After serving as showrunner for the second reboot of Queer as Folk, Stephen Dunn may be ready to take a stab at a reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The Joss Whedon-helmed cult classic ran from 1996 to 2003 and was lauded for its melding of teen drama and fantasy-tinged horror. In its seven season run, Buffy the Vampire Slayer accumulated a loyal fanbase that continues to grow today, and was a launching pad for the careers of actors Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, and David Boreanaz, who would go on to star the in spin-off Angel.
A Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot was reportedly in development at Fox 21 Television Studios back in 2018, with Monica Owusu-Breen tapped as showrunner and Whedon returning as executive producer. While story details were scarce, it was reported that the reboot would cast a Black actor as the lead. The move seemed to be welcomed by Gellar, who has suggested Zendaya play the new Buffy. At present, the status of the reboot is unclear, but it is definitely of interest to one filmmaker, who happens to be a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan.
In a recent interview with Express, Dunn is asked if he has given any thought to rebooting Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Having just reimagined Queer as Folk for Peacock, he already has experience in rebooting beloved television shows. Here's what Dunn has to say:
"That's a dream of mine. Buffy is my lifeblood."
Dunn elaborates further on his love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and comments on the inclusion of openly gay characters such as Hannigan's Willow Rosenberg, which particularly resonated with him as he identifies as queer. References to the show have been littered throughout Dunn's Queer as Folk, particularly via the character Julian, who is a big Buffy fan. This is arguably the first time Dunn's name has been brought up in relation to a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, and while his reverence for the show is sincere, he gives no indication that he'll actually be entering the Buffy-verse anytime soon.
If the Owusu-Breen Buffy reboot is still in fact happening, there may be a chance that Dunn could be involved. Queer as Folk is still waiting for confirmation on a season 2, but was a hit with both fans and critics, and proves that Dunn knows how to reboot a show. Furthermore, Dunn being a Buffy fan arguably ensures that a reboot would be respectful to the original lore while providing viewers with something fresh and modern. Whedon's abuse and harassment allegations may jeopardize his position as executive producer on the reboot. His removal could provide an opportunity for Dunn to work alongside Owusu-Breen and fulfill his dream of rebooting Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Source: Express