Latest news with #RyanKieraArmstrong
Metro
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Reboots never work' TV viewers are fed up of watching the same shows
Gossip Girl, Harry Potter, Sex and the City. TV remakes of popular classics are nothing new. And for some fans, that's exactly the problem. It feels like every other week there's talk of another classic film or TV show being rebooted (1995 hit movie Clueless is the latest), to the delight of fans who want the story to live on and the horror of purists who want their favourite characters left alone. And Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the supernatural drama series which was arguably one of the biggest shows of the 90s, is dividing fans with its upcoming comeback, blending familiar faces with a new cast in an attempt to reawaken the magic. But some Metro readers are confused by plans to resurrect the popular show, particularly because the finale of the original series ended the need for a single slayer (aka 'the chosen one'). And yet, last week it was announced that 15-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong is taking on the role of the slayer, starring alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, who is reprising her role as Buffy Summers. Commenting on Armstrong's casting as the chosen one, Metro reader Ashley James shared their confusion, writing: 'Wait? chosen ONE. I thought everyone who could be a slayer was a slayer now?' And user Houltcore pointed out: 'The entire purpose of the series finale was that there was no chosen one anymore'. For some, this apparent oversight has put them off the upcoming reboot. wrote: 'If a show undoes itself in a reboot then it's not worth watching'. Happyellen was similarly unconvinced, adding: 'Imagine redoing Buffy, this won't workkkk. Buffy was perfect, leave it at rest and just let us rewatch the OG'. However, others were unfased by the potential plot change. Jon-El Queens said: 'I'm glad we are having just 1 new Slayer and not like 30 from last season,' they wrote. Meanwhile, Jackie N was delighted with Armstrong's casing, commenting: 'So happy with this choice. I was so afraid I couldn't warm up to the new lead…but this is perfect'. Sunnmoon0227 said: 'I'm so excited and so happy for this young actress with such a magical future in front of her, she is gonna be amazing as our new chosen one, well done Ryan Kiera Armstrong'. Metro entertainment reporter, Laura Harman, is also unconvinced by news of the Buffy remake. 'Had this reboot been announced a decade ago, I may have been naive enough to be excited – but the news has only made me concerned, with good reason. 'The series was pioneering at the time, stamping on stereotypes and progressively exploring LGBTQ+ narratives and characters. The series had complex heroes and villains and subverted all the typical horror and teen-drama tropes in the best possible way. 'The legacy it has left is huge, which means that any reboot has the potential to tarnish the reputation. 'Particularly when the original series managed to strike such a unique chord with the audience of the time and become a cultural phenomenon – how can that success be replicated in a way that feels organic and not a cringe-inducing stretch for the series to be as 'woke' as it once was?' Read Laura's article in full. But it's not just Buffy's return that's dividing Metro readers, many expressed their frustration with the constant remaking of popular shows. '[I've] never been a fan of reboots…just shows how stale creativity has become,' Joseph Noon shared. Maureen Dowlan added, 'Why can't today's writers come up with something new? I hate remakes,' and Norma Bellis said: 'Reboots never work, I won't be watching.' Neil Sayer simply wrote, 'Almost all of them are terrible'. However, not everyone is anti-reboots, with Tri Stan sharing: 'Good stories deserve to be repeated. It makes no difference to the old ones or what you remember.' Along with the recent casting for Buffy, work on HBO's upcoming Harry Potter adaptation is currently underway and just this week the trailer for Welcome to Derry, a series based on Stephen King's novel It and the subsequent film adaptations, was unveiled. It feels like TV reboots are everywhere and, according to Dr Mareike Jenner, a senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University with a research focus on reboots, that's because they pretty much are. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'TV reboots are becoming more common, but much of this is because of the passage of time — after all, there's more film and TV history to source from,' she told Metro. But there are other factors too. Between Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and numerous other streaming services, there are many more platforms pumping out new TV content these days. So there's more content to watch, but it's also harder to capture audiences' attention, making reboots hugely appealing to TV bosses. The Trial of Christine Keeler : Based on a true story, this 2019 drama was recently added to Netflix and viewers are calling it 'outstanding'. : Based on a true story, this 2019 drama was recently added to Netflix and viewers are calling it 'outstanding'. Overcompensating : This Prime Video comedy series follows a closeted former football player and boasts a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. : This Prime Video comedy series follows a closeted former football player and boasts a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Love Rat : First aired on Sky and now available on Netflix, the British thriller follows a recently divorced woman who enjoys a whirlwind romance with a man who is not who he seems. : First aired on Sky and now available on Netflix, the British thriller follows a recently divorced woman who enjoys a whirlwind romance with a man who is not who he seems. Code of Silence: The new ITV drama stars Rose Ayling-Ellis as a deaf caterer who is asked by police to help lipread conversations with dangerous criminals. It's become increasingly hard to break through with new TV shows, Dr Jenner explains, but using something that's already recognisable to audiences works. In the age of streaming and algorithms, platforms like to serve up what feels familiar. And viewers are drawn to the look, feel, and vibe of shows associated with a specific time, even if the reboots don't really dig into what made the originals meaningful. 