It looks like the long-awaited Buffy revival is finally underway, and its getting a twist! According to The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Fox Television has hired TV vet Monica Owusu-Breen to write the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, with creator Joss Whedon working alongside her and executive producing. The revised take will see a black actress take on the lead role previously played by Sarah Michelle Gellar on TV and Kristy Swanson in the 1992 film.
RELATED: New Joss Whedon Series The Nevers Set Up at HBO
Owusu-Breen previously worked on such J.J. Abrams-produced series as Alias, Lost and Fringe, and also wrote on ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for Whedon. Gail Berman, Joe Earley, Fran Kazui and Kaz Kazui will also executive produce, with no network currently attached. The Buffy reboot will go out as a package to networks and streaming services later this summer, although it is unknown if Whedon will have much involvement beyond initial development considering he has a straight-to-series order from HBO for his adventure show The Nevers.
“‘Buffy’ is probably the most ripe show we have for bringing back,” Fox TV group chair Gary Newman said previously in March of this year (via Variety). “It’s something we talk about frequently, and Joss Whedon is really one of the greatest creators we ever worked with. When Joss decides it’s time, we’ll do it. And until Joss decides it’s time, it won’t happen.”
A follow-up to the Whedon-penned Buffy the Vampire Slayer feature film, the Buffy TV series ran from 1997 to 2003 for seven seasons. The series starred Sarah Michelle Gellar in the title role alongside Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head, David Boreanaz, Seth Green, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Michelle Trachtenberg, Amber Benson, and Kristine Sutherland. Since its conclusion, the series has continued in comic book form, with some of the characters continuing their journey in the Angel spin-off series. There was previously a feature film reboot of the property in development at Warner Bros., but it failed to materialize.
Are you excited about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot with Joss Whedon returning? Sound off in the comments below!
