Don’t be expecting this lot in the reboot sequel
The news that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is getting ready to slay televisions again was one met with disbelief and overwhelming (albeit nervous) euphoria from those of us old enough to know what it was like having this show define every corner of our personalities. Not only is the Buffy reboot sequel series well and truly on the cards, with Academy Award winning director Chloe Zhao at the helm – Sarah Michelle Gellar is also set to be returning to the titular role of Buffy Summers in a recurring capacity. Whilst this new Buffy series will focus on a new Slayer after the events of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – if Buffy herself is recurring, reason suggests it’s likely other fan favourite characters will make an appearance also. But there are some former Buffy cast members who are very likely to never return to the show if the reboot goes ahead – so here’s a rundown of who I don’t think will crop up and the very varying reasons why.
Whilst none of these are confirmed – here are my theories on who we won’t see based on various info and theories I have as a huge fan of the series.
Nicholas Brendan as Xander Harris
Sadly, the most likely to not be cropping up in my opinion is Nicholas Brendan. He was a series regular for all seven seasons of Buffy, playing Xander – one of Buffy’s closest friends. Xander’s 90s masculinity is cause for much scrutiny, but even the biggest Xander haters would be hard pressed to say the show would be just as good without him. The core four of Buffy, Giles, Willow needed Xander to complete them.
The reboot could fit Xander in easily – in the continuation comics he is a Watcher leading an army of Slayers – but Nicholas Brendan has had numerous legal troubles since his time on Buffy ended. Throughout the 2010s and beyond, he has been convicted for domestic violence charges and driving whilst intoxicated. He also suffered a heart attack in 2022.
Eliza Dushku as Faith
Whilst the return of Faith would not only be welcomed, it would be absolutely utterly amazing, it is very likely not going to happen. This is due to the fact that Eliza Dushku announced in 2024 that she has retired from acting completely. It’s gutting because Faith had so much character development and it would be so good to have her back!
Robia Scott (formerly LaMorte) as Jenny Calendar
Whilst Jenny Calendar is obviously canonically dead, she did return once previously to the show when The First was terrorising the group in season three. The reason why Robia is unlikely to return again, not just because Jenny is dead, is because since the show she has become a born-again Christian. She rejects the New Age ideals she used to practice, and Jenny described herself as a “technopagan”.
Robia was unhappy on her first return to Buffy because she learned after accepting the job that she would be a form of The First – essentially Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s answer to Satan. She has done a few conventions with fans since so perhaps she’s a bit more relaxed about it now, but I can’t see it happening.
Um, pretty much every major vampire – aka David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Julie Benz and Juliet Landau
Okay, no hard facts on this one – just lore. The reason I don’t think any of these four pretty major characters will not return from the OG Buffy cast for the reboot sequel is because of a simple and very sobering factor: Aging. All four of these characters – Angel, Spike, Darla and Drusilla are meant to be undead and never age. As the actors do not get such a perk, it would be very hard to bring them back.
The show could of course invest in some de-aging CGI. But that’s costly. I’m unsure
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Nicholas Brendan mugshot via Vigo County Jail.
