Summary

Ryan Kiera Armstrong is cast as the new slayer in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.
Hulu granted the Buffy reboot a pilot order, with Lilla and Nora Zuckerman writing it and Chloé Zhao directing.
Armstrong's character is an introverted high school student, a departure from the original series.

For several months, fans have been curious about who could join Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) for the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot from Hulu, and now the new slayer has been cast.

Fans first heard about a possible reboot in February 2025 and have been holding their breaths waiting to hear more casting news ever since. The original series aired from 1997 to 2003, starting off on the WB and moving to UPN for the last two seasons. Along with Gellar's clever and funny teenage character who fights vampires in her spare time, the series also featured her friends Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), along with her love interests Angel (David Boreanaz) and Spike (James Marsden). Now, fans will want to hear who the new slayer will be.

Split image of Buffy and Angel on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Wednesday on Wednesday

The Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reboot Should Take This Cue From Wednesday & Focus On One Important Thing

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Netflix's Wednesday are two fun, supernatural series that focus on the lives of smart teenagers.

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By Aya Tsintziras

Ryan Kiera Armstrong Has Been Cast As The New Main Character On The Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reboot

The poster for the 2022 remake of Firestarter — Firestarter Zac Efron

Deadline reported that Ryan Kiera Armstrong will play the new slayer on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot from Hulu.

Sarah Michelle Gellar shared a video of her offering the role to Armstrong on her Instagram account. Gellar wrote in the caption:

“From the moment I saw Ryan’s audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side. To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room."

While Deadline noted that there are no more details about the Buffy reboot, Armstrong's new slayer is "an introverted high school student." Armstrong is no stranger to reboots and is known for playing the main character Charlene "Charlie" McGee, who has telekinetic powers, in the 2022 reboot of the Stephen King movie Firestarter. That isn't the only King adaptation she has starred in, however. Armstrong also played Victoria Fuller in the horror movie IT Chapter Two.

Hulu gave the reboot a pilot order, and sisters Lilla and Nora Zuckerman wrote the pilot episode. Chloé Zhao, who directed the 2021 Marvel movie Eternals, will direct the pilot. Lilla and Nora Zuckerman were staff writers on Fringe season 2, were co-executive producers of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and produced and wrote two seasons of Suits.

This isn't the first time there has been the possibility of Buffy Summers fighting another day. In 2018, Deadline reported that series creator Joss Whedon and Monica Owusu-Breen were working on a reboot. However, that didn't pan out.

Since learning about the Buffy reboot, fans have been discussing which characters should be part of it and which ones should be ignored from the new story. Fans who are curious if Emma Caulfield could reprise her role of Anya Jenkins will be glad to know that Caulfield commented on Gellar's Instagram post and shared her excitement about Armstrong's casting.

Armstrong's previous roles include Alma Gardner on American Horror Story: Red Tide, Fern on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Minnie May Barry on Anne With An E, and Young Antonia in Black Widow.

Gellar has given fans some updates from time to time, including explaining in a recent interview that a casting report of new characters was "fake." Now that fans know that Armstrong's Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot character is a teenager who is an introvert, they have a clearer picture of what to expect and can imagine some potential storylines. But at the time of this writing, no other characters or cast members have been announced, and fans will keep waiting to hear more.

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