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'Buffy' Reboot Casts 'Star Wars' Actress as New Slayer

'Buffy' Reboot Casts 'Star Wars' Actress as New Slayer

Newsweek15-05-2025

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Into every generation a new Slayer is born, and now we know who the next Slayer will be. Reported by Deadline, Sarah Michelle Gellar will be joined in the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" sequel series by Ryan Kiera Armstrong. The 15-year-old Armstrong's credits include the 2022 "Firestarter" reboot, "IT: Chapter Two", and the "Star Wars" series "Skeleton Crew".
Read More: Sarah Michelle Gellar Debunks 'Buffy' Reboot Casting Rumors
Gellar filmed herself breaking the news to Armstrong over video conferencing, which you can watch below.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Stars In "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" in 1999.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Stars In "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" in 1999.
Getty
In the caption of the video, Gellar writes, "I want to introduce you to @ryankarmstrong 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. Welcome to #NewSunnydale #btvs."
The "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" reboot has an order for a pilot from Hulu, which will be directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao and written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman.
"We are so overjoyed to have found this generation's slayer in Ryan Kiera Armstrong, she absolutely blew us away — there is no question in our mind that she is the chosen one," writers Nora and Lilla Zuckerman said about the casting.
Very little is known about Armstrong's character, only that she is an introverted high school student.
Previous reports suggested the Slayer's name would be Nova and she would have a pair of friends - Hugo and Gracie. Hugo was described as an "out and proud" nerd from a wealthy family, while Gracie was described as an acolyte of Gellar's Buffy. However, Gellar later debunked these reports, calling them "fake."
Whoever Armstrong plays, her character won't exactly be facing the same kind of world her predecessor did. In the original "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" series, there was only ever supposed to be one Slayer at any given time (though eventually there would be two).
However, in the series finale, that changed. Thanks to a magic spell, every girl in the world who had the potential to become a Slayer would become one. So, eventually, Armstrong's character might find herself dealing with more Slayers than Buffy ever did.
More TV:
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 3 Sets Premiere Date
Recapping the Ending of 'Andor' Season 2: Everything You Need to Know

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