Sarah Michelle Gellar Describes Buffy Reboot as ‘Emotionally Overwhelming’
Sarah Michelle Gellar remains a fierce heroine for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but her involvement with the reboot has stirred up a whirlwind of emotions.
“It’s incredibly emotionally overwhelming,” Gellar, 48, shared with Us Weekly on August 27 as she stepped onto the Buffy reboot set more than 20 years after she last held her stake. “It’s just a place I didn’t know I would find myself.”
The actress elaborated, “Though it felt new, it was also strikingly familiar, and I feel very fortunate.”
Gellar — who was promoting the launch of eBay’s ’95 Shop, which debuted on Wednesday, September 3 — portrayed teenage slayer Buffy Summers on The WB’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1997 to 2003.
More than 20 years later, Us confirmed in February that Gellar would reprise her role in Hulu’s upcoming sequel series. The revival is described as “the next chapter in the Buffyverse” and will spotlight a new slayer played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong.
Gellar, for her part, will have a recurring role, as reported by Variety, and will also serve as an executive producer on the show.
“All I can say is the same thing I keep telling everyone: we are doing it slowly and carefully, because there’s no point unless we get it right,” Gellar stated exclusively to Us in August. “So we want to ensure everything is in position before revealing it.”
While the actress kept details about the new show under wraps, she affirmed the team won’t alter the show’s original essence—including its campy spirit.
Sarah Michelle Gellar remains the quintessential 1990s TV badass for fans of the iconic supernatural series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has been in the entertainment industry since the age of 4, appearing in films like Funny Farm and Crossroads (not the Britney Spears version). While honing her craft in acting at New […]
“To me, Buffy was all about your found family,” Gellar emphasized, adding that the reboot will highlight that theme. “Now more than ever, the idea of found family is paramount. We all seek places where we can be our authentic selves and be cherished for who we are. That’s what matters to me.”
Chloé Zhao, the director of the new Buffy, announced on Sunday, August 31, that they have “just wrapped the pilot,” revealing to The Los Angeles Times that it is “set 25 years later.”
While the new slayer-centered series will provide a contemporary twist on Buffy, fans remain nostalgic for the ‘90s, a decade Gellar played a significant role in shaping. Therefore, the TV star partnered with eBay to unveil its ‘95 Shop, a retail experience in New York City and online where fans can discover iconic fashion staples alongside collectibles and vintage items.
Everett Collection Sarah Michelle Gellar has revealed that bringing a revival of Buffy The Vampire Slayer to life has been “overwhelming.” “It’s heartwarming and exciting yet also incredibly nerve-wracking,” Gellar, 47, told People at the Makeup Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards on Saturday, February 15. The actress confirmed earlier this month that […]
“The purpose of the eBay ‘95 Shop is to showcase how the ‘90s holds significant meaning for so many,” Gellar expressed to Us. “For those who lived through it or are just now discovering the decade, having this shop allows us to give back to Make-A-Wish Foundation and fulfill dreams for kids who might not be as fortunate. That’s truly special.”
“And I appreciate that eBay remains true to its origins. We’re hosting a popup in New York, which is fantastic. For anyone who can attend, it will be an amazing experience. But for those who can’t make it, it’s available online for everyone. Just like eBay, everyone will have equal access to these special items.”
The eBay ‘95 Shop, which officially launched on Wednesday — with the pop-up occurring on Thursday, September 4, in New York City — features bids starting at 95 cents for the auction segment. All proceeds from Wednesday’s auction supported Make-A-Wish.
“It’s not just any Gianni Versace jacket from the ‘90s; it’s one that Prince actually wore. The significance behind these items is incredible,” Gellar hinted to Us. “The ‘90s was eBay’s era, being one of the first platforms for safe online purchasing, where authenticity was guaranteed.”
The auction items also include collectibles like Barbies, a Michael Jordan autographed jersey, Pokémon cards, a 1997 Land Rover Defender 90, and, of course, Buffy the Vampire Slayer memorabilia.
“We found the Buffy items we auctioned on eBay,” shared Gellar. “Isn’t that meta? I went on eBay to source items for the eBay ‘95 Shop.”
eBay’s seven-day online auction featuring the “greatest hits” will run until Tuesday, September 9, with live bidding closing at 9 a.m. ET.
