Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are facing disappointment following the cancellation of the Hulu reboot, Buffy: New Sunnydale. The decision was influenced by an executive who was not fond of the original series. On the Oscars red carpet, Chloé Zhao, who served as executive producer and directed the pilot, expressed that the cancellation did not surprise her.
Reports indicate that the initial pilot script, penned by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, primarily showcased a new Slayer character, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong, with only minimal appearances of Sarah Michelle Gellar's iconic Buffy Summers. Despite revisions, Hulu deemed the pilot unacceptable and “unsalvageable.” Further concerns were raised about Zhao's directorial approach, which some sources criticized for lacking necessary coverage and exposition, leading to underwhelming performances from the cast.
In a recent appearance on Sirius XM’s Page Six Radio, Gellar cautioned fans against seeking out leaked scripts, stating they do not represent the intended vision for the reboot. The decision to cancel the project illustrates the challenges faced during the development of television pilots, especially for well-established franchises.