If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.
The new Buffy the Vampire Slayer "is not a reboot, it's a sequel" says executive producer (and Hamnet director) Chloe Zhao
Eternals director Zhao says a new show "can never replace" the characters Buffy fans fell in love with, and that the new Hulu series "bridges two generations"

Popverse's top stories
- For Popverse members only: Between the end of My Hero Academia, the return of Spy x Family, Gnosia as an anime, and a woman slapping her haters, this anime season has the perfect mix of old and new shows
- Watch now: Before Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin remembers being fan number one at the very first New York comic con
- For Popverse members only: The full, official The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon panel from NYCC 2025
Ever since it was announced, Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans have been monstrously hungry for information regarding the Hulu revival of the classic paranormal series. What role will the OG Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) have in it? Who is the new Slayer? When are we getting another musical episode? Now, one of the series executive producers is finally dripping out a little bit of info about what the new series will be.
Or even more precisely, what it won't be.
MCU fans know Chloe Zhao as the director of Eternals, and prestige cinema enjoyers probably recognize her form the upcoming Hamnet or the Oscar-winning Nomadland, which earned her Best Director in 2020. But in a recent chat with Variety, Zhao had her Buffy boots on, as both a lifelong devotee of the original series ("II watched religiously," she told the outlet) and executive producer of the Hulu update.
"It is not a reboot," Zhao clarified, "It’s a sequel. You can never replace these characters. I would never allow that. And Sarah’s back. I love my cast, the new cast. We will bring back OG characters for sure. And it is a show that bridges two generations — it’s not just about the kids. I think the fandom is so important to us. We want the fandom to see themselves mirrored in the original fandom. And of course, we want new fans to join, and it’s very much about both generations."
Well Chloe, it's not exactly the plot details we were hoping for, but hey, it's refreshing to know that the new series will be both doing something new and crafting a story for original fans. And, of course, that Hulu's brought on not just a true-blue Scoobie to produce, but an Oscar-winning one at that.
Make sure you're all caught up in Sunnydale with Popverse's Buffy the Vampire Slayer watch order.
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing.
















Comments
Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.