Buffy the Vampire Slayer still remains one of the most successful and beloved genre shows after over twenty years. The fan base is still loyal and rabid and its legacy still lives on in the forms of collectibles, toys, and comics.
With that in mind, it’s surprising that it doesn’t seem to have a lasting impact on television in the manner of shows like Star Trek or Doctor Who. Buffy’s single spinoff, Angel, only lasted one year beyond the end of its parent series.
However, that hasn’t stopped numerous attempts to get something new off the ground over the years. With talk once again circulating of a new reboot at Fox, there’s no better time to look back on the lengthy history of Buffy spinoffs that almost happened over the years— or that even did happen, but never aired.
Some of these stories would have reimagined that world for a new generation, while others would have (like Angel) followed specific characters on their further adventures.
For the purposes of this list, we’ll be looking at spinoffs, reboots, revivals and everything in between. If it was officially written, developed or pitched, then it’s fair game.
Here are the 15 Crazy Things You Never Knew About Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Failed Spinoffs.
15. Eliza Dushku Turned Down Faith Because She Didn’t Want to Rush Back Into the Character
The very first planned spinoff after the end of Buffy was something of a no-brainer. The show was still popular and still had an audience, so fans already wanted to see more. It seemed to only make sense to finally pass the torch along from Buffy to her fellow slayer, Faith.
Played by Eliza Dushku, Faith had been one of the few characters to be a core part of both Buffy and Angel, even though she appeared sporadically. Her character began as a foil for Buffy, then a full-fledged villain, sparking a long and complicated redemption arc.
Dushku was pitched the idea for Faith the Vampire Slayer while filming the last episode of Buffy, which proved to be part of the problem.
Everyone else was hanging up their hat after an exhaustive shooting process and she simply couldn’t see herself going into a new series as this character immediately from the end of Buffy without any kind of break.
14. The Spike Movie Was Canceled When WB Became CW
One of the most anticipated spinoffs would have centered on fan-favorite vampire with a soul, Spike. As one of the most complicated, consistently entertaining characters on both Buffy and Angel, Spike would have gone on to star in his own spinoff movie following the cancellation of Angel.
It came incredibly close to happening, too. A script was written, James Marsters was set to reprise the role, Tim Minear— who had directed many Angel and Firefly episodes— was set to direct the made-for-TV movie.
However, then WB underwent a monumental shift and rebranded itself as the CW. Determined to stand tall as a brand-new network, it elected to sever nearly all ties with previous shows and start with a new slate of original programming.
Spike was tossed to the wayside to instead focus on the then-new similarly themed program, Supernatural.
13. Ripper Would Have Seen Giles Fighting Ghosts on the BBC
After the success of Angel, Ripper was the first new Buffy spinoff to be considered. The title comes from the nickname given to Giles in his youth, during his darker, demon-worshipping days.
This planned miniseries would have dealt with Giles after his decision to return to England in Buffy’s sixth season.
It was in the earliest stages of development when Buffy was actually still on the air, before it had even been announced that season seven would be the end.
Even after the end of Buffy, Ripper was on the fast track. The script was written by Joss Whedon himself. Anthony Stewart Head was excited to return and praised the writing.
The BBC was also incredibly excited due to Buffy being a huge hit in the UK. However, after years of attempts, it never materialized, though Head has still talked about how much he would love to do it in recent years.
12. The Spike Movie Would Have Co-Starred Illyria
While details are mostly slim as to exactly what the Spike movie would have been about, Amy Acker revealed on a panel in 2005 that Illyria would have had a major role in the movie as well.
That would have been incredibly exciting, as Illyria was a complicated and interesting character introduced only a few episodes before Angel’s cancellation. Illyria and Spike also shared an interesting character dynamic as well and had proved to have great, strictly platonic chemistry.
This would have been great to allow her character to develop further, especially if the TV movie led to a full Spike series.
However, even though it never did get explored on the screen, the Spike/Illyria dynamic was heavily expanded upon in the Angel comic series.
