The Hellmouth is stirring again. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is officially returning, and this time there’s a new Slayer stepping into the spotlight. Hulu’s revival has cast 15-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong as its new lead, sharing top billing with Sarah Michelle Gellar, who returns as Buffy Summers.
Armstrong will play an introverted high school student and serve as a co-lead in the series. While exact plot details are being kept quiet, this looks like a passing of the torch within the same continuity. Gellar has turned down revival efforts in the past but said this version finally felt right, and a big part of that was Armstrong.
“To have that kind of emotional intelligence and talent at such a young age is truly a gift,” Gellar said. “Her smile lights up even the darkest room.”
The revival has some strong talent behind the camera too. Chloé Zhao is directing the pilot, and Nora and Lilla Zuckerman are writing. The team says they want to honor the original Buffy lore, not reinvent it. That message has resonated with fans, who are cautiously hopeful.
In a video posted to Instagram, Gellar told Armstrong the good news directly. “How do you feel about helping me save the world? You want to be my chosen one?” she asked during a video call, as Armstrong beamed with excitement.
Armstrong is no stranger to genre work. She’s appeared in Anne with an E, Firestarter, and most recently Skeleton Crew, where she played Fern. She already has the experience and presence to handle the role, and her casting suggests the revival plans to lean into character-driven storytelling.
For longtime fans, this isn’t just a reboot. It’s a continuation that brings the story into a new era while keeping the foundation intact. Gellar and Armstrong together may be the team to make it work.
Sources:
Deadline
gfpods.com 
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