American actress Sarah Michelle Gellar has said she felt “overwhelmed” by the wave of support she received after revealing that the planned reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will no longer go ahead.
The 48-year-old had been set to reprise her iconic role as Buffy Summers in a new Hulu series, which was to be directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao. However, Gellar confirmed last week that the streaming platform had decided not to proceed with the project.
Speaking about the reaction from fans, Gellar said she was deeply touched by the outpouring of love and appreciation. She explained that it had taken time to fully process both her own feelings about the cancellation and the emotional response from audiences. According to the actress, the reaction served as a powerful reminder of just how meaningful the original series remains to viewers.
She noted that this strong connection with fans was one of the main reasons she had been eager to return to the role in the first place. Gellar expressed gratitude for the support, saying she could see and feel the appreciation being shared online and through messages. Despite the setback, she added that the future remains uncertain and left open the possibility of what might come next.
On Saturday, Gellar shared the news with her 4.9 million Instagram followers, confirming that Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale would not be moving forward. In her post, she also thanked Chloé Zhao for reigniting her passion for the series and reminding her how much she cherished the story and character.
The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired for seven seasons between 1997 and 2003 and became a defining show of its era. It followed Buffy as she balanced the challenges of high school life with her role as a vampire slayer, battling supernatural threats such as demons and other dark forces. The series also featured notable cast members including Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, and the late Michelle Trachtenberg.
Hulu has not yet issued an official comment on the cancellation.
Gellar is next set to appear in the upcoming horror film Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come, alongside Kathryn Newton, Elijah Wood, and Samara Weaving, continuing her return to the genre that helped define her early career.
