Posted in: Hulu, TV | Tagged: buffy, buffy the vampire slayer

Buffy Star Sarah Michelle Gellar on Chloé Zhao's Revival Series Pitch

Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Sarah Michelle Gellar on what it was about Chloé Zhao's pitch that won her over and wanting to get it "100% right."

Yesterday, we had a chance to look at what series star and executive producer Sarah Michelle Gellar had to say about those "leaks" about some of the characters in Gellar, showrunners, writers, and EPs Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman, director/EP Chloé Zhao, and EP Gail Berman's Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series pilot for Hulu. Spoiler? They're fake. For this go-around, Gellar is offering some insight into what it was about Zhao's pitch that got her to open to door to the possibility of a return.

During an interview with Elite Daily in support of her partnership with MyFitnessPal to promote its new meal-planner tool, Gellar shared that she had been pitched ideas for reviving the series over the years. "Every pitch I heard was just like, 'Let's just do Buffy again.' Why?" she said. But "the passion that [Zhao] came to me with, what she wanted to do with the show and the character, and why Buffy is needed now — it was the first time where I thought, 'OK, there's a reason,'" Gellar continued. Gellar makes it clear that this wasn't something that just came together over the past few months – and they have no plans to move forward unless they feel that they've gotten it right. "We've been at this for three-and-a-half, maybe four years now. We won't do it unless it's 100% right and there's 100% a reason," Gellar added.

Sarah Michelle Gellar to Buffy Fans: Sequel Series "Will Be For You"

"So….. you might have heard some news this week, but I realize you haven't heard from me: Gellar began her post on Instagram (waiting for you below). "Three years ago, I got a call from my dear friend and mentor, Gail Berman. She told me that she wanted me to sit down with Chloé Zhao to hear her take on a potential "Buffy" revival. I was blown away that Chloé even knew who I was, but, as I've always done, I told Gail that I just didn't see a way for the show to exist again. We'd always been aligned on that, but this time I heard something different in her voice. I eventually agreed to go (mainly just to meet Chloé) and our twenty minute coffee quickly turned into a four hour adventure. We laughed, we cried, but mostly we both talked about how much this show means to us."

Gellar continued, "While I didn't agree to anything at that meeting, I did shock myself by agreeing to continue the conversation. These conversations did, in fact, continue over the next few years and eventually we added the incredible Nora and Lilla Zuckerman to our little tribe until ultimately, one day, we landed on an idea. I have always listened to the fans and heard your desire to revisit 'Buffy' and her world, but it was not something I could do unless I was sure we would get it right. This has been a long process, and it's not over yet. I promise you, we will only make this show if we know we can do it right. And I will tell you that we are on the path there. I feel so lucky to be on this journey with these four unbelievably talented women, all of whom love "Buffy" as much as I do. And as much as you do. Thank you to all the fans who never stopped asking for this. This will be for you."

TV Line reported exclusive details on three of the potential series' major characters in March of this year. Though Hulu and 20th Television declined to comment, early character details reportedly have "Nova" – a 16-year-old who's smart but more of a loner – as the new slayer. "Nova's" team would include "Hugo" ("an out-and-proud nerd who comes from money") and "Gracie," described as "a young expert on vampires who's an acolyte" of Buffy (Gellar). Gellar is set to serve as executive producer, along with Berman, Fran Kuzui & Kaz Kuzui via Suite B, and Dolly Parton via Sandollar – with 20th Television and Searchlight Television serving as the studios.

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