ListNook

BananasPineapple05 Apr 10, 2026 +181

I was already blaming Hulu, but go on...

181

Beginning-Passion676 Apr 11, 2026 +15

Zhao deserve better and Hulu sucks

15

vader101488 Apr 10, 2026 +31

Don't blame Conan

31

epicredditdude1 Apr 10, 2026 +88

Long story short, Hulu thought the show was trash and didn't want to move forward with it. I don't think there's anyone to "blame" here, it was a business decision. It seems like the pilot is already done so hopefully they can pitch it to other streaming services with more success.

88

Suchgallbladder Apr 10, 2026 +52

Sarah Michelle Gellar asked fans to not watch the pilot ever so maybe it’s unwatchable bad.

52

Zord_boy Apr 11, 2026 -1

Or mby it's harder to see if leaked

-1

General_Kick688 Apr 10, 2026 +21

Disney owns the rights through Fox, which is why it was a Hulu production. It likely can't be shopped around.

21

Briscotti Apr 10, 2026 +9

It absolutely can be shopped around - plenty of 20th Century Television shows air on other networks/streamers, the issue is we’re in a period of brand synergy and vertical integration. A streamer has to think a project will bring in enough new subscribers to make it worth it, and not having a vertically integrated set-up means the cost to license/produce it needs to be low enough knowing you don’t actually own the asset you’re licensing.

9

PastimeOfMine Apr 11, 2026 +8

A revival is virtually never shopped. I can't think of one that was. Also if they thought it was going to be successful Disney isn't going to be the one not collecting the paychecks. They also aren't going to want someone else to take it if it isn't successful bc it harms their IP. And another studio isn't going to want to make the entire show on a temporary licensing agreement. Edit: condensed

8

thereverendpuck Apr 11, 2026 +1

Fraiser

1

PastimeOfMine Apr 11, 2026

That's not a shopped revival pilot, they're shopping a show that was already airing & cancelled after 2 seasons - so they were already aware of their costs and IP impact Though fair to point out it's a shopped revival.

0

FamiliarPotential550 Apr 11, 2026 +5

But Hulu wants to keep the Buffy IP they've already stated they plan to try for another show (probably a reboot) in a couple of years.

5

ACW1129 Apr 10, 2026 +1

Shit, f****** Zaslav shops everything.

1

gzapata_art Apr 10, 2026 -2

Sadly 100% accurate

-2

Greatsnes Apr 10, 2026 -7

Yeah I’m gonna need you to explain why it can’t be shopped around because your comment makes no sense. I don’t think you know what you’re talking about tbh.

-7

General_Kick688 Apr 10, 2026 +4

Disney will likely want to keep the IP in-house and not license it out to other studios. They might for the right price, but they haven't indicated that they're shopping it and the price might be too high for anyone to want to pay.

4

ultimate_bromance_69 Apr 10, 2026 -3

Disney will understand that if the sequel is a success it will uplift the original series, which is on their platform. It might be a nice riskless paycheck for them.

-3

MichaelMyersEatsDogs Apr 11, 2026 +3

And if it’s not it will damage the brand. They already think it’s too bad for them to air so obviously they don’t think it would be a success

3

leo-g Apr 11, 2026 +2

The underlying IP is still owned and distributed by the production studio. In regular situations, they would package it up together so that viewers can watch both the original and reboot. The issue happens is if they are both in conflict and Disney pulls the underlying IP. Whoops, suddenly expensive lawyers must be paid. That said Disney or Netflix is not poor. They don’t have to do all that.

2

Doctor_Sore_Tooth Apr 11, 2026

HEY! you apologise RIGHT NOW

0

SwindlingAccountant Apr 11, 2026 +5

I've seen some snippets of the script and it did not look good.

5

jerslan Apr 11, 2026 +6

Specifically, the exec at Hulu the show was assigned to thought the OG show was trash and proudly proclaimed that to SMG and Chloe Zhao every chance he got.

6

purpleblossom Apr 11, 2026 +2

Pretty sure there is definite blame to be had here when the reason the executive thinks it's trash is a personal opinion. It had nothing to do with business, because if it had, this show would be moving forwards. There has been some level of hype over Buffy returning since the show was cancelled, and the hype only got bigger after COVID, where a whole new batch of fans watched the series. But the executive responsible for canning this revival? He proudly says he's never watched it and never wants to, which would be fine if he didn't also use his opinion to decide the show isn't airing.

2

Cool-Association3420 Apr 10, 2026 -4

That’s pretty spooky is Hulu thinks it’s trash! Have u seen some of the content on there? Haha

-4

arealhumannotabot Apr 10, 2026 +14

Projects get canceled or shelved all the time. Don’t get too attached to things that never materialized

14

NoTitleChamp Apr 11, 2026 +3

I'm not blaming anyone. Look across the tv landscape since the beginning, sometimes projects just don't work out.

