Buffy Reboot Calls for a Black Female Lead
- Gabriel Ross
- Jul 21, 2018
- 3 min read
It’s been 15 years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired its final episode back in 2003. Now, with so many nostalgic shows being remade and rebooted, it was only a matter of time before Buffy received the same treatment. In the last few years whenever talks of a Buffy reboot would surface, I’d have my own personal panic attack just because Buffy is my absolute favorite show ever and it’d be hard to see it suffer in the wrong hands. The only saving grace in my mind would be if the series creator, Joss Whedon, had a hand in the developing process. Quite frankly, without Joss, there is no Buffy.
Do yo thing Joss! Work that Slayer magic!
As some of you may have already heard, a Buffy reboot is no longer a rumor but is now a reality. The new series will have Joss Whedon as executive producer 😆😭🙌🏾 and Monica Owusu-Breen (Charmed, Alias, Lost, Fringe) as showrunner. The new series is not yet attached to a network, but it seems obvious to me that it would be best suited for The CW. Although, it’d be interesting to see how Joss would push the envelope if the series were to be distributed through Netflix.
The new series will obviously come with some new changes. The biggest so far, being that they want a black female lead to play Buffy. I love the idea and I welcome the conversations that it will bring. However, I do think changing the race of the character would, in turn, change several things about the Buffy we’ve come to know. Depending on their plans for the new series, I think changing Buffy’s race could have different outcomes; both good and bad. In order to separate itself from the original series, this new incarnation will have to give us new characters to support a black Buffy. This would give fans a fresh new feel for a show that they already love. If their plan is to retell the original story with new faces, then Buffy’s race change will stand out too much and could potentially render the show boring for those who’ve already watched the original.
Others: Buffy CAN’T be black! Me: *Push
This is what makes remakes and reboots tricky. Take Charmed for example. People seem pretty upset over the direction of the Charmed reboot, but I think the producers of the reboot didn’t really have much of a choice. Since they weren’t bringing back the original actresses, they needed to create new characters built around the premise of the original show. This creates enough room for new material for a show that’s already worked well in the past. It’s tough on the fans who want to see more of the characters that they love, but I think there should be some openness about welcoming in new characters. So, in my mind especially with Buffy’s race change, I hope Joss and Owusu-Breen take on this approach for the Buffy reboot.
For those who are concerned about Buffy being black, let me remind you that the original Slayer was of African descent. The original series also featured Kendra Young, a Jamaican Slayer, in Season 2. So Buffy being black actually makes total sense. Buffy broke convention, bended genres, and left an incredible legacy; one that has new viewers discovering and fanning over the show to this day. I’m hopeful for this reboot. Sarah Michelle Gellar will always be my Buffy, but I’m excited to see a new Buffy for the next generation of fans. From the sounds of it, this one’s already breaking conventions just like her predecessor. 😊✌🏾
You can read more about the reboot and Joss’ thoughts on bringing the series back, here. All seven seasons of the original Buffy (and the 1992 movie) are currently streaming on Hulu. Let me know your thoughts down below on the series and what you think of the plans for the reboot so far! ^___^
From now on, every girl who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer. – Buffy 7.22 “Chosen”
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