Sarah Michelle Gellar Teases Possible "Buffy" Reboot After Years of Shutting Down Interest: 'We Need Those Heroes'

12/16/2024 06:29 PM

After watching reboots like '...And Just Like That' and 'Dexter: Original Sin', Gellar said she's realized "there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, 'Well, maybe'"

Sarah Michelle Gellar hasn't closed the door on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the 47-year-old actress — who took on the series' titular role — revealed she was open to reprising the part after years of saying no to the disappointment of fans.

"It's funny. I always used to say no, because it's in its bubble, and it's so perfect," she explained. "But watching Sex and the City [revival series, And Just Like That] and seeing Dexter[: Original Sin], and realizing there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, 'Well, maybe.'"

"It could be anything," Gellar — who stars in the upcoming Dexter prequel — said of a potential premise for new version of Buffy. "It's a universe. And it makes you realize that in this world, we need those heroes, I think, more so than ever."

Related: Sarah Michelle Gellar Has an Unexpected Reaction to Seeing Her Former Buffy Enemies Reunite

Gellar's comments about a potential reboot comes after she revealed she wasn't interested in stepping back into Buffy's shoes in 2022.

"I am very proud of the show that we created and it doesn't need to be done. We wrapped that up," she told SFX Magazine, via Movieweb.

While she didn't want to be involved, Gellar gave her blessing for Buffy the Vampire Slayer to continue with a new female lead.

"I am all for them continuing the story, because there's the story of female empowerment," she said "I love the way the show was left: 'Every girl who has the power can have the power.' It's set up perfectly for someone else to have the power."

Related: Sarah Michelle Gellar Teases Unexpected 'McBuff' Crossover with Patrick Dempsey for Dexter Prequel

"But like I said, the metaphors of Buffy were the horrors of adolescence. I think I look young, but I am not an adolescent," she added.

Though it hasn't been confirmed if Gellar will be grabbing a fresh stake, Dolly Parton, an uncredited producer on the original series, revealed that a reboot of the supernatural drama series was still in the works after it was initially put on the back burner in 2022.

A revival of the beloved series was first announced in July 2018 with Joss Whedon attached as an executive producer. He previously wrote the 1992 film and created the beloved WB series of the same name that ran for 7 seasons from 1997 to 2003.

Related: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Cast: Where Are They Now?

A network was not attached at the time of the announcement. However, Monica Owusu-Breen, who worked with Whedon on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., was set to serve as showrunner and head writer. The series was also set to star a Black actress in the lead role, but Owusu-Breen clarified: "There is only one Buffy."

"They're still working on that," Parton, 78, told Business Insider in January 2024. "They're thinking about bringing it back and revamping it."

Parton also noted that she was "very involved" behind the scenes of the original series, despite living in Nashville while the show was filmed in Los Angeles.

"A lot of my work was done just conversing back and forth with the business people there," she explained. "I have to give more people more credit on Buffy the Vampire Slayer than me. A lot of people did so much sweat on that. That little show did great."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream in full on Hulu. Dexter: Original Sin premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, Dec. 13.