Sarah Michelle Gellar has stated that she wants to bring back dead characters in theBuffy the Vampire Slayerreboot. Gellar starred inBuffy the Vampire Slayerfor seven seasons, and will be reprising her role in an upcomingBuffy the Vampire Slayersequel series. Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao will be directing the pilot episode for Hulu, with Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman as showrunners. Alongside acting, Gellar will be an executive producer on the series. Ryan Kiera Armstrong will be a new Slayer whom Buffy mentors, but Gellar also wants to bring back former actors.
With Gellar having more of a creative role as an executive producer, she spoke aboutbringing back deadBuffy the Vampire Slayercharacters. BothBuffy the Vampire Slayerand its spinoffAngelbecame infamous for killing off beloved characters. While it always served the larger story, the deaths were heartbreaking, and at times, infuriating. Now thatBuffy the Vampire Slayeris coming back, some former deaths may be corrected.
9Kendra Young
The Slayer Was The First Major Death
Kenda was the Slayer called after Buffy briefly died at the hands of The Master in the season 1 finale. Buffy drowns, but is revived by Xander. Kendra enters the show in season 2, acting as a foil to Buffy. She is far more studious and doesn’t view her calling as much of a burden as Buffy does.
However,Kenda is the first major death in the showafter only three episodes. Facing off against Drusilla in the library, Kendra is put under her spell and has her throat cut. She plays an essential role in the series, but is unceremoniously killed off. In a world that is now populated by Slayers following the season 7 finale, her return could add a unique element.
8Jenny Calendar
Jenny Already Returned After Dying
Jenny is introduced in season 1 as a technopagan, and someone tasked with keeping an eye on Angel to ensure the curse is being upheld.Jenny had an early iconic death in the series, with her neck being snapped by Angelus as she came closer to finding a way to restore his soul. Jenny (Robia LaMorte) already returned in season 3, episode 10, “Amends,” as an incarnation of the First Evil. AsThe First was never defeated, there is a possibility Jenny could return.
7Joyce Summers
Of all the deaths inBuffy the Vampire Slayer, Joyce is arguably the most heartbreaking.Joyce isn’t killed by a demon or something that goes bump in the night, but simply by a brain aneurysm. With Buffy constantly fighting supernatural forces, Joyce’s death is a shock as it comes from something in the real world. Kristine Sutherland returned multiple times to the role after Joyce’s death, so the possibility of seeing her again is high. Following the tragic death of Michelle Trachtenberg, who played her daughter, having Joyce and Buffy share another scene could be emotionally necessary.
6Jonathan Levinson
Jonathan Was A Regular Presence
Jonathan (Danny Strong) featured regularly inBuffy the Vampire Slayer. Going from an overlooked student at Sunnydale High School to one of the main villains in season 6, Jonathan always had a presence in the show. Strong even recently reprised his role in the Audible dramaSlayers: A Buffyverse Story,although that won’t be considered canon in the new show. He is another character who returned after his death and could be some needed comic relief.
5Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
The Watchers Could Use Some Help
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof) did not meet his demise until the final episode ofAngel. However, the character was originally introduced inBuffy the Vampire Slayerseason 3 as a replacement Watcher for Giles to oversee Buffy and Faith’s training. While that ended disastrously, Wesley went on to be one of the most compelling characters in the shared universe.
Wesley may not seem like the most obvious character to return, but he could play an essential role. Now that Slayers all across the world have been activated, and the Watcher’s Council was bombed, more help may be needed. While no other casting outside of Gellar has been confirmed from the original cast, Alyson Hannigan seems likely, even currently working with Gellar on a campaign to raise awareness for teenage meningitis vaccinations.Hannigan and Denisof have been married for over 20 years, so the potential for his return is higher than it might be otherwise.
4Anya Jenkins
Her Death Increased The Stakes Of The Finale
Anya (Emma Caulfield) is an obvious choice to bring back for the reboot.Anya was killed during the final battle in theBuffy the Vampire Slayerfinalesimply because someone needed to die to make the stakes seem more plausible. Obviously, when the series wrapped in 2003, there wasn’t a thought that the show would return. Anya’s demon side could be a way to bring her back, and given that Caulfield also returned forSlayers: A Buffyverse Story,she will hopefully return again.
Anya has returned multiple times in theBuffy the Vampire Slayercanon. In the audio drama, it was primarily through an alternate universe. In the comic book series that continued theBuffystory, she was a means to get at the Scooby Gang through the vengeance demon D’Hoffryn. Given how other creatives have wanted to bring her back, Anya is a likely candidate to be resurrected.
3Tara Maclay
Tara’s Death Is The Most Shocking
Tara (Amber Benson) is one of the big ones. Her death in season 6 was not only unexpected, but it seemed cruel. After she and Willow reunite and have a chance at happiness,Tara is killed by a stray bullet from Warrenafter he shoots Buffy. While the death was foreshadowed, it still came as a gut punch. Benson declined to return inBuffy the Vampire Slayerseason 7 due to someone involved with the show, whose identity was never disclosed. Now that the series is coming back, Benson would be one of the most welcome additions.
Benson not only returned forSlayers: A Buffyverse Story, but she also co-wrote the project with Christopher Golden. As she still has a passion for the material and the character, she would be a huge character to have return. If Tara were to be resurrected, she could be the most exciting character to come back to the world ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer.
2Cordelia Chase
The Exit Looks Much Worse Now Following Accusations
Like Wesley, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) did not die onBuffy the Vampire Slayer. For the majority ofAngelseason 4, her character was possessed by a demon. Cordelia eventually gives birth to said demon, becomes comatose, and is killed off the following season. Carpenter requested that if she were to return, her character would not die, but this is, of course, how it played out.
Carpenter’s exit is also mired with controversy years later, after shespoke out against series creator Joss Whedon. While her departure was originally upsetting from a story point, her allegations against Whedon make her exit all the worse. IfBuffy the Vampire Slayerbrought her back, it could give justice to a character and actor who deserved better.
1Spike
Buffy Doesn’t Know That He’s Alive
This is a little bit of a cheat, because Spike (James Marsters) is still alive, or undead, depending on how you want to categorize it. But, as far as Buffy knows, Spike died in a fiery pillar, sacrificing himself and pushing back the army of The First. However, with what has been shown duringAngelseason 5,Buffy does not know Spike survived. Whether Spike is still alive is in question, as he was facing off against Wolfram & Hart alongside Angel, Gunn, and Illyria in theAngelseries finale.
Realistically, Spike is coming back. Marsters has been careful not to confirm or deny his return, but his enduring popularity makes him seem like a high priority for the show. The added bonus of having Spike potentially being involved in the show also means the fate of the otherAngelcharacters can be revealed. With over two decades passing since the finales of both shows, it will be exciting to see which characters return and howBuffy the Vampire Slayerwill address them.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sequel Series
Cast
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series puts a brand new slayer in the spotlight and carries on the continuity of the iconic seven-season original series. Sarah Michelle Gellar returns as the titular Buffy Summers in a supporting role.
