Buffy is back-but not quite the way longtime fans imagined. Hulu’s upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot has surfaced in fresh set photos, and they reveal an iconic Sunnydale landmark with a twist. The familiar corridor of Sunnydale High-lockers, doors, and even the Scooby Gang’s old library entrance-has returned.
Except, this time, it’s not a functioning school at all. Instead, it’s part of a haunted house attraction tied to a festival called Sunnydale’s Vampire Weekend.
The event looks like a mix between a horror carnival and a comic convention. Festival goers in fake vampire makeup wander among stalls selling ‘magical’ trinkets, while a sideshow called Van Helsing’s Bloodbath adds a splash of gothic kitsch. In this reimagined Sunnydale, the Hellmouth has become a marketing gimmick rather than an existential threat. The whole setup feels deliberately tongue-in-cheek, almost like the town is self-aware of its bloody past.
This playful homage comes with a meta edge. In the original series, Sunnydale High was destroyed-twice-and the entire town literally collapsed into a crater during the finale. Yet here we are again, with Sunnydale apparently rebuilt, repurposed, and even celebrated. For fans paying attention, that raises serious questions. How does a place that was wiped off the map end up as a fairground attraction? And will the show explain away the infamous crater problem, or lean into it as part of the reboot’s playful tone?
Sarah Michelle Gellar herself has been spotted on set, not just reprising Buffy in a strikingly corporate suit, but also mentoring cast members on how to capture vampire lore correctly-down to the precise way a victim should look when bitten. It’s a reassuring sign that the reboot isn’t just recycling nostalgia but trying to honor the details of what made Buffy special.
Reboots are everywhere right now, from cult ‘80s action shows to forgotten sitcoms, but Buffy has always been more than camp-it was a series that blended horror, humor, and heart. If these set photos are any indication, the new chapter is ready to balance reverence with reinvention, offering both a wink to longtime fans and a new spin for fresh audiences.