Chloe Zhao Says She Is Not Surprised 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Reboot Was Scrapped at Hulu

Chloé Zhao is addressing the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot being scrapped at Hulu.

The 43-year-old Hamnet director got candid about the surprising news while walking the red carpet at the 2026 Academy Awards on Sunday (March 15) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

If you didn’t know, the planned series, which was called New Sunnydale and would have included original series star Sarah Michelle Gellar, is no longer moving forward at the network following the pilot being filmed.

Keep reading to find out more…

Chloé spoke about the series, which would have starred Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the new slayer, in an interview with Variety and CNN on the red carpet.

The director said she was “not surprised” by Hulu’s decision.

“I had an incredible, incredible time with Sarah [Michelle Gellar], with all the cast and crew doing this. And we, first and foremost, see ourselves as the guardians of the original show,” she went on to say.

“Our priority for Sarah and for us has always been to be truthful to the show, to be truthful to our fans. So, things happen for a reason, and we keep our hearts open and we welcome the mystery. And what this might lead us to.”

When asked if they would be trying to make the show happen elsewhere, she simply repeated: “Welcome the mystery.”

She also clarified that her look was inspired by Hamnet, not the Buffy news: “The crow. The power of taking and letting things die, so something new can come through.”

Find out what Sarah Michelle Gellar said about the show no longer moving forward.