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

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series "Retelling That Story…In a New Way"

Disney TV Studios' Eric Schrier on the aim of the new Sarah Michelle Gellar-starring Buffy the Vampire Slayer series and how it came together.

Based on the reactions to our coverage, it's been pretty clear that a lot of folks are excited that series star and executive producer Sarah Michelle Gellar, showrunners, writers, and EPs Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman, director/EP Chloé Zhao, and EP Gail Berman were teaming up for a potential Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series. Now, we're getting a chance to hear from Eric Schrier, Disney Television Studios (20th Television and 20th Television Animation), regarding how the project came together and how it's "retelling that story after so much time in a new way." During a wide-ranging interview with Deadline Hollywood, Schrier shared that the project "stemmed out of Karey Burke and [Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment Scripted President] Simran Sethi," who "had always wanted to try to figure out a way to reboot that show."

Schrier continued, "Our partners at Fox Searchlight Television, who I work with as well, have a deal with Chloé Zhao. It ends up that Chloé Zhao loves 'Buffy,' so we put them together. And out of that came the idea. Sarah Michelle Gellar has been a part of it from the get-go as well; she is an executive producer. [Executive producer] Gail Berman is back; she's been behind the scenes trying to pull it all together. We have Nora and Lilla Zuckerman writing it, whom we have a deal with; they're great." As Schrier sees it, that "amazing package… came about organically because we were excited about retelling that story after so much time in a new way." He added, "I think all of these reboots come from that idea of, 'What's the new way in which we can tell these stories?' Not 'Okay, they're IP and let's go reboot them.'"

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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