Sarah Michelle Gellar ‘blindsided’ after Hulu abruptly cancels Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot as she shares emotional video

Sarah Michelle Gellar wanted her fans to hear it for the first time; Hulu has abandoned plans for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.

The 48-year-old actress admitted she was ‘really saddened’ by the shocking news after looking forward to getting back into Buffy’s ‘stylish yet affordable boots’.

In a video posted on Instagram on Saturday, Gellar’s somber demeanor appeared to reflect her mood.

The star, who wore a beige cardigan and her light blonde hair pulled back from her face, said the Disney-owned streamer had “decided not to move forward” with the reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale.

Accordingly TMZGellar and the reboot’s director, Chloe Zhao, felt they were ‘blindsided’ by the timing as well as the recent developments.

Gellar, who celebrated her husband Freddie Prinze Jr.’s 50th birthday earlier in the week, will star in the comedy-horror film Ready of Not 2: Here I Come, which received strong reviews after its SXSW (South by Southwest) premiere in Austin, Texas, on Friday.

Actress and director Chloe Zhao, 48, felt ‘blindsided’ by the Disney-owned streamer’s decision to shelve new series Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale (pictured includes Gellar and the original series cast (left to right), Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter and Nicholas Brendon

Zhao’s film Hamnet earned eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay (Adapted Screenplay). The director co-wrote the film with Maggie O’Farrell, whose 2020 novel the film is based on.

Gellar took some time to thank Zhao in her message.

‘Thanks to Chloe, I’m reminded of how much I love (Buffy), how much she means not only to me, but to all of you, and this doesn’t change any of that,’ he said.

‘And I promise, if the apocalypse really comes, you can still beep me.’

The show’s 16-year-old lead actress, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, also shared a video sharing her emotional reaction to the news.

‘I just wanted to come here and say thank you for the support you’ve given me over the last few months and for this show. “It was really special,” he said.

Armstrong appeared on the verge of tears as he said he was ‘really proud’ of the show and ‘sad that you guys couldn’t see it, but that doesn’t take away from the amazing experience I had.’

He expressed his gratitude to Geller and Zhao, as well as his “wonderful” co-stars and his “fans” who believed in this new chapter and believed in me, noting: “We brought it back for you, and Buffy is such a big part of all of our lives. It’s not going anywhere! Who knows what the future holds?”

Fans had similar reactions in the comments section, with one writing: ‘This is the most disappointing entertainment news of the year. ‘We love you and will follow you anywhere.’

“I’m devastated,” cried a second.

‘What??? I’m devastated! How could Hulu cancel something that had so much promise and excitement that didn’t even have a chance, especially involving you and Chloe?!? “I’m really confused,” said a third, adding that Netflix “should pick up this show!!!” he stated.

A new Buffy the Vampire sequel series was announced in February 2025. The new hunter was slated to star Ryan Kiera Armstrong, with Gellar set to return as a recurring character.

Gellar, seen with David Boreanaz (L) and Brendan (R) in a photo from the original series, was looking forward to continuing Buffy’s legacy in the reboot, which features Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the new slayer.

The shocking development comes on the heels of Gellar’s appearance at the SXSW premiere of her new comedy-horror film Ready or Not 2: Here I Come on Friday.

The star continues to make positive headlines for her nearly 25-year marriage to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. (taken July 2025).

The couple, who have been together for a long time, are parents to two children, daughter Charlotte Grace, 16, and son Rocky James, 13 (pictured on Instagram).

The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a hugely popular and cultural phenomenon. It became a huge success for the WB Network due to its witty writing and Gellar’s strong and complex lead character.

Based on the 1992 film starring Kristy Swanson, the series debuted in 1997 and ran for seven seasons.

Meanwhile, Gellar is busy in other areas of her life, most notably actor Freddie Prinze Jr. He continued to make headlines in his marriage to Marriage, which lasted nearly 25 years.

The couple were friends after first meeting on the set of the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer and were together for two years before marrying in 2002.

The couple has two children; their daughter Charlotte Grace (16) and their son Rocky James (13).