3

Postsnobills Apr 11, 2026 +2

Traditional media is in such an odd place. The corporate side continues to try and reinvent the wheel in the shadow of social media, only to fall on its face with even the most profitable IPs. Had they committed to this series, given it time to work itself out the way show’s used to, we’d have something decent and worth watching week-to-week, year-to-year.

2

Key_Reaction_5327 Apr 10, 2026 +21

I think it died because it didn't need to happen and wasn't good. That's fine and there's no loss. The original show was perfect and a complete story and that era is gone.

21

Working_Original_200 Apr 11, 2026 +4

Nothing in entertainment needs to happen.

4

Key_Reaction_5327 Apr 11, 2026

thank you so much for this observation 🙏

0

MichaelMyersEatsDogs Apr 11, 2026 +1

Then why try to make that point ?

1

purpleblossom Apr 11, 2026 -3

Are we really going to take the opinion of an executive who proudly admits to never seeing the original and hating the show's concept when he says the reboot was bad? Sounds rather biased to me. Also, the original also wasn't complete at all, that's why there's multiple "seasons" worth of comics continuing it, plus demand for a reboot since it was cancelled.

-3

IKnowThisOne1 Apr 11, 2026 +3

It is straight up mad how many posts now say they never wanted the series now it’s been cancelled, when all I was reading before hand was how much everyone wants the show to succeed! Like, there is obviously going to be different peeps, of course, but I bet there is loads of people who have now changed their minds. Isn’t it ok to be disappointed?

3

nothatsmyarm Apr 11, 2026 +2

You can want it to succeed even if you know in your heart it’s a terrible idea.

2

Extension-Fail-1917 Apr 10, 2026 +14

It was cancelled because the Buffy reboot was without Buffy. She had a cameo at the end. And without all the original actors. And the producers realized no one would watch it.

14

HackDaddy85 Apr 11, 2026 +15

They apparently retooled it to add more of her in it, but also, that’s just the pilot. She was going to be in it after the pilot introduced the new cast. And she had already asked multiple of the original cast members back.

15

Sporkedup Apr 10, 2026 -7

She never should have been anything more than a cameo. At least in my opinion. Other characters, sure, but I think Buffy has earned her rest.

-7

HemingwaySweater Apr 10, 2026 +20

Okay but the show is called Buffy the Vampire Slayer lol

20

[deleted] Apr 10, 2026 -10

[deleted]

-10

-Nightopian- Apr 10, 2026 +7

And that's exactly why nobody was interested in it lol.

7

Historical-Mix8865 Apr 11, 2026 +3

Exactly. It's almost as ludicrous as making 24 without Jack Bauer Oh wait, they did that. And no one watched it, and it was cancelled.

3

nothatsmyarm Apr 11, 2026 +1

Exactly. Buffy has an interesting enough world, but you’re there for the characters: for Buffy and Willow and Xander and Giles and Dawn and Tara and Anya and Spike. And a few others. There’s a reason everyone’s least favorite part of the last season is the Potentials; they’re taking time aware from the established characters we care about. This whole show was basically “Potentials: The Series” and people aren’t interested in that. Principal Wood can stay though.

1

-Nightopian- Apr 11, 2026 +3

Dawn... R.I.P. Michelle

3

foreseethefuture Apr 11, 2026 +1

I thought the last season was "Spike: Souled Vampire"

1

foreseethefuture Apr 11, 2026 +2

She was actually still in the title.

2

spaten78 Apr 11, 2026 +2

Blame both. They were not on the same page creatively.

2

jerslan Apr 11, 2026 +4

How can you be on the same page creatively with someone who A) never watched the original show and B) was proud about that because he hated the concept?

4

schmoopy_meow Apr 11, 2026 +4

I love Buffy but some things don't need a re boot and I was worried about the re boot

4

Royd Apr 12, 2026 +1

Don't blame Chloe or Conan

1

Fullblowncensorship Apr 12, 2026 +1

I don't think Hulu is to blame here, they've paid for some crazy dog shit shows, they often take chances and it's run by a lot of free spirited people. The show must have been absolute dog shit.

1

TheHumanTarget84 Apr 10, 2026 -1

Can't I blame both?

-1

whichwitch9 Apr 10, 2026 +4

No, because if Hulu wanted to go forward, it's not unusual to redo and even recast after a pilot. Pilot episodes can be very different. Instead, they burned a major bridge with Gellar, which makes it unlikely to be revisited.

4

Cute_Source5417 Apr 10, 2026 -1

we're still talking about this?

-1

kryptonmoon Apr 11, 2026 +1

don’t blame conan

1

ivyentre Apr 10, 2026 -8

Does it really have to be said? Clearly it does. Smack the ass of the elephant in the room. Without Joss Whedon, there is no well-written Buffy.

-8

Excellent-Durian-509 Apr 10, 2026 +6

Maybe 15 years ago, but his writing style is dated now.

6

astrobagel Apr 11, 2026 +6

It is dated, but it’s also the writing style that makes Buffy itself, and that’s kinda a problem.

