Sarah Michelle Gellar has spoken out after Hulu decided not to proceed with the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' reboot, revealing that an executive who was not a fan of the original series was behind the decision. Gellar told People magazine that she received the call just before she was about to take the stage at the SXSW Film & TV Festival on Friday, March 11.
'Let me tell you, nobody saw this coming,' Gellar said, noting the irony of the timing. 'No one saw this coming, including the head of Searchlight. I got the call as we were stepping onto stage for the premiere of their own movie.' She added that the call came during what should have been a celebratory weekend for director Chloé Zhao, who was nominated for an Oscar for 'Hamnet'.
Gellar, who played Buffy Summers for seven seasons, said the reboot, titled 'New Sunnydale', was killed by one executive. '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,' she said. 'That's very hard when you're taking a property that is as beloved as Buffy.'
Chloé Zhao, who was attached to direct the reboot, told Variety and CNN that she was 'not surprised' by the cancellation. 'I had an incredible time with Sarah, with all the cast and crew,' she said. 'Our priority has always been to be truthful to the show, to be truthful to our fans. So, things happen for a reason.'
Gellar expressed disappointment and concern for fans. 'That hurts. Saddened at how it was handled and when it was handled,' she said. 'But 'Buffy' is timeless. That legacy is still there — for them.'
