Yes, it’s true! 25 years after the series originally ended, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is returning to our screens. It’s been reported that a sequel reboot of the hit paranormal show is ‘near a pilot order’ aka filming could be occurring imminently with Chloe Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals) set to direct the episode which will be written by Zora and Lilla Zuckerman (Poker Face).
Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva shared, ‘Beyond the pilot order, I hear the reboot is starting a writers’ room soon, a sign that Hulu and the studios have high expectations for the project going to series.’
It has also been reported that Buffy creator Joss Whedon will have no involvement in the series, following allegations of misconduct on the sets of numerous projects – all of which the creator denies.
Someone who is said to be a part of the upcoming show though is lead Sarah Michelle Gellar who is reportedly set to reprise her role as the titular character.
But what exactly has Sarah and the rest of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast been up to since the series came to a close in 2003? Here's the entire cast then, and now!
Sarah Michelle Gellar aka Buffy Summers
In the 90s and early 00s, Sarah Michelle Gellar – now Sarah Michelle Prinze thanks to her 2002 nuptials with her Scooby-Doo co-star Freddie Prinze Jr. – was a major TV and film star due to her work not only on Buffy, but also with I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and Cruel Intentions (1999). Throughout the noughties she starred in blockbuster hits like The Grudge and cult classic Village Voice.
In 2009, she took a break from acting after the birth of her first daughter Charlotte, before taking on roles that accompanied work behind the scenes too. She starred in and executive produced The CW's Ringer, working regularly until 2014 when she took another career break following the death of Robin Williams, with whom she had worked closely on sitcom The Crazy Ones.
She made her major film comeback in 2022 with Netflix's Do Revenge and Paramount+ supernatural drama Wolf Pack, now starring in the prequel series to noughties giant Dexter in Dexter: Original Sin.
And don't worry, her and Freddie Prinze Jr. are still going strong. The pair regularly post tributes to each other on social media including in September last year when the pair celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary with a romantic trip away - they're basically the ultimate real-life friends to lovers storyline!
Nicholas Brendon aka Xander Harris
Following the end of Buffy in 2003 Nicholas Brendon starred as Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds from 2007-2014, but it’s his personal life that has seen his name hit headlines more frequently. Over the years Brendon has had many run-ins with the law and been arrested – and convicted - multiple times for destruction of property, vandalism, theft and domestic violence.
Nowadays Brendon appears to focus on his artwork and he released a ‘Fall Art Collection’ in 2020.
Alyson Hannigan aka Willow Rosenberg
Blossoming from Buffy's shy BFF to a powerful witch - and one of many millennials' first gay icons - over the course of the seven seasons of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow will always hold a special place in our hearts so we've got our fingers crossed that she'll be making an appearance in the reboot.
No stranger to a franchise, Alyson Hannigan starred in the hugely successful sitcom How I Met Your Mother as Lily Aldrin from 2005-2014. For the role Hannigan won two People’s Choice Awards. Then, from 2016-2023 she hosted Penn & Teller: Fool Us and provided the voice of Claire Clancy on the Disney Junior animated series Fancy Nancy from 2018-2022. You’ll also recognise her from the American Pie film franchise in which she played Michelle Flaherty.
Hannigan is still with her Buffy co-star Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndham-Pryce) who she began dating in 1999. The pair tied the knot in 2003 and went on to welcome daughter Satyana, born in March 2009, and Keeva, born in May 2012.
In 2023, Hannigan experienced a major career resurgence when she starred on Dancing with the Stars (essentially the US version of Strictly Come Dancing). She eventually finished in fifth place with actress Xochitl Gomez coming in first whilst singer-songwriter Jason Mraz came in second.
Anthony Head aka Rupert Giles
Younger fans may perhaps think that it was on the hit Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso that Anthony Head made his name, but before that we knew him as Rupert Giles from Buffy. Then as the Prime Minister in Little Britain from 2003-2006 and Uther Pendragon in the BBC drama Merlin from 2008-2012. In fact, Head’s credit list is pretty extensive.
And it’s not just in TV and film that Head has found success, he's also built up a solid career in the music industry releasing multiple albums over the years including the 2002 album Music for Elevators.
Hailing from Camden originally, Head now lives in Bath, Somerset with his partner Sarah Fisher – with whom he shares daughters Emily and Daisy Head, both actors themselves. You may recognise Emily from The Inbetweeners on which she played Carli D’Amato.
James Marsters aka Spike
It’s fair to say that Spike was a pretty controversial character on Buffy, but James Marsters not so much.
