When it was that plans for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot were finally moving forward after years of development, fans of the cult-classic '90s teen drama series could hardly wait to watch actress return to her breakout role with Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao at its helm.
But those dreams were shattered last week when Gellar herself that Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale was no longer moving forward at Searchlight Television and Hulu, both of which are subsidiaries of Disney.
The 48-year-old actress did not mince her words when she blamed an unnamed Disney executive for the scrapped reboot, claiming he made 'constant' reminders that he was not a fan of the original show.
It did not take long for fans of the series, which ran from 1997 to 2003, to speculate over the identity of the Disney exec.
Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, was one of those executives whose name had circulated.
And now, multiple sources have confirmed to the Daily Mail it was indeed Erwich who made the 'executive decision' to slash the Buffy reboot, leaving the cast and crew 'devastated' and in 'complete shock'.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, 48, is 'devastated' after the reboot for Buffy the Vampire Slayer was canceled at Searchlight Television and Hulu, both of which are subsidiaries of Disney
Multiple sources have confirmed to the Daily Mail that Craig Erwich, the president of Disney Television Group, made the 'executive decision' to slash the Buffy reboot (pictured in 2022)
But it may not be the end of the road for Buffy, according to a source, as they hinted at Gellar's hopes to take the show 'elsewhere' and give fans the reboot they've been wanting for over 20 years.
'It was him; the buck stopped with Craig,' an insider told the Daily Mail.
'He just didn't like the project and he didn't think it was any good. He rolled his eyes whenever it came up, like he was beleaguered that he had to do it. He didn't like how it was shaping up so he axed it. Most people here think that was a colossal mistake, but it was his decision,' the insider said.
In February 2025, it was reported by Deadline that Gellar would be reprising her role as Buffy Summers in a pilot ordered by Hulu, with Hamnet director Zhao – a self-professed lifelong Buffy fan – set to direct the pilot episode.
From there, actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong, 16, was as Sunnydale's newest vampire slayer – just three years younger than Gellar when she was cast as Buffy in 1997.
Sister screenwriting duo Nora and Lilla Zuckerman had reportedly written the pilot episode, with the series' original executive producers Gail Berman and husband and wife Fran and Kaz Kuzui also attached.
Throughout production, Gellar would update her five million Instagram followers with photos from the set, including a photo taken during a table read of the pilot episode last July. She also posed with Zhao, with the two seen holding wooden daggers in their hands.
Then, Gellar gave fans a far less welcomed update on Saturday when she posted a somber video with news of the reboot's cancellation.
It was reported in February last year that Gellar would be reprising her role as Buffy Summers in a pilot ordered by Hulu, called Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale
Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao (right) was set to direct the pilot episode as a self-professed Buffy superfan (pictured in 2025)
Gellar shared a photo from the table read of the pilot episode in July 2025
It was reported by People magazine that Gellar had received a phone call about the fate of the show on March 13 while attending the premiere for her latest film, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which is also produced by Searchlight.
As she told the magazine in an explosive interview: 'I got the call as we were stepping onto stage for the premiere of their own movie. And it's also the weekend of Chloe going to the Oscars as a best director nominee for Hamnet.
'For them to call us on the Friday of what should have been Chloe's victory lap for an incredible film, and my world premiere of something that I worked very hard for is...that says something.'
It was in that same interview where Gellar blamed the unknown Disney executive for killing the project, saying, 'We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original, but was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn't for him.'
On Monday, it was reported that the Disney Television Group president was promoted to oversee 20th Television and 20th Television Animation, as well as continuing to lead ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals.
Our source, who said they weren't surprised Erwich had axed the show, described him as being 'very decisive,' even if it means going against Hulu's wishes to move forward with the reboot.
'The thought around Hulu is that it would have been a smash,' the insider said. 'He knows that people know it was him and he can deal with the backlash. He made an executive decision.'
As for how the cast and crew reacted to the cancelation, a second source told the Daily Mail that the news 'came as a complete shock' to them all.
Erwich (pictured far right) was described by a source as being 'very decisive,' even if it means going against Hulu's belief that the reboot 'would have been a smash'
A second source told the Daily Mail that the news 'came as a complete shock' to the cast and crew of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale
'Some of them found out when it came out in the news and didn't even receive a phone call,' the second source said.
'They haven't been given much intel on why it was canceled. For many, this would have been their first big acting break so it's obviously completely devastating for all. Sarah Michelle is extremely devastated over this. The cast has been fully supportive of her.'
Gellar made sure to give a shoutout to 'superstar' Armstrong in her interview with People, saying she was 'gutted' that fans won't be able to watch the 16-year-old actress as a slayer.
She also revealed that both herself and director Zhao felt 'disappointed' and 'saddened at how it was handled and when it was handled' when the reboot was scrapped.
Not all hope may be lost, however, as a third source told the Daily Mail that Gellar has plans to 'take the reboot' elsewhere – as other streamers and studios may be interested in bringing Buffy back to life.
'She will be happy to give it one last chance to get it off the ground for the fans,' the third insider said.
'Fans should still be confident that they will see Buffy again and Sarah is using this current derailment as an opportunity to make something finally happen. It ain't dead yet!'
However, a statement obtained by People noted that Disney owns the intellectual property to Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, meaning the project cannot be shopped elsewhere.
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Gellar, Disney and Hulu for comment.
