The ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Revival Needs Spike To Return

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The upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel has the potential to be just as good as the original series. After years of speculation, Sarah Michelle Gellar announced in February 2025 that a new show was being developed. Ryan Kiera Armstrong was cast as the new Slayer in May, and while the series is titled New Sunnydale and is expected to release sometime in 2026, details remain limited.

As a huge fan, I’ll admit some of Buffy doesn’t quite hold up today, but honestly, the big bad monsters and those iconic romantic scenes still give me chills – just like when it originally aired on The WB and UPN from 1997 to 2003. It’s a story that really resonated with me then, and still does now, because it’s all about believing in yourself, the power of love and friendship, family, and, of course, magic. So it’s totally understandable why everyone is so hyped about the Hulu revival! I’m eagerly awaiting more news as we get closer to the new year, but if there’s one thing almost every fan agrees on, it’s what would really make this revival amazing.

Fans Want Spike to Appear in the ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Revival


The WB

Many fans are hoping James Marsters will be back as Spike in the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival on Hulu, but it’s uncertain if that will happen. While Sarah Michelle Gellar has confirmed her return, no other original cast members have been announced. Some Buffy characters won’t be able to return due to their deaths on the show, but Spike’s case is different – even though he dies in the Buffy finale, he later reappears in Season 5 of Angel.

The new season will introduce Nova and other fresh faces, but it’s a challenge to both tell new stories and satisfy longtime fans. A brief appearance by Spike, offering some resolution to his relationship with Buffy, would really help make the revival a memorable one. Specifically, it could finally answer the question left hanging after the series finale – did Buffy truly love Spike, or was he right about her feelings? Many viewers would love to see them share one last conversation about their past.

Bringing Spike back would finally resolve the question of whether Buffy loved him as much as Angel, who many fans find more appealing. While the revival’s success doesn’t depend entirely on Spike’s return, a significant appearance from him would make sense, and he’s a strong candidate for a returning character. It would be fulfilling to see Buffy and Spike discuss how they’ve grown and supported each other over the years – even if it’s a bit sentimental. But shouldn’t a reboot allow for some heartwarming moments?

While Buffy’s first romance with Angel was charming, her relationship with Spike was more intense, as he started as an enemy who changed for the better because of her. Fans on Reddit have been discussing what could happen with Spike’s character, with some suggesting he could train a new Slayer or that he might even be human now. Many would enjoy seeing a human Spike interact with the now-adult Buffy, and perhaps even help her guide the new Slayer, Nova, further developing the current storyline.

In a November 2025 interview with Variety, Chloé Zhao, the director of the pilot for the Buffy revival, confirmed that the new series will include nostalgic elements. She stated they plan to bring back original characters and emphasized how much the fanbase means to them. While she hinted that even if Spike isn’t in the revival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, another well-loved character might be, many fans are worried the new show won’t live up to expectations and wonder why it can’t simply feature some of the most popular figures from the original series.

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2025-12-18 20:03