I Saw the TV Glowdirector Jane Schoenbrun is ready to rebootBuffy the Vampire Slayer, promising to keep one important element of the seminal supernatural teen drama. Schoenbrun gained acclaim for the 2021 psychological horror filmWe’re All Going to the World’s Fair. But it was the director’s most recent film,A24’sI Saw the TV Glow, that functions as a deeply moving personal story and a tribute toBuffyand other series from the 1990s. Boosted by audiences and critics, the horror drama focuses on two friends who bond over a television show calledThe Pink Opaque.
Amidst renewed speculation about a possibleBuffyreboot,Schoenbrunposts on X to share that they’d be ready to reboot the beloved series. Crucially, however,Schoenbrun is up for 22 episodes per season. This would align with the original, outside of season 1 which only had 12 episodes, although it’s hardly the norm in a streaming era that mostly favors 8 to 10 episodes for a season.
What Schoenbrun’s Comments Could Mean For A Buffy Reboot
It Could Be Great (If It Happens)
Talk of aBuffyreboot started again when lead star Sarah Michelle Gellar explained whyshe shifted her view on reprising the role of Buffy Summers. Gellar, who currently stars in Showtime’sDexterprequel, explained that the prequel and other revivals have helped her consider that it would be possible to make a revival work. Her response, from a recent appearance onThe Drew Barrymore Show, is included below:
Gellar:It’s funny. I always used to say ‘no’, like, because, you know, it’s in its bubble and so perfect. But watching Sex and the City and seeing Dexter and realizing there are ways to do it definitely does get your mind thinking.
The actor’s response is notable, if only because Gellar has largely maintained a reluctance to revisit the iconic series. But the official word on the project from executive producer Gail Berman is that theBuffyreboot is on pause.Still, if the reboot were to ever move forward, Schoenbrun would be an excellent choice as a showrunner.
I Saw The TV Glow’s Buffy The Vampire Slayer Actor Cameo Explained & Why It’s So Important
I Saw the TV Glow pays homage to the 1990s-era television shows that inspired it, but this Buffy cameo holds extra resonance for queer viewers.
I Saw The TV Glow, which is led by Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine, with supporting parental roles for Danielle Deadwyler and Fred Durst, is filled withreferences toTwin Peaks.However, for those who grew up a little later withBuffy, the references in the A24 film are also plentiful. There are slight details that only make the homage cooler, such asThe Pink Opaque’s season 6 being a meaningful turning point. But beyond the references,I Saw the TV Glowis a great film that features one of the most unsettling scenes of 2024.
Our Take On Schoenbrun Doing A Buffy Reboot
It Sounds Great
One of the biggest issues with reboots and revivals is that they attempt to recreate the original without appreciating that the initial spark is gone. Based on their work withWord’s FairandI Saw the TV Glow, with the latter proving to be especially visually arresting, Schoenbrun could put their stamp on the series while still honoring the past. They directed one of the best horror movies of the year, introducing the skin-crawling villain Mr. Melanchoy, all while delving into personal loss and sadness that is a lot more terrifying, which is in line withBuffy the Vampire Slayer.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Cast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