6

HeavySpec1al Apr 10, 2026 +5

are you a bot or just daft

5

89colbert Apr 10, 2026 +3

I'm actually watching through it for the first time right now. Personally, well-written is not something that has come to mind when I'm watching. Maybe it gets better after season 2.

3

katikaboom Apr 10, 2026 +6

It absolutely does

6

Key_Reaction_5327 Apr 10, 2026 +2

lol oh honey, season 1 is famously its own thing (it's intentionally campier to be similar to the teen film that it's based on). Keep going, and it consistently matures and gets darker and more serious as the characters grow up.

2

purpleblossom Apr 11, 2026 +1

Except most of the best writing for Buffy wasn't by Whedon even during the original'a production, and he even ruined some stories because they were doing better ratings than his own stuff. He's great with premise ideas or a movie now and again but the slog of a series makes his writing stand out as immature and needlessly cruel.

1

djalekks Apr 11, 2026 +1

Bad take

1

Doom_Corp Apr 10, 2026

Joss Whedon is one of a smorgasbord of amazing writers before he hit a stylistic wall. Camp is just not exactly what a lot of people want now (I watched Serenity 3 years after it came out at 18 and hated it because it was so tropey... I'd also watched Farscape, Lexx, Babylon 5, and a f*** ton of Star Trek). 90s broody is not the same as vampire diaries broody etc. I watched Buffy from the beginning. I had the Buffy and Angel dvd collection! But as I got older...I wondered why this charterer spends 5 minutes punching vampires before doing ludicrous somersaults and acrobatics before staking them. I waited for ages to see the first Avengers film and when I saw it...it had every. single. stupid. comedy trope JW likes to use. I wish I hadn't spent money on it.

0

MommaOfManyCats Apr 10, 2026 -2

I think it was more having a show called Buffy where Buffy was basically a glorified cameo.

-2

Educational_Leg7360 Apr 11, 2026 -3

i’ve seen “Eternals,” so i wouldn’t be surprised it sucked

-3

datknee56 Apr 10, 2026 -10

Who cares Joss Whedon sucks

-10

SirRichardLove Apr 10, 2026 +9

He was not involved.

9

CigarLover Apr 11, 2026

Why? Im more curious as to why they changed their mind.

0

purpleblossom Apr 11, 2026 +1

An executive at Hulu for the project was very vocal he hated the premise of the show and never watched the original. You can extrapolate from there why they canned it.

1

CigarLover Apr 11, 2026 +1

I don’t get. Did the executive greenlit it and then canned it? Makes no sense. Is that not like hiring someone and then firing them the next day for something you knew during the hiring process?

1

purpleblossom Apr 11, 2026 +2

No, he didn't greenlight it, the project was given to him after it was greenlit.

2

CigarLover Apr 11, 2026 +1

So whole ever greenlit it was lower ranked in the company and then he canned it? Back to this being weird….

1

purpleblossom Apr 11, 2026 +1

Not sure I would say it was lower ranked after being greenlit when it had an Oscar winning director attached to the project. What is weird is that the higher ups allowed a single man to can it over a personal opinion (that he wasn't shy about sharing) meaning they lost money after having done the pilot already and knowing they had an audience already for this show.

1

AlanShore60607 Apr 11, 2026

Here’s a thought. You have a pilot. Drop it and see how it does, and make your decision based on the responses

0

SmooshedLion Apr 12, 2026 +1

Here’s a thought. They’d have to pay everyone something else since now they are releasing something they didn’t intend to do unless they picked it up to series. Now they have to pay X,Y,Z. Why would it matter? It sucks.

1

Ignoranceincarnate Apr 11, 2026 -1

Why would I blame Chloe? I’m angrier now knowing that she was attached to it.

-1

[deleted] Apr 11, 2026 -4

[removed]

-4

V2Blast Apr 11, 2026 +2

Google is free.

2

Scared_Pen_6519 Apr 12, 2026 +1

WTF is google

1

ozgun1414 Apr 11, 2026 -5

if the series was about old buffy mentoring new buffy for new adventures, it wouldve been hit. hulu wouldve gone with it. but, as always, smg only wanted to use her name to promote it without being in it enough and doing the work. she probably was in it only for a couple of sentences and thought it would be easy money without doing any work and rightfully hulu called her out. cause they know it would be risk without her. she shouldve played a role in it at least the same amount of giles in original series, being the new mentor. but im sure smg didnt want to do that.

-5

jerslan Apr 11, 2026 +3

SMG came out and said it was cancelled because they had an exec who was ***proud*** of never having watched the original because he hated the whole concept.

3

ozgun1414 Apr 11, 2026 -1

what else could she say really? exes said she was barely in it, that resulted with some rewrites and even with changes she was barely in it. a buffy series without buffy. i dont blame them. [https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/buffy-reboot-dead-hulu-sarah-michelle-gellar-chloe-zhao-1236692284/](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/buffy-reboot-dead-hulu-sarah-michelle-gellar-chloe-zhao-1236692284/)

-1

Why ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Sequel Died: Blame Hulu, Not Chloé Zhao

💬 Send a Message

83 Comments