'At the same time, TV reboots are strangely ahistorical,' Dr Jenner adds. 'They reuse names and titles, maybe even some bars from the theme tune, but are forward-facing. So you don't need to know the old version to understand the reboot.' More Trending And the apparent penchant for familiar content isn't exclusive to TV. In fact, the top 10 films of 2024 were all sequels (Inside Out 2, Deadpool and Wolverine, and Moana 2, for example), except for Wicked, which was still based on existing material. On the horizon are sequels to Freaky Friday and Dirty Dancing, while follow-ups to A Simple Favour and Bridget Jones were recently released. It doesn't look like reboots are going anywhere, but Dr Jenner adds: 'Name recognition only gets you so far. Once the audience tunes in, entertainment needs to be provided.' View More » The release date for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is yet to be announced. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Universal's Epic Universe theme park is finally open – the queue was my favourite part MORE: Lizzie McGuire Movie's Italian heartthrob Paolo is unrecognisable 23 years on from teen movie MORE: Katy Perry's shocked reaction after her bra pops open on stage during energetic performance
Geek Feed
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Feed
Skeleton Crew's Ryan Kiera Armstrong to Star in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot
News came out back in February that there was going to be a revival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and though Sarah Michelle Gellar is expected to return, the show is set to focus on a new protagonist. As per Gellar's IG post, the new lead of the Buffy revival is going to be Ryan Kiera Armstrong , best known for her role as Fern in Star Wars ' Skeleton Crew . Here's a video of Gellar telling Armstrong that she's going to be the new lead of the show: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarah Michelle (@sarahmgellar) Gellar said this about casting Armstrong in the series, 'From the moment I saw Ryan's audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side,' Gellar said in a statement. 'To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room.' Besides Gellar coming back to play the part of Buffy Collins, the series is also going to be bringing in Chloe Zhao ( Eternals, Nomadland ) to direct the pilot. The script will also be provided by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, who had worked on Peacock's fantastic Poker Face series. Admittedly, you can't think of Buffy without its creator Joss Whedon, and it's been reported that he won't be involved in this revival, what with him being in Cancelled Jail and everything since the whole fiasco with Justice League . As for the reboot, there's no official title yet, but the series is expected to focus on a whole new batch of Slayers with Buffy acting as their mentor. We don't have a release date yet, but hopefully we get more updates in the following months.
Geek Tyrant
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Sarah Michelle Gellar Talks About Why This Pitch for the BUFFY Reboot Made Her Say Yes — GeekTyrant
Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has been pitched reboots and remakes of the series plenty of times over the years, but it wasn't until she heard this most recent idea that she was ready to make her comeback official. The actress appeared on SiriusXM Hits 1's The Morning Mash Up with Buffy co-star Alyson Hannigan last week, where Gellar said it was the reboot's director, Chloé Zhao ( Eternals ), and creators Lilla and Nora Zuckerman's ( Poker Face ) decision to make the series a continuation of Buffy Summers's story rather than telling the same story again that won her over. Gellar said, 'Everyone was just trying to redo it. And they [the Zuckermans] had a continuation of where it goes now. And, you know, as Alyson and I now have teenagers, and it's – you see the circle of what's needed.' 'Absolutely,' said Hannigan. 'We used to play teens, and now we have teens.' The new Buffy series is currently in pre-production at Hulu. Gellar is reprising her beloved role alongside a new Slayer protagonist. Ryan Kiera Armstrong ( Skeleton Crew ) will star alongside Gellar in the new role, though details about Armstrong's character and the nature of her relationship with Gellar's Buffy remain tightly under wraps. Both Gellar and Hannigan reflected on why Buffy has endured since it went off air in the early 2000s, and why it merits a continuation over two decades later. Gellar said: 'You realize all these years later that the show still translates. Because sometimes you watch a show that you loved and you see it now, and you're like, 'Okay', but it doesn't have the same meaning. 'And Buffy is still hitting people who are watching it for the first time, and they're seeing themselves, and they're seeing their friends, and they're finding their chosen family.' Hannigan was quick to agree that her Buffy castmates became akin to family working on the series. Gellar then went on to share that in such a polarized political and media landscape, her hope is that the Buffy reboot series will provide its viewers with comfort and connection. She said, 'I think, more than ever right now, as we get more and more divided, we need that chosen family. So I hope to provide a new chosen family.' Are you looking forward to the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot?
