Sarah Michelle Gellar lands jab at cancelled Buffy reboot during Emmys

By Mashable | Created at 2026-09-15 11:51:07 | Updated at 2026-09-15 13:05:57 1 hour ago

The vampire slayer knows how to drive home a point.

 By 

Shannon Connellan

 on September 15, 2026

Sarah Michelle Gellar landed a perfect smack to the cancellation of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot on the Emmys stage.

Joined by her Buffy co-star David Boreaneaz to present Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, the star took one moment to drive a stake through the heart of the unrealised series.

"You know, Sarah, I always through that Buffy and Angel would end up together,” said Boreaneaz.

"Well, I guess we won't find out," responded Gellar.

Gellar, who played vampire slayer Buffy Summers for seven seasons of the series from 1997 to 2003, had been working with director Chloé Zhao on a reboot, with Hulu and Searchlight Television on board. In March 2026, Gellar told People she got a call at SXSW and was told the series wasn't happening after all: "I was just about to take the stage in front of all the fans. Hulu had decided not to move forward with the Buffy revival. Let me tell you, nobody saw this coming."

For Buffy fans, the ceremony had a more heartbreaking moment, with the Emmys' "In Memoriam" segment paying tribute to late actor Anthony Head, who played debonair librarian and Watcher Rupert Giles in the series.

For everything that happened at the 2026 Emmys, we've got you covered.

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts.

A photo portrait of a journalist with blonde hair and a band t-shirt.

Shannon Connellan is Mashable's Senior Editor, General Assignments, based in London. She has been Mashable's UK Editor (and still manages the illustrious UK team) and Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives searching for Exit 8. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror, and loves to nerd out with movie stars, filmmakers, and TV creators.

These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Read Entire Article