Editing Buffy the Vampire Slayer (section)

====Planned reboot or sequel====
In July 2018, [[20th Century Fox Television]] reportedly began development on a television [[reboot (fiction)|reboot]] of the series. [[Monica Owusu-Breen]] was to serve as [[showrunner]] and had been working on the script with Whedon, who was to be an executive producer.<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter 20 July 2018">{{cite news |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Inclusive Reboot in the Works With Joss Whedon |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/buffy-vampire-slayer-reboot-inclusive-take-joss-whedon-works-1128888 |access-date=July 21, 2018 |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 20, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721011858/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/buffy-vampire-slayer-reboot-inclusive-take-joss-whedon-works-1128888 |url-status=live }}</ref> News of Whedon's involvement was seen as reassuring by fans,<ref name = "BBC News 21 July 2018" /> though the extent of his involvement was unclear; other executive producers reported to be involved included [[Gail Berman]], [[Fran Rubel Kuzui|Fran Kuzui]], and [[Kaz Kuzui]], all credited as executive producers for the original series.<ref name = "Deadline Hollywood 20 July 2018">{{cite news |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Series Reboot With Black Lead In Works From Monica Owusu-Breen & Joss Whedon |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=July 20, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-series-reboot-in-works-black-lead-monica-owusu-breen-joss-whedon-1202430592/ |archive-date=July 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721011710/https://deadline.com/2018/07/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-series-reboot-in-works-black-lead-monica-owusu-breen-joss-whedon-1202430592/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = "Variety 20 July 2018">{{cite news |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' TV Reboot in Development From Joss Whedon, Monica Owusu-Breen |first=Joe |last=Otterson |date=July 20, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-tv-reboot-1202880128/ |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720234359/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-tv-reboot-1202880128/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to anonymous sources who spoke with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' and ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'', the producers wanted the new series to be "richly diverse ... [and] some aspects of the series could be seen as metaphors for issues facing society today"<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter 20 July 2018" /><ref name = "Deadline Hollywood 20 July 2018" />–similar to the way Gellar described the original series as the "ultimate metaphor" for coping with adolescence.<ref name = "Guardian 21 July 2018" /> The producers intended "for the new slayer to be African American", an example of the diversity they wish to portray.<ref name = "Deadline Hollywood 20 July 2018" /> The report from ''Deadline Hollywood'' cautioned that "the project is still in nascent stages with no script, and many details are still in flux".<ref name = "Deadline Hollywood 20 July 2018" />

At the time of ''Buffy'''s 20th anniversary in 2017, Whedon expressed fear of reboots, commenting that when "something [is brought] back, and even if it's exactly as good as it was, the experience can't be. You've already experienced it, and part of what was great was going through it for the first time. You have to meet expectations and adjust it for the climate, which is not easily [done]."<ref name = "Hollywood Reporter 10 March 2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/buffy-at-20-joss-whedon-talks-tv-today-reboot-fatigue-trouble-binging-984885 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=March 10, 2017 |first=Michael |last=O'Connell |title='Buffy' at 20: Joss Whedon Talks TV Today, Reboot Fatigue and the Trouble With Binging |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722100030/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/buffy-at-20-joss-whedon-talks-tv-today-reboot-fatigue-trouble-binging-984885 |url-status=live }}</ref> Similar concerns were expressed about the decision to reboot the series, rather than to revive it or further expand the Buffyverse.<ref name = "BBC News 21 July 2018">{{cite news |work=[[Newsbeat]] |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=July 21, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44911405 |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer to get TV reboot |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722140234/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44911405 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="News.com.au 21 July 2018">{{cite news |date=July 21, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |title=Fans in uproar over Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot |website=[[news.com.au]] |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/flashback/buffy-reboot-confirmed/news-story/60c305d8f06f0a06caa2b273549d3851 |publisher=[[News Corp Australia]] |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722095842/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/flashback/buffy-reboot-confirmed/news-story/60c305d8f06f0a06caa2b273549d3851 |url-status=live }}</ref> Reports that a black actress was to assume the iconic role of Buffy,<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter 20 July 2018" /><ref name = "Variety 20 July 2018" /> rather than having a new character or Slayer created, have been met with questions and concerns.<ref name = "BBC News 21 July 2018" /><ref name = "News.com.au 21 July 2018" /><ref name = "Vox 20 July 2018">{{cite news |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer is getting a reboot with a black woman in the lead role |first=Aja |last=Romano |date=July 20, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/7/20/17597272/buffy-reboot-joss-whedon-black-woman-lead-monica-breen |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722130019/https://www.vox.com/2018/7/20/17597272/buffy-reboot-joss-whedon-black-woman-lead-monica-breen |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Vox (website)|Vox]] noted that "the original series already had multiple characters of color who could factor into an 'inclusive' reboot–including the black slayer Kendra and the 'First Slayer'" – leaving fans wondering "why a reboot has to racebend Buffy, when it could simply focus on a different character".<ref name = "Vox 20 July 2018" /> A Twitter message posted by Owusu-Breen on July 26, 2018, was interpreted by media outlets as indicating that the new series would not recast the role of Buffy and instead would focus on a new Slayer.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Tasha|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot showrunner clarifies: it's not a reboot|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/26/17619650/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-monica-owusu-breen-reboot-sequel-series-new-slayer-fray-comics|date=July 26, 2018|work=The Verge|access-date=November 22, 2018|archive-date=September 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917202733/https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/26/17619650/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-monica-owusu-breen-reboot-sequel-series-new-slayer-fray-comics|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2022, executive producer Gail Berman announced that the series was put "on pause" indefinitely.<ref name="IGNreboot">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-reboot-indefinitely-paused |title=The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot Indefinitely Paused |website=IGN |first=Ryan |last=Leston |date=August 19, 2022 |access-date=August 23, 2022 |archive-date=August 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822184030/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-reboot-indefinitely-paused |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2024, Dolly Parton stated that the producers were still working on the reboot and were "revamping it."<ref name="People-Parton">{{Cite web |title=Dolly Parton Says 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Producers Are 'Revamping' Reboot After Failed First Stab |url=https://people.com/dolly-parton-says-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-producers-are-revamping-reboot-8553198 |first=Stephanie |last=Wagner |date=January 30, 2024 |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=People}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |date=January 29, 2024 |title=Dolly Parton On Potential 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Revival: "They're Still Working On That" |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/dolly-parton-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-revival-1235807223/ |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2025, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that a ''Buffy'' sequel series was nearing a pilot order at [[Hulu]] without Whedon's involvement. Gellar was set to reprise her role and serve as an executive producer alongside [[Gail Berman]], [[Fran Kuzui]], [[Kaz Kuzui]], and Parton. [[Chloé Zhao]] was appointed as the pilot's director, with [[Nora Zuckerman|Nora]] and [[Lilla Zuckerman]] credited as the writers. The new series would feature a new Slayer as the primary protagonist, while Buffy Summers would appear in a recurring role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2025-02-03 |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Sequel Series With Sarah Michelle Gellar Returning Nears Hulu Pilot Order |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-revival-hulu-sarah-michelle-gellar-pilot-1236291559/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2025, [[Ryan Kiera Armstrong]] was cast in the lead role.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 15, 2025 |title=‘Buffy’ Reboot Finds Its New Slayer: Ryan Kiera Armstrong To Star With Sarah Michelle Gellar In Hulu Pilot |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/buffy-reboot-ryan-kiera-armstrong-new-slayer-1236398811/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>