Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has spoken out for the first time about whether she'll have any part in series creator Joss Whedon's revival of the franchise.

Whedon is working with Agents of SHIELD writer Monica Owusu-Breen on a new version of the show that will be told from the perspective of an African-American slayer, likely set 15 years on from the end of the classic series.

Owusu-Breen has already promised that she will not recast classic characters from Buffy, leaving many fans guessing about whether Sarah Michelle Gellar and her former co-stars can return in some way.

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The actress finally addressed the new Slayer show while speaking to TheWrap, and while she was supportive of Whedon and Owusu-Breen's idea, she seemed reluctant to take part.

"I don’t know anything about it, honestly," she said. "I think that it’s a great story and I’m glad that it will get retold and hope that people will watch it. But, you know, I’ve told my story with it."

Sarah Michelle went on: "For me, the beauty of the show was the madness and horrors of high school manifesting in actual literal horrors. And I may look young, thanks to all my Olay products, but I don’t look like I’m a kid."

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Warner Bros.

Fans will soon get to see her back on TV, even if not as Buffy. Sarah Michelle recently signed up as the lead in the Ellen DeGeneres-produced show Sometimes I Lie, playing a paralysed woman who believes her husband was involved in the accident that caused her injury.

As for the new Slayer, it doesn't have a network attached yet but that will probably change as soon as Monica Owusu-Breen finishes the script.


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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.