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Streaming Wars is a weekly opinion column by IGN’s Streaming Editor, Amelia Emberwing. Check out the last entry This One Spider-Man Moment Is Key to Marvel TV’s Success.
Variety has reported that Sarah Michelle Gellar is in final talks to reprise her role as Buffy Summers in a Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival at Hulu. The team announced is currently all women, featuring Nora and Lila Zuckerman to write, showrun, and executive produce, with Chloe Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals) tapped to direct the pilot and serve as an EP alongside the showrunners. Some former EPs will return as well, including Gail Berman, Fran and Kaz Kuzui, and the Dolly Parton. Notably absent is Joss Whedon, who was largely ousted from Hollywood after repeated allegations of his toxic work environment and mistreatment of his actors. But just because he isn’t involved in the property doesn’t mean he won’t see financial gain from the revival.
Every generation may have a chosen one, and this generation hasn’t gotten their dose of slayer goodness yet but I don’t know, y’all. There’s a lot to process here, and I’m worried on several different fronts about Buffy’s return.
Broadly speaking, I am a huge proponent of reboots, remakes, and legacy sequels. I enjoy new spins on stuff that I love. Sometimes they’re successful, sometimes they’re downright awful, but I will always, always give them a shot. Typically with enthusiasm, even! I am not enthusiastic about this Buffy news. I am, at best, trepidatious and, at worst, completely apathetic. I have been waffling between the two since Variety broke the news of the slayer’s potential return.
Obviously, part of that trepidation is the Whedon of it all. Though he may not be creatively involved in the show, he remains the creator of the character. Will he see royalties from the revival, or did he sell the rights entirely? These aren’t questions we have answers to yet, but it remains at the forefront of my mind as we look at the possibility of future slayer outings.
This line of thinking, of course, brings up the longstanding debate of whether or not we should separate art from the artist. From my perspective, I am happy to separate art from the artist on already existing works that were experienced or purchased prior to whatever buffoonery was pulled. My Buffy, Angel and Firefly box sets still sit happily on my shelves. However, separating art from the artist does not mean that we are ethically free to continue to line bad people’s pockets via ticket sales, streaming, or additional purchases. Each person decides where their line is personally, but Joss Whedon will not be getting any more of my money.
The thing is, though, this isn’t where my concerns for a Buffy reboot end. When I found out about the news, my first response was “I don’t have the emotional fortitude for this,” and I didn’t mean it in a fun, fangirl-y kind of way. I am a firm believer in the power of fandom and how it can be used for good. However, it’s not news to anyone that that very power has been used for ill as much as it’s been used for good over recent years. I really don’t know if seeing Buffy Summers back on the small screen is worth dealing with armies of entitled people mad over nothing (read: Whedon’s lack of involvement, a female creative team, stories centering on women, updating the slayer’s story to fit into the current time period, etc.) and making it everyone else’s problem. Sure, it very well could be if the new series is great. But will it be?
This isn’t a lack of faith in the creators. The Zuckerman’s have done admirable work in their tenure ala Poker Face, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and even Suits, and Chloe Zhao has an entire Oscar. Zhao is, admittedly, a weird choice to direct the pilot given her proclivity for longing landscape shots, but hey, I trust her!
I also have a lack of faith in whether or not there’s a story to be told here after the original series petered out. Are we really going to have to spend another indeterminate amount of seasons dealing with failed Spike redemption arcs? Will enough of the ensemble (not you, Nicholas Brendon, Xander died on the way back to his home planet) return to re-spark the magic? Will fans engage with a story where Buffy Summers is basically the new Giles? What more does the Slayer really have to say? It’s too early to have answers to any of these questions. But, at the end of the day, I’m pretty sure the response to news of a much-beloved character’s return should be excitement rather than a simple “I’m tired.”
But, while tired, I do, at least, hope to be proven wrong.
