In this current era of remakes and reboots, it's not surprising that popular genre franchises get re-imagined and re-packaged. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been rumored to be rebooted for the last decade, but there's one fundamental reason it hasn't gotten any traction for the last couple of years; it's difficult to reboot something that's been so influential to every show that's come after it.
Reboots can take several directions, and be made for reasons ranging from cash grabs to updating material for a new generation. But assuming for the moment that Buffy, the coming-of-age series about a teenager and her friends balancing homework, dating, and slaying vampires could actually be recast, who today could fill the roles of the legendary original ensemble?
Xander: Aidan Gallagher
Like the lone member of a superhero squad without a superpower, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) often used humor to deflect the fact that surrounded by so many powerful witches, Watchers, and Slayers, he felt ineffectual. His friends cherished his daring spirit all the same, because there was nothing Xander wouldn't do for them, even if he did it badly.
Aidan Gallagher has made waves playing Number Five on The Umbrella Academy, where he poses as a middle-aged man trapped in a child's body so effectively, fans forget he's still only sixteen. Imagine what Gallagher could do playing a role his own age, with the acting skills necessary to show the dramatic shift in maturity Xander has by the end of the series.
Willow: Sadie Sink
Willow may have begun the series as a shy nerd, but over the course of seven seasons she became a strong woman and a powerful witch. Her quirks and eccentricities won her legions of admirers, especially since even as she became more badass, she never lost her endearing geekiness.
Sadie Sink is primarily known for Stranger Things, where she's dominated the screen as the quirky Max ever since Season 2. Max was the new girl in Hawkins and graduated from tag-along to full-fledged member of the gang, becoming the best bud of the super-powered Eleven, mirroring Willow's relationship with her BFF, Buffy.
Oz: Shameik Moore
Seth Green had a dual role to play in Oz, Sunnydale High's resident teen philosopher and later werewolf. He was both capable of waxing poetic and waiting on the waxing moon, making him one of the more complex members of the Scooby Gang.
A rising star in both acting and music, Shameik Moore has appeared in The Get Down and Dope, and has also released his own original rap album, indicating his real life talent would be on full display during Oz's gigs at the Bronze.
Cordelia: Alexa Demie
Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) was the popular mean girl fans loved to hate on the series. But they couldn't fully commit to loathing her when underneath her vicious sarcasm was a girl who made keen social observations and struggled to bear the weight of adolescent expectations.
Alexa Demie, who's recently turned heads on HBO's Euphoria as the confident if combative Maddy Perez, would make a worthy successor to the girl who so candidly and memorably said that despite being cute and popular she could be "surrounded by people and be completely alone."
Tara: Hailee Steinfeld
A gentle soul with a surprisingly resilient core, Tara was a character who showed that kindness could be the greatest weapon of all against the forces of darkness. She was a vital member of the Scooby Gang as well as the love of Willow's life, functioning as one half of one of the most popular, inspiring and groundbreaking romances on television.
Hailee Steinfeld, who memorably stole the remake of True Grit from Jeff Bridges and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, remains a quiet force to be reckoned with on series like Dickinson.
Anya: Chloe Grace Moretz
Known as much for her blunt personality as she was for being a particularly effective vengeance demon, Anya was just the sort of candid oddball character to fit in with the motley crew of the Scooby Gang. Her scathing honesty wasn't always well-received by her friends, but it was always enjoyed by viewers.
Chloë Grace Moretz has played a variety of vixens with a sardonic edge in works such as Dark Shadows, Kickass, and 30 Rock, where she even managed to terrify Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy. She would have no trouble delivering hysterical Anya lines like, "Can I trade in the children for more cash?"
Giles: Daniel Dae Kim
Giles was an authority figure who took on many roles over the course of the series, from Watcher to mentor, but was always a friend. He not only was willing to let a woman be the hero of the story, he actively encouraged it. In order to capture the warmth, wit, and earnestness of Anthony Stewart Head's beaming performance, look no further than Daniel Dae Kim.
Kim captured the hearts of Lost viewers by being a heroically protective husband and father. And as far as kicking demon butt with a British accent goes, just watch him get to it in the Hellboy reboot. Finally, he's a Buffyverse alum, having portrayed Gavin Park, a lawyer at Wolfram & Hart on Angel.
Spike: Dacre Montgomery
As a minor villain who went on to become one of the most popular characters in the series, Spike's trajectory couldn't be anticipated, but it led to some of the show's most iconic moments. Whomever fills James Marsters' trench coat has to be able to exude not only sex appeal but unabashed self-expression.
Having recently received attention for his appearance in Stranger Things as leather-clad bad boy Billy, Dacre Montgomery has demonstrated that he has the looks, charisma, and sense of dark humor necessary to embody what's so irresistible about the platinum playboy.
Angel: KJ Apa
The love story between Buffy and Angel, though fraught with typical teen angst, allowed for an exploration of a lot of adolescent themes like abandonment, codependency, and the search for belonging. David Boreanaz may have epitomized the brooding vampire archetype, but his portrayal of Angel was anything but typical.
In the recently reimagined, darker interpretation of the classic Archie Comics on Riverdale, KJ Apa as Archie has shown a more nuanced, complicated take on the hero figure. Moral, but not without his dark side, he could embody the moody vampire searching for redemption for a new generation.
Buffy: Letitia Wright
Buffy Summers has always been more than her role as the Slayer, combining girl-next-door approachability with killer style and a quirky, down-to-earth attitude. She's both strong and vulnerable, confident and awkward, and remains a refreshingly multi-faceted role model for young people.
Letitia Wright, who most recently made huge waves in Black Panther as Shuri, Black Panther's fiercely intelligent and capable sister, embodies many of those qualities while offering a dynamism all her own that would undoubtedly ensure she placed her own mark on the Buffy role without taking anything away from Sarah Michelle Gellar's original performance.