Slaaaaaaaaaaay!
The upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot series has found its new chosen one. Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Star Wars: The Skeleton Crew, American Horror Story) has been cast in the lead role of the new Buffy series at Hulu. She won’t be alone though as Sarah Michelle Gellar is confirmed to return in a substantial way. News of other returning cast members from the original iconic series have yet to be announced.
The original run of the show concluded all the way back in 2003, a full 7-years before new lead Ryan Kiera Armstrong was born (man I’m getting old). But the last we saw from the Buffy universe was the conclusion of Angel in 2004, meaning it’ll be well and truly 20-years since we’ve returned to this universe. The announcement of Ryan Kiera Armstrong was made by Sarah Michelle Gellar directly via video posted to her Instagram, the video shows Michelle Gellar get to break the news to Ryan Kiera Armstrong that she was given the part.
Ryan Kiera Armstrong is an actress at the beginning of what is likely to be an excellent career in the industry, having played the stand-out role in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. She’s been around since 2017 and has quickly grown a strong portfolio of work of work. She was born in the year 2010 (yes, some teenagers born in the 2010’s are now teenagers, let that sink in) making her 15 as of writing this article, where as Michelle Gellar was 19 at the time of filming the first season.
With the age of Kiera Armstrong being slightly younger than the original shows run, it’s likely that the show seeks to play a teacher-tutor dynamic between Kiera Armstrong and Michelle Gellar, focusing on the journey of a younger slayer with the mentor of an experienced slayer. Here’s hoping they need a senior librarian to assist them on their journey.
The shows original creator, Joss Whedon, has garnered substantial controversy with news being revealed in recent years of his behind the scenes behaviour and creating an allegedly abusive environment for both cast and crew. News that wasn’t restricted to just the Buffy show as similar stories arose from multiple sets he worked on. That said, despite him being the original creator of the show, Joss Whedon will not be returning to this project. Instead the series will be directed by Academy Award-winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals) with her creating the original pitch for the reboot that inspired Sarah Michelle Gellar to return.
In Chloé Zhao we trust, seriously Chloé I love your work please let me know if you need a gaffer.
You can catch the new Buffy The Vampire Slayer show when it releases on Hulu.
