Ryan Kiera Armstrong Cast as New Slayer in Buffy Reboot

LOS ANGELES, CA — Ryan Kiera Armstrong has been cast as the new slayer in the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, which is set to air on Hulu. The announcement was made on May 15, 2025, by original star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who will reprise her iconic role as Buffy Summers and serve as an executive producer.

Armstrong, 15, is known for her roles in films such as Firestarter and the Star Wars series Skeleton Crew. The character she will portray is described in casting materials as an introverted high-school student. Gellar expressed her excitement about Armstrong’s casting, saying, “From the moment I saw Ryan’s audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side.”

The pilot for the untitled project will be directed by Academy Award-winner Chloé Zhao, with Nora and Lilla Zuckerman writing and serving as showrunners. This reboot is being referred to as the next chapter in the Buffyverse and is produced by 20th Television and Searchlight TV.

Gellar shared a heartfelt video revealing the news to Armstrong, who was visibly emotional after hearing she had landed the role. “I’m so honored, thank you for trusting me,” Armstrong said through tears while being congratulated by her father, actor Dean Armstrong.

The Zuckermans also praised Armstrong, stating, “We are so overjoyed to have found this generation’s slayer in Ryan Kiera Armstrong; she absolutely blew us away.”

Armstrong first gained recognition at age 8 in the film The Art of Racing In the Rain, and has worked on several major projects including American Horror Story. She continues to be represented by Linden Entertainment and Innovative Artists.

The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer series ran from 1997 to 2003 and became a cultural phenomenon. It starred Gellar as Buffy Summers, a character chosen to battle vampires, demons, and other evils in the fictional town of Sunnydale.