"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" won't be rising from the dead after all.
Sarah Michelle Gellartookto Instagram on Saturday, March 14, to reveal Hulu has decided not to move forward with a planned reboot of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
"I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me," she said in a video message.
USA TODAY has reached out to Hulu for comment.
Gellar was to reprise her role of Buffy Summers in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale," a continuation of the classic television series that was first announced in 2025. A pilot episode for the show was shot last year, with "Hamnet" filmmakerChloé Zhaoserving as director.
In addition to Gellar, the pilot's cast includedRyan Kiera ArmstrongandChase Sui Wonders. In May 2025, Gellarshared an emotional videoshowing footage of herself telling Armstrong, 16, that she had been cast as a new slayer. "From the moment I saw Ryan's audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side," Gellar wrote at the time.
Hulu's decision came as a shock for fans and was an unusual example of such a high-profile television project being scrapped before even making it to the air. It was not immediately clear whether a continuation of "Buffy" could still happen in another form.
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Sarah Michelle Gellaron reunion with the one 'Buffy' prop she missed
Gellar did not offer any information about the reasoning for Hulu's move. But she thanked Zhao in her video, noting she "never thought I would find myself back in Buffy's stylish, yet affordable, boots." The actress added, "Thanks to Chloé, I was reminded how much I love her, and how much she means, not only to me, but to all of you. And this doesn't change any of that."
Gellar also seemed to indicate she is still open to revisiting the character in the future.
Sarah Michelle Gellar,back again for 'Buffy,' is sick of your reboot takes
"I promise, if the apocalypse actually comes, you can still beep me," she said.
The original "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," which centered on the adventures of Gellar's titular vampire slayer and her group of friends, aired for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. The reboot would have picked up 25 years after the original series.
Speaking with USA TODAY earlier this year,Gellar said it was"emotional" to be on the set of "New Sunnydale" because she didn't think she'd "ever be revisiting that character." She also noted the show was to be a continuation of the same world from the original show.
Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of the month so far, starting with a ring-teasing Zendaya in bridal white at Essence's 2026 Black Women In Hollywood Awards." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
See Zendaya, Teyana Taylor, Kurt Russell in best celeb photos of March
Stars are stepping out at the final awards events of the season as the 2026 Oscar race enters its final stretch. The star-studded Actor Awards kicked off the month of March, which will also feature the debut of movies like "The Bride!" and "Project Hail Mary," not to mention the Academy Awards on March 15.Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of the month so far, starting with a ring-teasing Zendaya in bridal white at Essence's 2026 Black Women In Hollywood Awards.
Gellar's announcement comes as she promotes her role in the horror sequel "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come," which held its premiere on March 13 at the South by Southwest festival.
Contributing: Allison Moses
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' reboot dead, says Sarah Michelle Gellar