Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s rebootwill see Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular heroine step up to teach a new Slayer how to face the forces of darkness, but certain characters are essential to continue the tale of the Slayers. From 1997 to 2003, the supernatural drama followed Buffy Summers as she challenged the rising legions of terrors that descended upon Sunnydale alongside her friends.Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s seven seasonssaw Buffy and her friends not only rise to face the terrors of the night but also gather new allies, both human and supernatural.
However, withBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s upcoming reboot, a new Slayer played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong will take up the responsibilities Buffy and her “Scooby Gang” held, with Gellar returning in a recurring role. As such, the series will be a new entry that can give a new audience their own Slayer to follow, as opposed to leaning on the nostalgia of the original series. Despite this, there are several longtime characters whose returns can add layers to the world and please longtime fans.
7Willow Rosenberg
Buffy’s Closest Friend Could Play A Part Mentoring A New Slayer
One character who feels essential toBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s return is Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), Buffy’s shy, unconfident, nerdy best friend. Across the original series, her trials and tribulations both at school and in the fight against evil helped Willow grow and become more self-assured, as she developed a mastery of magic and embraced her sexuality when falling for fellow witch Tara (Amber Benson). As such, Willow emerged as one of the most recognizable and beloved characters of the original series, as fans resonated with her struggles and growth.
Willow could also help mentor the new Slayer, and potentially any of her friends. When Buffy was introduced to new potential Slayers, she was often in conflict with them and struggled as a teacher. As such, with Buffy being left to mentor Armstrong’s character, the pair could perhaps find it difficult to understand one another, with Willow being brought in to aid the pair. Furthermore, spin-offAngelestablished that Willow had been traveling the globe to grow her power, so her return would be a good way to show her growth.
6Rupert Giles
Buffy’s Mentor Could Offer The Slayer One Last Lesson In Passing Down The Torch
With Buffy being placed into the role of mentor, another character whose return could further enrich Buffy’s role in the story is Rupert Giles (Anthony Head). As a Watcher, Giles was tasked with mentoring Buffy along the path of the Slayer, though their relationship would grow into one between a father and a daughter. When the series concluded, he joined Buffy in training a new generation of Slayers from across the globe.
As such,the series could see Head reprise the role of Giles and allow audiences to see Buffy take after her mentor, learning the responsibilities of passing on their duties and showing how far she has come. Head recently reprised his role as Giles in the audio drama,Slayers: A Buffyverse Story,so he has been open to returning as the famed Watcher. Furthermore, Giles was set to receive a spin-off titledRipperthat ultimately never came to be, so an appearance in the reboot could incorporate concepts from this scrapped series.
5Faith LeHane
Faith Could Have The Chance To Claim The Life She Deserved
Of course, the expansion of the order of Slayers means that Eliza Dushku’s Faith LeHane should make a return. Within the original series,Faith was a rival Slayer whose troubled past made it difficult for her to fit in with the Scooby Gang, ultimately pushing her onto darker paths. Despite her struggles with darkness that left her with an incredible sense of self-loathing, she would undertake a path of redemption across the latter seasons ofBuffy the Vampire SlayerandAngelthat helped her heal.
As such, given her long road to recovery, having Faith appear in theBuffy the Vampire Slayerreboot can explore how the weight of being a Slayer can take its toll, but more importantly, give the character a satisfying end that shows how far her character has come. Faith has had a long, troubled history, sogiving her a chance to show her growth on screen would be cathartic for many fans. Furthermore,Faith was another option to receive a spin-offfollowing her on globe-trotting adventures, so her return could canonize the pitch of her motorcycling her way across the Earth, delivering justice against evil in her own way.
4Daniel ‘Oz’ Osborne
Oz Offers A New Angle Of The Supernatural To The Universe
Though he was a later addition to the Scooby Gang, Daniel ‘Oz’ Osborne (Seth Green) nevertheless stood out because of the unique challenges he brought to the series. Alongside the high school dramas his and Willow’s relationship brought,Oz was a werewolf and had to learn to grapple with his Lycanthropy, with the help of his friends. While he gained control, he ultimately left Sunnydale in season 4.
Oz’s post-Buffyrole in the franchise’s expanded media saw him often pass on what he learned to fellow werewolves, forming communities and only coming to Buffy’s aid in desperate situations. As such, it may be more difficult to envision a way for him to return in a manner that feels like satisfying way. As such,Oz’s return could be a singular appearance that just allows audiences to catch up with the character,or perhaps introduce other supernatural forces to the reboot’s universe.
3Angel
Angel’s Own Spin-Off Left His Story Unresolved
While he may have been offered significantly more screentime by leading his own spin-off series, David Boreanaz’s Angel is also a character whose return feels essential to theBuffy the Vampire Slayerreboot. While he debuted as a complicated love interest and enemy due to his vampire nature, Angel’s role in the series shifted back and forth from Buffy’s partner to her enemy across the first three seasons.Angel left Sunnydale at the end of season 3, leading his own show as he started a paranormal detective agency in Los Angeles.
However,Angel’s finaleleft the titular characterin a dire situation in its season 5 series finale “Not Fade Away”,as they stood before a horde of supernatural terrors in a battle that the TV series left unanswered. While Angel survived in the canonical comic book continuation, his fate is now unknown in the reboot. There are also challenges in bringing Angel back, as he is supposed to be an ageless vampire, and over 20 years have passed since Boreanaz last played the role.
2Spike
Spike’s Return Can Address The Unresolved Romance Between Him & Buffy
Another character whose post-Angelfate would require answering is that of Spike, James Marsters' vampire, who walked a far more morally ambiguous line than Angel. While he started as an outright enemy, Spike would grow into a reluctant ally and even lover of Buffy, giving his life in the series finale. However, he would be resurrected inAngelseason 5 and eventually join Angel in his last stand, he too being part of the show’s ambiguous ending.
Given his ambiguous end and the character’s popularity, an appearance by Spike would also draw in viewers looking for answers and those wanting to see Marsters step back into the role. Furthermore,Angelestablished thatSpike’s feelings for Buffy remainedeven after his revival, given his jealousy over the Immortal and hers' supposed romance. As such, Spike’s return could give the Buffy reboot the opportunity to address whether a spark remained between the Slayer and the vampire.
1Kennedy
A Return Could Help Do The Controversial Character Justice
Of course, with Buffy set to mentor a new Slayer, one major question that must be resolved is the aftermath of season 7, as Buffy and the Scooby Gang had unintentionally shattered the cycle of Slayers, allowing multiple Slayers to co-exist at the same time. One such girl who found herself assuming the mantle of Slayer is Kennedy (Iyari Limon), who joins Buffy in her fight in the final season. Kennedy also found herself becoming romantically involved with Willow, and is established as traveling the globe with her in Angel.
In terms of a character who could return, Kennedy is controversial among fans due to how her relationship with Willow was handled. However, as one of the more notable potential Slayers to debut in season 7, her involvement could help theBuffy the Vampire Slayerreboot explore the new Slayer system now that it is free of following a Chosen One prophecy. Furthermore,in the hands of the right writer, Kennedy and Willow’s relationship could perhaps be framed in a new light, showing growth from Kennedy that could make her into a far more well-received figure even among old fans.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sequel Series
Cast
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series puts a brand new slayer in the spotlight and carries on the continuity of the iconic seven-season original series. Sarah Michelle Gellar returns as the titular Buffy Summers in a supporting role.
