It’s been over two decades since Buffy the Vampire Slayer came to a close, but the Slayer is sharpening her stakes once again. Set photos from Hulu’s upcoming reboot strongly hint that one major piece of Buffy lore is returning, and it involves Sarah Michelle Gellar stepping back into her iconic role.
The revival, which has a pilot currently filming, will see Buffy joined by a new vampire Slayer named Nova, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong. While much of the plot is under wraps, fans have been speculating for months about where the story will take place. Now, thanks to some behind-the-scenes shots, we may finally have our answer.
Photos shared via Deuxmoi show Gellar on set in a striking red outfit, though it’s unclear if she was fully in character. Even more revealing are images from the Los Angeles shoot that capture a colorful event labeled “Sunnydale’s Vampire Weekend,” a festival celebrating all things undead.
According to Slayerfestx98 on Instagram, this detail lines up with a long-standing rumor that Sunnydale is making a comeback.
Industry scooper DanielRPK had previously claimed the reboot would be titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, with the pilot opening at an event called Vampire Weekend. The report also teased a divided town, one part newly rebuilt, one part the gritty remains of the old Sunnydale, and that vampires would crash the festivities, setting the stage for Nova’s first big battle. These new set photos seem to back that up.
If true, that would be a fun way to get thing rolling. Sunnydale’s destruction in the original series finale never truly erased it from Buffy lore, it even popped up again in the comics. Reintroducing the town allows the show to recapture the original’s energy, keep the Hellmouth in play, and maintain that perfect contrast between California sunshine and lurking evil. It also means Buffy herself may be forced to confront her past head-on.
Buffy is stepping back into the world of Sunnydale, this time mentoring a brand-new Chosen One played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong.
The reboot hasn’t been greenlit for a full season yet, but cameras are rolling on the pilot, which fans all hope turn out great. If it lands with audiences and Hulu execs alike, we could be heading back to Sunnydale for real.
