Chase Sui Wonders has joined the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer project at Hulu, taking a guest role in the pilot as a character identified as Shirley, according to an individual with knowledge of the production. The casting arrives as cameras roll in Los Angeles and Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to the franchise that made her a household name, with on-set images surfacing over the weekend.
Wonders, who recently appeared opposite Gellar on the big-screen revival of I Know What You Did Last Summer, said working alongside the original Buffy again was a thrill and praised Gellar’s leadership on the new series. The pilot is directed and executive produced by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao. The series is housed at 20th Television and Searchlight TV, with executive producers including Gellar, Gail Berman, Fran and Kaz Kuzui, and Dolly Parton; writing and day-to-day showrunning are led by Nora and Lila Zuckerman.
The creative direction positions the project as a sequel centered on a new Chosen One while acknowledging the legacy of Sunnydale. Ryan Kiera Armstrong, 15, has been cast as the next slayer after being told she landed the role in a video shared earlier this year by Gellar, who is also set to appear on screen and serve as an executive producer. Recent location photos of Gellar on set have reinforced that the production is moving forward at pace following months of development updates.
The team behind the pilot notably does not include original series creator Joss Whedon. Coverage of the new iteration has repeatedly underscored that the revival is proceeding without his involvement after allegations about his past conduct, a shift that has been part of the project’s framing since early announcements this year.
Today’s casting adds a recognizable face with existing chemistry alongside the returning star while the core creative spine—Zhao directing, the Zuckermans running the room, and a mix of veteran and first-time Buffyverse performers—takes clearer shape heading into the pilot.
