The decision to scrap the Buffy: New Sunnydale reboot may have shocked fans of the original series, but unexpectedly, it didn’t come as a surprise to the show’s boss, Chloé Zhao. In a recent interview, the Hamnet director shared her views on the sudden cancellation of the highly anticipated revival series, stating that she prefers to “welcome the mystery” around the show’s abandonment.
Chloé Zhao breaks silence on Buffy: New Sunnydale reboot getting canceled
During her recent appearance at the 2026 Oscars, Chloé Zhao finally opened up about Hulu’s decision to pull the plug on the upcoming Buffy series.
“I’m not surprised,” she told Variety at the 98th Academy Awards red carpet. “I had an incredible time with Sarah, with the whole cast and crew doing this, and we, first and foremost, see ourselves as the guardians of the original show. Our priority has always been to be truthful to the show and be truthful to our fans. So things happen for a reason, and we keep our hearts open and welcome the mystery for what this may lead us to.”
When asked if she had contemplated pitching the idea of the Buffy reboot to a different network, Zhao simply smiled and replied, “Welcome the mystery.”
Recent reports have shed light on why the Disney-owned streaming service chose not to move forward with the revival series, despite all the hype. Hulu seemingly described the pilot as “too young” and “too small,” forcing writers to revamp the episode’s tone. While the updated pilot reportedly garnered a better reaction from executives, Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich ultimately decided to scrap the project altogether.
“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,” said Sarah Michelle Gellar, the lead of the original Buffy series, while explaining the behind-the-scenes drama that led to the cancellation of the reboot.
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