Muscat Daily
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Muscat Daily
New Slayer rises as Buffy the Vampire Slayer set for revival
15-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong to lead reboot of iconic series alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar The cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer is returning to screens in a new revival that promises to honour the legacy of the original while introducing a new generation to the world of slayers, vampires, and dark forces. At the heart of the reboot is 15-year-old American actor Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who has been cast in the lead role as the next chosen one. Originally aired from 1997 to 2003, Buffy the Vampire Slayer became a groundbreaking series known for its blend of supernatural drama and sharp social commentary. Set in the fictional Californian town of Sunnydale, the series followed Buffy Summers, a teenage girl destined to battle vampires and demons while managing the everyday struggles of adolescence. The show redefined genre television and gained a passionate global following, influencing countless series that followed. The new project, commissioned by streaming platform Hulu, brings back original star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who will reprise her role as Buffy Summers and serve as executive producer. Gellar's return offers a direct link to the original series, which continues to resonate with audiences more than two decades after its debut. The revival is being helmed by acclaimed director Chloé Zhao, best known for her Oscar-winning film Nomadland , with writing duties handled by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman. Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who began her career in Anne with an E and has since appeared in Firestarter , American Horror Story , and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , will portray the next vampire slayer. Her casting signals a fresh chapter for the franchise, while maintaining the core themes that made Buffy such a cultural touchstone – female empowerment, identity, resilience, and the enduring fight against darkness. The original series is credited with transforming television storytelling, thanks to its long-form narrative arcs, layered characters, and allegorical depth. It tackled issues such as adolescence, trauma, grief, and empowerment through the lens of fantasy and horror, offering viewers both escapism and relevance. The reboot is set in 'New Sunnydale,' a reimagined setting that retains the spirit of the original while exploring contemporary themes for today's audience. Though many details remain under wraps, anticipation is high as fans await a series that aims to bridge past and present. For a generation that grew up with Buffy Summers as a symbol of strength and courage, the return of the Slayer holds both nostalgic value and fresh potential. The revival looks to be not just a continuation, but a reawakening of a story that still has much to say.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Buffy' Reboot Finds Its New Slayer: Ryan Kiera Armstrong To Star With Sarah Michelle Gellar In Hulu Pilot
EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Firestarter) has landed the lead opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, which has a pilot order at Hulu. Armstrong will play the new slayer in the untitled Buffyverse project, which Gellar executive produces in addition to reprising her signature role as Buffy Summers. Oscar winner Chloé Zhao is directing the pilot, written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman. No additional information has been provided about the project, referred to as the next chapter in the Buffyverse, which comes from 20th Television and Searchlight TV. The character played by Armstrong is described in casting materials as an introverted high-school student. More from Deadline 2025 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming Glen Powell-Starrer 'Chad Powers' Sets Hulu Premiere Date Ryan Murphy's Legal Drama 'All's Fair' Drops Teaser Trailer & First-Look Photos There is some symbolism in Armstong's casting as Geller's spiritual successor — the actresses' names, Ryan Kiera Armstrong and Sarah Michelle Gellar, share the same cadence. But it was Armstong's acting chops that won her the role, Gellar said. 'From the moment I saw Ryan's audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side,' she said. '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' Gellar also recorded a video of her breaking the news to 15-year-old Armstrong that she got the part. (You can watch it below.) 'I'm so honored, thank you for trusting me,' elated Armstrong said through tears when Gellar welcomed her to new Sunnydale. She was then joined by her father, Canadian actor-producer Dean Armstrong. Lilla and Nora Zuckerman used some Buffy terminology to praise Armstrong. '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,' they said. Nora and Lilla Zuckerman executive produce the pilot alongside Gellar, Zhao via her Book of Shadows banner as well as the original series' executive producers Gail Berman of the Jackal Group and Fran Kuzui & Kaz Kuzui via Suite B. Also executive producing the pilot is Dolly Parton whose company Sandollar was producer on the original. Buffy the Vampire Slayer studio 20th Television produces with Disney sibling Searchlight TV, where Zhao is under a first-look deal. Canadian-born Armstrong has been busy since her breakout role at age 8 in the feature The Art of Racing In the Rain opposite Amanda Seyfried. Following parts in IT: Part Two, The Tomorrow War, The Glorias and Black Widow, she played the lead in the 2022 Firestarter, the co-lead opposite Nicolas Cage in The Wold Way and a main role in WIldflower. On TV, she started off with a major recurring role on Netflix's Anne with an E. Armstrong first got on 20th TV radar when the studio cast her as part of the main ensemble of FX's American Horror Story: Red Tide. She has worked for Disney ever since with a starring role opposite Jude Law on Disney+'s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and recurring opposite Ethan Hawke on FX's upcoming The Lowdown. Armstrong is repped by Linden Entertainment and Innovative Artists. Best of Deadline Where To Watch All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies: Streamers With Multiple Films In The Franchise Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far
