Dolly Parton, the iconic country music legend, has provided an update on the anticipated “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot, revealing that efforts to bring the series back to life are still underway after being momentarily halted in 2022. The 78-year-old artist, who was an uncredited producer of the original 1990s series and the 1992 film it’s based on, expressed that plans are in motion to revive and revamp the beloved show.
In a recent statement to Business Insider, Parton disclosed, “They’re still working on that. They’re thinking about bringing it back and revamping it.” Parton played a behind-the-scenes role in the original series, which starred Sarah Michelle Geller, and the film, featuring Luke Perry and Kristy Swanson.
The attempted revival of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” has a complex history. Director/producer Fran Rubel Kuzui aimed to reboot the series with a new movie in 2009. However, the project faced criticism for not involving the show’s creator, Joss Whedon. In 2018, a new attempt at a “Buffy” reboot was announced, with Whedon and Monica Owusu-Breen collaborating on a proposed version with a Black lead, according to Deadline.
Parton, despite residing in Nashville while the show was filmed in Los Angeles, shared that she was actively involved in the original series’ production. She worked closely with the team through discussions, emphasizing the collective effort behind the success of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
“I have to give more people more credit on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ than me,” Parton acknowledged. “A lot of people did so much sweat on that. That little show did great.”
The news of a “Buffy” reboot has not been without controversy. When details about the upcoming series emerged, fans expressed concerns that beloved characters might be replaced or altered. However, the showrunner, Monica Owusu-Breen, addressed these concerns, assuring fans that the intention is not to replace the original characters but rather to introduce a new Slayer.
“There is only one Buffy,” Owusu-Breen stated. “But here we are, twenty years later… And the world seems a lot scarier. So maybe, it could be time to meet a new Slayer.”
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” originally premiered in the spring of 1997, inspired by the 1992 movie written by Joss Whedon. The TV series, which aired for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003 on The WB network, gained immense popularity and became a cultural phenomenon. The show expanded into the ‘Buffyverse’ with the spin-off series “Angel,” along with numerous novels and comic books.
The narrative centered around Buffy, a teenage girl tasked with battling vampires and other supernatural entities. The show seamlessly blended action with soap opera elements, portraying Buffy navigating not only the challenges of combating blood-sucking demons but also the trials of adolescence, relationships, and loss.
As the reboot of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” continues to be in progress, fans await updates on how the beloved series will be reimagined for a new generation of viewers.