2 Wrote: From what I find on the 'net Whedon doesn't seem to be all that bad .. a toxic workplace maybe .. but presumably they were paid .. so ..

Quote: The most damning allegation is that Charisma Carpenter was fired for getting pregnant, and that Cordelia’s storyline in season four of Angel was not merely bad writing but was in part retaliation for the pregnancy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/buffy/comments/v6abp0/can_someone_give_me_a_rundown_on_what_joss_whedon/#:~:text=Joss's%20ex%2Dwife%20revealed%20in%20an,been%20sexually%20harassed%20or%20violated.

Obvious discrimination - would he have fired a bloke for getting pregnant? - I don't think so. Tricky. If you're hired to look like Cordelia and you don't .. ??

(Mar 22, 2026 06:19 PM)stryder Wrote: All that Buffy gossip and no one threw Kristy Swanson into conversation topic.

I guess the original was eclipsed by the reboot of a bootstrapped series, from the film. (which apparently Dolly Partons film company made)