Charisma Carpenter is looking for one ticket back to the Hellmouth, please!
After Sarah Michelle Gellar recently revealed that one of her hopes for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series now in development at Hulu from 20th Television and Searchlight TV is to “bring back everyone who has died,” the series alum is throwing her character’s hat in the ring for a “poetic” return.
“I am so excited for fans, and I know it will be fantastic because of who’s involved,” Carpenter told IGN of the reboot, which is being spearheaded by a team that includes Gellar, Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman (Poker Face, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Suits), and Oscar winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals).
“To see this actually happen for the fans makes me thrilled,” she continued. “I am so hopeful to be included, for Cordelia to be a part of this new iteration.”
Carpenter’s Cordelia Chase was an original member of the Buffy cast when it began its seven-season run (first on the WB, and then the final two seasons aired on UPN). The character left the series in season to crossover to the show’s spinoff, Angel, which offered a darker and more mature take on Buffy’s formula. Both shows were created by Joss Whedon, who has no involvement in the new revival.
Richard Cartwright /The WB Television Network /Courtesy Everett
On Angel, the former Sunnydale High School cheerleader gains the ability to see visions of people in need, which makes her a vital member of a team striving to fight against the demonic, led by the titular main character (David Boreanaz).
Carpenter’s storyline in Angel‘s fourth season proved very controversial with fans, as Cordelia is possessed and impregnated by the deity Jasmine, then unceremoniously left in a coma. The actress left Angel after being written out during that season, only to be killed in a one-off guest spot for the show’s 100th episode.
“I don’t know really what to make of it,” Carpenter told IGN on Cordelia’s eligibility to make a return in the upcoming revival series. “I’m sure there are caveats — Cordelia died on Angel, not on Buffy. I don’t know what that means for Cordelia specifically, but I’m hopeful that it includes Cordelia, obviously. It would be a dream to be included, and it would just be so poetic for that to occur, and for it to occur with this group.”
She continued, “These writers are wildly creative, I’m sure they could figure it out if they wanted to, if it was a fan thing, where if there was a thirst or craving or need for Cordelia to be there, I’m sure with one hell of a creative team they have leading the writers room, it would be possible.
“[Cordelia] was built up so big, she’d grown so much, she’d had this remarkable journey, and for her to go out the way that she did just felt so unjust,” she added.
Carpenter has been very vocal about her experience working with Whedon, accusing him of creating “hostile and toxic work environments” on Buffy, and its spinoff Angel, in 2021. Following Carpenter’s allegations — which included claims that Whedon continuously made passive-aggressive threats to fire her, called her fat when she was four months pregnant, pitted cast members against one another, and “unceremoniously” fired her after accusing her of sabotaging the show — several of her Buffy and Angel castmates shared their thoughts on the situation and messages of support.
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While Carpenter hasn’t reprised her role onscreen since Cordelia’s demise, she did return to the franchise in an Audible spinoff series titled Slayers. The series — which was cancelled after one season — starred Carpenter as an alternate universe version of her character, in which Cordelia was a vampire slayer.
That audio-only series reunited the actress with other Buffy alums, including Emma Caulfield Ford’s fan-favorite ex-demon Anya (died in the original series), Amber Benson’s beloved witch Tara (also died in the original series), Anthony Head’s Giles (lived through the original series but was killed and revived in spin-off comics), plus James Marsters’ Spike and Juliet Landau’s Drusilla (undead).
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Earlier this year, Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Gellar was in talks to resurrect the beloved supernatural series with a sequel. The “untitled Buffyverse pilot” is now in development at Hulu from 20th Television and Searchlight TV and, per Variety, will tell “the next chapter in the Buffyverse” by focusing on a new Slayer.
The Buffy reboot will star Ryan Kiera Armstrong — best known for roles in the film Firestarter and Star Wars series Skeleton Crew — as a new slayer, alongside Gellar’s original slayer. Additional details about the 15-year-old’s role are still under wraps.