11. Whedon Wanted to Do A Series of DVD Exclusive Spinoff Movies
In an interview with Buffy Magazine some time after the cancellation of Angel, Joss Whedon mentioned that numerous spinoffs were in the works— which was true as both Ripper and Spike were being developed at the time— and that he even wanted to produce a series of straight-to-DVD movies to spin off some of the characters from both shows.
While straight-to-DVD almost sounds like a dirty word these days, this was at the height of the format and Whedon saw its potential, especially after Buffy box sets sold incredibly well.
While no specific plans were mentioned as to who or what the DVD movies would be about, names like "Gunn" and "Willow" were thrown around specifically.
Some of the cast seemed hesitant when questioned about returning for strictly direct-to-video fare, though, which may be a part of the reason why these never came to fruition.
10. Buffy Animated Would’ve Reunited the Entire Cast Except Sarah Michelle Gellar
One of the biggest and seemingly easiest ways Mutant Enemy tried to keep the Buffy brand rolling was in the form of an animated series.
Whedon partnered with comics legend— and now head of Marvel Television— Jeph Loeb to produce it. Whedon even brought over the same writing team from the live-action series in order to keep its distinct style and flavor intact.
What’s most exciting, though, is that the entire cast of the series would have returned to voice their characters in animation— with one major exception.
Sarah Michelle Gellar declined the offer to return of the animated series. It’s not a total loss, though, because the role went to Giselle Loren, who had voiced Buffy in both of the video games.
Fans at the time were already used to hearing her voice as the character and she blended well among the rest of the cast.
9. David Boreanaz Turned Down An Angel Revival
While Buffy’s ending was planned and the series got to have its swan song, Angel was not as lucky. Whedon pressed for information about whether or not the series was going to be renewed, leading the network to simply cancel it altogether, though they mainly cited that the show was simply to expensive to keep on the air.
The creative team then found themselves halfway through filming the season and trying to find ways to wrap up the entire series.
However, hope was not altogether lost. Many people at the network cited the cancellation of Angel as a mistake.
Talk began of potential TV movies, possibly a series of them, to revive the show—which could even have led to a revival.
Everyone was relieved with the major exception of series star David Boreanaz, who flat-out refused, saying he would only return to play the character in a big-budgeted theatrical motion picture.
8. Sarah Michelle Gellar Wanted to Return for the Reboot to Mentor a New Slayer
A few years ago, for a brief period of time, news of a Buffy reboot began circulating so much that it almost seemed to be a surefire thing. Sarah Michelle Gellar was even rumored to return in some capacity.
While this rumor turned out to be false, the actress said she would be more than happy to actually make that dream come true. She wanted to return essentially as a Watcher, to mentor and guide the upcoming slayer.
No other real details were given about the project at the time except that it was rumored to star Vanessa Hudgens and that Joss Whedon would not be involved in any capacity.
While nothing ever came of this attempt, Fox has said recently that they would love to reboot Buffy— but only if Joss Whedon was involved.
7. James Marsters Says He’s Too Old to Reprise Spike Now
When the Spike movie got held up in limbo, Marsters gave Whedon and co. a five year window, saying that after that it would be completely unbelievable for him to continue to play this vampire that wasn’t supposed to age, which is really a more than fair assessment.
Marsters first played Spike twenty years ago now and has definitely aged since then.
While digital technology could help de-age him, it’s an extremely expensive process that wouldn’t be a reality for a made-for-TV movie, especially for the lead role.
Despite that, Marsters hasn’t completely said no and has still talked about the remote possibility of reprising the character in recent years, even while admitting that he’s certainly a bit too old to play him at this point.
6. Slayer School Would Have Seen Willow Mentoring a New Generation of Slayers
Another idea that would have continued the Buffy legacy in a very organic way from the end of the series, Jane Espenson’s treatment for Slayer School would have focused on the potentials introduced in Buffy’s seventh season coming into their own as full-fledged slayers.
In the series finale, every girl in the world with the potential to become a slayer was granted the power of the slayer. However, there was a lot of room left to explore what that might mean and how it could work.
