As a huge TV fan, I still think about Buffy the Vampire Slayer all the time – it’s seriously one of those shows that holds up, even 30 years later. So, when I heard they were working on a reboot, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, I was excited! It was a real bummer when it got cancelled. Honestly, I get why it’s tough to reboot a show with such a devoted fanbase – everyone would be comparing it to the original, and it’s hard to live up to something so beloved.
It’s hard to picture anyone else in these iconic roles – the original cast was fantastic and still holds a special place with viewers, and they’re pretty irreplaceable. But, if the show needed to be cast again today, these actors could still deliver great performances as the ten main characters.
McKenna Grace as Buffy Summers
McKenna Grace is quickly becoming a familiar face, and with good reason – she’s a remarkably talented actress. She’s been working steadily since she was very young, and this year is particularly busy. She’s set to star in the new Hunger Games movie, Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and will also play Daphne in the upcoming Scooby-Doo remake.
McKenna Grace would be a fantastic choice to play Buffy. She’s proven she can handle both the physical demands of action scenes and the complex emotional storylines – like the heartbreaking events surrounding Buffy’s mother, Joyce. Plus, she has the same natural charisma that made Sarah Michelle Gellar so memorable in the role.
Xochitl Gomez as Willow Rosenberg
Willow is a compelling character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She’s known as a kind and loyal friend, but actress Alyson Hannigan showed there’s a lot more depth to her personality. Importantly, Willow is a lesbian character, and her portrayal offered significant representation for the LGBTQ+ community during the 1990s – something that should be preserved in any continuation of her story.
Xochitl Gomez is a perfect fit for the role of Willow. She naturally embodies Willow’s kind and gentle personality, and she’s already demonstrated her ability to portray complex emotions. Plus, her experience playing America Chavez, a queer character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, shows she’s well-suited for this part.
Jenna Ortega as Cordelia Chase
It might be surprising to some, but Jenna Ortega would be a fantastic choice to play Cordelia Chase, the character originally portrayed by Charisma Carpenter. Ortega is currently famous for her role as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday, and she’s proven she can excel in dark and mysterious roles, like in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. However, she’s a talented actress capable of much more, and it would be wonderful to see her take on a complex character like Cordelia.
Jenna Ortega would be a fantastic choice to play Cordelia, transforming her from a typical popular girl into a truly admirable hero, and she’d bring a fresh, distinctive energy to the part. Plus, it would just be really enjoyable to see her in this kind of role.
David Tennant as Rupert Giles
Replacing Rupert Giles would be challenging, but David Tennant could pull it off. He’s capable of capturing the original character’s warmth and composure, while also convincingly playing the role of a wise mentor and guide.
David Tennant seems perfectly suited to play Rupert Giles, the character previously portrayed by Anthony Head. His background, experience, and overall style feel like a natural continuation of the role.
Asher Angel as Xander Harris
As a huge Buffy fan, I was really thinking about how difficult it would be to recast Xander Harris, played so wonderfully by Nicholas Brendon. He’s such a key character, and it’s not just about finding someone who looks right. They’d really need to capture that same goofy, good-hearted spirit he brought to the role – it’s crucial!
Asher Angel would be a fantastic choice to take over the role. While many know him from Shazam! as Billy Batson, his recent work actually shows even better why he’d be perfect. He recently starred in Kissing Is the Easy Part playing a kind, endearing, and slightly geeky character. He could easily bring that same appealing personality to Xander and do a great job stepping into Brendon’s role.
Rachel McAdams as Joyce Summers
Joyce Summers is a challenging character to reimagine because she’s both a loving, supportive mother and a strong, protective one. Kristine Sutherland perfectly captured this delicate balance in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and any new actress would need considerable skill to do the same.
Rachel McAdams would be a great choice to play this character. While she’s known for playing the villain Regina George in Mean Girls, she actually has a very kind and approachable personality, making her well-suited for a motherly role. Plus, she’s recently shown she can handle intense parts, like in her horror film, Send Help.
Jacob Elordi as Angel
Jacob Elordi is quickly becoming a very popular actor, and many fans have noticed a striking resemblance between him and Angel from the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, especially during the show’s first few seasons. Given his experience playing complex, darker characters, Elordi would likely be a great fit for the role.
Some people have questioned whether Jacob Elordi is too old to play the role, but he’s actually the same age David Boreanaz was when he first played Angel. Boreanaz was 28 years old when he started, and Elordi is currently 28 as well.
Joseph Quinn as Spike
Spike, played by James Marsters, wasn’t the only mysterious vampire to win over viewers on the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Like Angel, Spike started as a somewhat dangerous character, but the show also revealed a more vulnerable and caring side to him, making him a popular favorite with fans.
Joseph Quinn would be a fantastic choice for this role. He’s shown in performances like Eddie Munson in Stranger Things and the Human Torch in The Fantastic Four: First Steps that he can play characters who are both tough and endearing. Ideally, this version of Spike wouldn’t be involved in the problematic storyline about assaulting Buffy.
Rachel Zegler as Tara Maclay
Okay, let’s talk about Tara. She’s a tricky character to reimagine! Amber Benson really made her, giving Tara this wonderful mix of vulnerability and inner strength. It’s tough to find someone who can capture all that. Plus, the relationship with Willow was groundbreaking and so important for representation. That said, I think Rachel Zegler has proven she’s got the chops to really pull it off. She’s taken on some big roles already and I’d be excited to see what she’d bring to the part.
Rachel Zegler receives a lot of unfair criticism, largely due to the issues surrounding Disney’s live-action Snow White. But her work in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and her impressive stage presence, clearly demonstrate her ability and make her well-suited for the role.
Nell Fisher as Dawn Summers
Ultimately, Dawn Summers seemed like the natural choice for the part. Michelle Trachtenberg, who sadly passed away, originally played Buffy’s younger sister and brought a lot of youthful spirit to the role. Though Dawn was a complex character, she also easily embodied the typical sweet, little sister archetype.
Nell Fisher, known for her role as Holly Wheeler in the last season of Stranger Things, convincingly played a younger sister and delivered a remarkably strong performance, even though that season had some issues. Because of this, she’d be a fantastic choice to play Dawn if Buffy the Vampire Slayer were being cast now.
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2026-06-02 20:17