The Hellmouth is rumbling once more, and a new Chosen One has risen. In a heartfelt and emotional reveal, original Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar introduced 15-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the lead in Hulu’s upcoming reboot of the iconic series.
The Original Slayer Anoints Her New Protégé for Buffy Reboot
After months of anticipation following Hulu’s pilot order for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, fans finally have their first look at the next generation of vampire-slaying talent. In a heartwarming Instagram post shared on Thursday, Gellar, who is returning to her legendary role as Buffy Summers, introduced Armstrong as her new “right-hand slayer.”
The reveal captured a genuine and touching exchange between Gellar and Armstrong, marking a powerful passing of the torch moment.
“I know this process has been hard, and there’s been so many parts,” Gellar, 48, began, noting she had been away from the country. “There was just sort of one part of it that I just wanted to ask you, and I wanted to make sure that you were okay with: How do you feel about helping me save the world?”
Stunned by the offer, Armstrong responded hesitantly but affirmatively with a simple, “Good.”
“You want to be my chosen one?” Gellar asked. “Will you stand by my side and save the world?”
Overcome with emotion, Armstrong teared up as Gellar continued with heartfelt praise.
“Ryan, we all love you, and from the second we all saw your tape, there was nobody else in our eyes that could do it, that we wanted to do it with,” she revealed. “And I am so excited to stand by your side and have you be my partner on this journey.”
Armstrong, clearly moved, whispered, “This is so exciting,” to which Gellar playfully responded, “I hope it’s a yes!”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Armstrong said enthusiastically. “For sure, yes. Thank you. I’m so excited.”
“Welcome to new Sunnydale,” Gellar added, referencing the fictional town where the original series took place.
Armstrong expressed gratitude for the opportunity, thanking Gellar for “trusting me” with such a major role in the still-untitled revival.
“Ryan, you earned it,” Gellar replied. “There’s nobody else in any of our eyes. You are our chosen one.”
“I’m so honored,” Armstrong said before Gellar encouraged her to call over her father to join the celebration.
“I just kind of overheard what was happening here, and I know that this is exactly where she’s supposed to be right now: With you on this insane, insane new journey,” her father shared.
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In her caption, Gellar expressed deep admiration for Armstrong’s abilities, stating she knew immediately that the young actress was the perfect choice after seeing her audition.
“To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room. Welcome to #NewSunnydale #btvs,” she wrote.
Who is Ryan Kiera Armstrong?
Born on March 10, 2010, in New York City, she is the youngest of five children to actor Dean Armstrong and Dr. Berta Bacic. Ryan began her acting career in 2017, portraying Minnie May Barry in the Canadian series Anne with an E.
Her breakout role came in 2022 when she starred as Charlie McGee in the film Firestarter, a remake of the Stephen King classic. She has also appeared in notable projects such as It Chapter Two, Black Widow, The Tomorrow War, and the anthology series American Horror Story: Red Tide. In 2024, she took on the role of Fern in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
What We Know So Far About Hulu’s Buffy Reboot
The yet-to-be-named reboot is being helmed by Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, known for Nomadland and Eternals. Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, acclaimed for their work on Poker Face, will serve as showrunners, writers, and executive producers. The series is described as “the next chapter in the Buffyverse,” focusing on a new Slayer while honoring the legacy of the original.
Gellar will reprise her iconic role as Buffy in a recurring capacity and also serve as an executive producer. Joining her are original producers Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui, Kaz Kuzui, and Dolly Parton, who was previously an uncredited producer on the original series.
While an exact release date has not been announced, the series is currently in the early stages of production. In the meantime, fans can revisit the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer series by streaming it on Hulu.
Source: People