Slayer School would have answered those questions, with Espenson saying that Willow was planned to return at least in some capacity. Dawn was also rumored to be involved, which would have made complete sense.
Even though she was the same age as the potentials, her experience gave her an edge that often allowed her to mentor them. Unfortunately, this one never really moved beyond the initial concept.
5. A Full Season of Buffy Animated Was Written
Frustratingly, even though not a single episode of Buffy: The Animated Series ever aired, an entire season was written.
The season would have consisted of thirteen episodes, each from one of the writers of the flagship series, keeping the show’s heart and flavor intact. Considering just how much of this series was developed, it’s an absolute shame that nobody ever picked it up.
The series would have been set in high school, sort of seeing Buffy return to those early days for brand-new, more kid-friendly adventures.
The excitement for the writers also included being able to come up with monsters that they could never have conceived on the show’s relatively low budget. It’s unknown if these new adventures were meant to tie into canon or if the show would have been its own continuity, though the latter seems far more likely.
4. James Marsters’ Spike Graphic Novel Was Based on His Own Pitch for the Movie
Despite the fact that Buffy has been off the air for so long, several actors from the show have returned to write for the comics— which is a commitment to a love of the material that is rarely seen for any TV show— including Amber Benson, Nicholas Brendon and James Marsters.
Recently, Marsters penned a Spike graphic novel titled Into the Light, set roughly around Buffy’s seventh season. It’s a small, self-contained story about Spike figuring out his place now that he has a soul, as well as attempting to buy a new pair of shoes.
Interestingly enough, this was based off of Marsters’ own ideas for the Spike movie. While it wasn’t the pitch they eventually went for, this was the story he initially pitched to Joss.
Once Tim Minear came on board as director, it seems that the decision was made to carry on more directly from the end of Angel and address its cliffhanger ending. Ultimately, that didn’t come to pass either.
3. Rights Issues Prevented Ripper From Being Made
Out of all of the Buffy spinoffs that almost happened, Ripper still stands out as being one that fans most wanted to see. Whedon had written the script himself.
Anthony Stewart Head was more than happy to reprise his role as Giles. The BBC was eager to get involved. Locations were being scouted, production offices were being set up. And then it just didn’t happen. Negotiations persisted for years after it initially fell apart, but it still could not come together.
As it turns out, because of Buffy’s full ownership by 20th Century Fox, there were rights issues over the character of Giles that prevented the spinoff from happening on the BBC.
Whedon and the Mutant Enemy team attempted to step around that, but it just didn’t wind up happening and the series eventually simply couldn’t come to pass.
2. Many Ideas From the Spinoffs Were Re-Used in the Comics
Because none of these spinoffs ever got off the ground, it was something of a relief when it was announced that Buffy would be returning in a 2007 comic series with Whedon at the helm titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight.
That series has continued without a hitch for over ten years now, with the title gearing up to begin Season Twelve this summer. It’s no surprise that this continuing canonical comic series would borrow from the spinoff ideas that never came to fruition.
For example, Giles’ mystical aunts introduced in Angel & Faith were directly lifted from Whedon’s script for Ripper. Spike: Into the Light is based of Marsters’ own pitch for the Spike movie.
Buffy: The Animated Series even gets its day in a special issue of Season Eight from the would-be-show’s animator, providing a taste of what the series would have been like had it happened.
1. There’s a Completed Pilot for Buffy: The Animated Series
While none of these spinoffs ever truly came to fruition, there is at least one that fans can actually see a glimpse of. A seven-minute pilot was created for Buffy: The Animated Series to showcase how the series would have worked and what it would have felt like.
The pilot feels like a condensed full episode of an animated series.
It reintroduced Buffy and her friends and showed action sequences and monsters that could never have been pulled from the live-action series.
It’s great for fans just to hear actors like Anthony Stewart Head, Nicholas Brendon, and Alyson Hannigan reprise their roles. While Giselle Loren doesn’t sound like Sarah Michelle Gellar, she does believably sounds like Buffy.
Recently, Nicholas Brendon said that he still wished the animated show could have gotten off the ground and sees it as a missed opportunity.
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