While the Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival will give fans the chance to see Sarah Michelle Gellar's beloved character again, some familiar faces likely won't return. The upcoming revival, called Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, will arrive in 2026 on Hulu and will pass the slayer-fighting torch to Nova (Ryan Kiera Armstrong). With some impressive talent behind it, including Hamnet and Eternals director Chloé Zhao, who directed the pilot episode, not to mention the love fans still have for the 1990s sci-fi/action/coming-of-age series, it's no wonder there's a lot of buzz behind the project.
From Buffy's terrifying villains known as "Big Bads" to the relatable storylines about life, love, and friendship, there's a lot to appreciate about the seven-season series. Hopefully, the Buffy revival will feature the original's unique combination of emotional moments and exciting battle scenes, along with some appearances from past characters. But while some, like Buffy's best friend Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), seem like obvious choices for cameos, however brief, other staples of Sunnydale might not appear.
6 Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Seasons 1 through 3 wouldn't be the same without Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter), the smarter-than-she-appears high schooler who is skeptical of newcomer Buffy Summers. However, while it's tough to imagine the original series without Cordelia's fresh twist on the quintessential mean girl trope, it's even harder to see a place for her in the Buffy revival.
Carpenter left the OG show after Season 3, and Cordelia became Angel's (David Boreanaz) partner on the spin-off Angel, which saw them become detectives looking into the paranormal. This partnership doesn't last, though. Cordelia tragically dies in Angel Season 5. So, while she's one of the most complex Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters, it's hard to see how she could come back. While she might appear in a flashback, that might not serve the story since she wouldn't be connected to Buffy's adult life or Nova's experiences as the new slayer.
5 Faith Lehane
Faith Lehane (Eliza Dushku) in a scene from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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Another beloved Slayer who makes Buffy's life complicated (but in the most compelling way possible), Faith (Eliza Dushku) is a great contrast to Buffy's cheerful nature and desire to fit in and live a regular life. Faith doesn't care if anyone likes her, and that makes her captivating. Since Faith is one of the strongest Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters, both mentally and physically, it would be fun to see her and Buffy all grown up, facing new evil or sharing what they've learned with Nova. There could be at least one epic battle scene here.
However, it seems fairly unlikely that the actress would say yes to a cameo on the Buffy revival. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in early December 2025, Dushku shared that she stopped acting and received her clinical mental health counseling master's degree at Lesley University.
4 Angel
Buffy and Angel on Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
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Is Buffy married in the upcoming revival, in a serious relationship, or single? Given the lack of plot details so far, fans are more than a little curious about what her life looks like today. When thinking about Buffy's romantic entanglements, it's impossible not to feel nostalgic about her love story with Angel, the good vampire who steals her heart in Season 1.
Although there is a possibility that Angel could come back, that doesn't seem likely. When Sarah Michelle Gellar posted about the Buffy revival on Instagram in February 2025, David Boreanaz's comments on her social media suggested he isn't going to be part of it. Since so much time has passed since the couple's complicated time together, from their chemistry-filled first meeting to their disastrous first time in Season 2, Episode 14, "Innocence," it makes sense to leave this popular character in the past.
3 Xander Harris
Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) on Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
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Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) is a member of the beloved Scooby Gang and plays a key role in Buffy's adjustment to her new life in Sunnydale. Sure, some viewers find him frustrating and think he tends to complain too much, and when compared to Buffy's villains with complex character arcs, he's arguably a bit boring. Still, it's possible to appreciate his support for his friends and his general can-do attitude. Xander's surprising but sweet relationship with Cordelia is also an important part of the beginning of the series.
If Buffy reunited with some old friends, including Willow, it would be easy to see Xander coming back, too, in a nostalgia-filled episode that finds the Scooby Gang fighting a vampire like the good old days. However, given Brendon's many arrests, including a 2015 arrest for a "domestic disturbance," as noted by PEOPLE, it's hard to say that he would be asked back for the revival.
2 Anya Jenkins
Anya Jenkins on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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Anya Jenkins (Emma Caulfield) stands out among the other main Buffy characters since she starts off as a vengeance demon. Her dramatic romance with Xander proves that, even a few seasons in, the show still has a knack for telling captivating love stories, even amongst all the battles, tribulations, and that time Buffy died and came back to life (who could forget that?). Some Buffy moments are awkward to watch today, but Anya is always a fun, surprising character.
Since Anya passed away in the series finale "Chosen," she's another OG character who might not return. Sure, she could appear as a ghost to Buffy, or Buffy could have a sweet, emotional memory of their time together. That probably won't happen, though, and the focus will likely remain on Nova and the new characters. There needs to be a legitimate reason to bring back the people who were once a big part of Buffy's world.
1 Tara Maclay
Tara Maclay on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The WB
There are a lot of cool details that fans notice when revisiting Buffy, but even a casual viewer can attest to the important relationship between Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) and Willow. One of the earliest LGBTQ+ romances on a popular TV show, Tara and Willow have a beautiful bond, although of course, it's tested by evil forces at every turn. Even though Tara first appears in Season 4, Episode 10, "Hush," it's easy to feel like she's always been part of Buffy and Willow's worlds.
Unfortunately, Tara is shot and killed in Season 6, Episode 19, "Seeing Red," which is not only one of the most upsetting moments on the series, but also makes her revival appearance unlikely. Like Anya, Tara could be a ghost, but that might not be the right vibe for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival. The new show's tone should be influenced by the original's balance of grounded storylines and supernatural villains.
Source: THR.com, People.com