Remember the Buffy spin-off Angel? Well, then you’ll know that Spike was a recurring character on the show. Since then, Marsters has had a regular career as an actor starring in TV shows like Runaways and Witches of East End as well as films including New Life (2016) and Abruptio (2023).
He also narrated the audiobooks for The Dresden Files franchise as well as The Vampire Empire by Clay and Susan Griffith.
Emma Caulfield Ford aka Anya Jenkins
After making her name in Buffy as well as on shows like Beverley Hills, 90210 (1995-1996) – as Brandon Walsh’s girlfriend Susan Keats, Emma Caulfield Ford has continued working as an actor. Interestingly Ford was only meant to appear in Buffy as Anya for two episodes, but after a positive response from fans she was added to the main cast.
In 2003, Ford landed her first lead role in the horror movie Darkness Falls and (like Gellar) provided voice work for Robot Chicken from 2006-2007.
Most recently Ford starred in Agatha All Along (2024) alongside Aubrey Plaza and Kathryn Hahn as Sarah Proctor after initiating the role in WandaVision (2021).
In 2022, Ford revealed that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010 – the same year as her divorce from first husband Cornelius Grobbelaar. Since 2017, the actress has been married to Mark Leslie Ford, with whom she shares daughter Knightley born in 2016.
Michelle Trachtenberg aka Dawn Summers
Starting her career as a child actor in shows like The Adventures of Pete & Pete from 1994-1996, Michelle Trachtenberg was eventually cast as Buffy’s younger sister Dawn in Buffy in 2000 when she was just 15.
Now 39, you may also recognise Trachtenberg from 17 Again (2009), Mercy from 2009-2010 and of course, Gossip Girl – in which she starred as Georgina Sparks, a recurring role in seasons 1-6.
In the past few years, Trachtenberg's acting career has slowed slightly (at least in comparison to her prolific credit list as a child) and mainly been restricted to cameo appearances in shows like NCIS: Los Angeles and, of course, the Gossip Girl reboot in 2022.
Since 2021, Trachtenberg has also hosted the true-crime documentary series Meet, Marry, Murder.
Kristine Sutherland aka Joyce Summers
Despite her surname, Kristine Sutherland is not related to the famous Sutherland acting family. Although interestingly Donald Sutherland did star in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer film in 1992 – Joss Whedon’s first attempt to bring Buffy to audiences.
Best known for her role as Buffy’s mother, Sutherland also starred as Mae Thompson in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989).
She is married to actor John Pankow (Mad About You, Episodes) – with whom she shares daughter Eleanore.
Charisma Carpenter aka Cordelia Chase
After making her TV debut in 1994 in an episode of Baywatch, Charisma Carpenter went on to become a major TV star appearing in both Buffy and its spin-off Angel as well as Charmed, Veronica Mars, The Lying Games and The Expendables.
More recently Carpenter has made brief single episode appearances in numerous US procedurals including Chicago P.D., Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and 9-1-1.
In March 2003, Carpenter welcomed son Donovan with her ex-husband Damian Hardy. After tying the knot in October 2002 in her hometown of Las Vegas, the pair separated in late 2007 with their divorce finalised the following year.
David Boreanaz aka Angel
Following his role as Angel in Buffy and of course the spin-off Angel, David Boreanaz continued his acting career playing similar roles. From 2005-2017 he portrayed FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth in the crime procedural comedy-drama Bones, and then United States Navy SEAL Jason Hayes in SEAL Team from 2017-2024.
In 2001, Boreanaz tied the knot with second wife – he was previously married to Ingrid Quinn from 1997-1999 - Jamie Bergman. The pair share son Jaden, 22, and daughter Bella, 15.
Amber Benson aka Tara Maclay
Joining the cast of Buffy for season four as the girlfriend of Willow Rosenberg (Hannigan), Amber Benson was a regular cast member until season six when (spoiler alert!) Tara was killed off.
Since then, as well as a steady acting career which includes the 2024 hit film I Saw the TV Glow, Benson has turned her hand to writing releasing several fictional series such as Ghosts of Albion and The Witches of Echo Park.
Seth Green aka Oz
One of the most successful child actors of the 80s and 90s, Seth Green began acting at the age of ten in films like Billions for Boris (1984) and The Hotel New Hampshire (1984).
And his extensive credit list which has continued in the years since now includes hits like the Austin Powers franchise, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) – alongside co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar – and Family Guy as well as numerous cameo appearances.
In May 2010, Green tied the knot with actress Clare Grant (Walk the Line) after getting engaged on New Year's Eve in 2009.
Daisy Hall is a News and Entertainment writer on Grazia, specialising in TV and film meaning that you can count on Daisy for the latest (and best) recommendations