Buffy Reboot Cancelled

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2026-04-13T22:54:05+0100

Ruin Explorer said:
Should they have cancelled it? Probably not, especially not with that cast and that amount of great setup. But the showrunner, who also did Russian Doll

Oh, dang. I know what I'm watching next time we're subscribed to Disney+.

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2026-04-13T22:56:48+0100

VashVet said:
Cobra Kai still had Daniel as a main character. It just lifted Johnny up as another main character, and not simply the villain; not really any different from what the new Buffy show was doing.

It's been a while since I watched the first season, but I think he was really a minor character initially, until the show really took off, at which point everyone who didn't have an Oscar for Million Dollar Baby wanted back in.

With Buffy, it'd be analogous to having the reboot be Faith the Vampire Slayer (yes, please) and having Buffy only appear periodically at first.

(Also, holy crap, Faith as the mentor to Buffy's estranged slayer daughter would be amazing. Someone get me Eliza Dushku's phone number.)

Ruin Explorer · 2026-04-13T23:04:00+0100

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
It's been a while since I watched the first season, but I think he was really a minor character initially, until the show really took off, at which point everyone who didn't have an Oscar for Million Dollar Baby wanted back in.

You misremember, I'm afraid.

Daniel was not a "minor character". He wasn't the main PoV character, that was Johnny, obviously, but Daniel is absolutely the next most major character after Johnny in S1 with his implausibly beautiful wife, his annoying children (one of whom was also a major character (Sam), his car dealership, his useless employees, his huge-ass house, and so on all present from like, episode 2/3 at the latest.

I would say the reboot being Faith The Vampire Killer (it can be changed back to Slayer dramatically later) or something like that would be a good move. Definitely whole "have a different title" idea is a smart one - audiences are much more generous to a show that's a continuation but not claiming to be the exact same show as before.

Ruin Explorer · 2026-04-13T23:06:19+0100

VashVet said:
Cobra Kai still had Daniel as a main character. It just lifted Johnny up as another main character, and not simply the villain; not really any different from what the new Buffy show was doing.

I mean, Johnny was THE main character in Cobra Kai. Daniel didn't get as much screen time initially though he was one of several other major characters so got plenty. But the show was initially very much Johnny's show first and everyone else's second.

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2026-04-13T23:09:11+0100

Ruin Explorer said:
Daniel was not a "minor character". He wasn't the main PoV character, that was Johnny, obviously, but Daniel is absolutely the next most major character after Johnny in S1 with his implausibly beautiful wife, his annoying children (one of whom was also a major character (Sam), his car dealership, his useless employees, his huge-ass house, and so on all present from like, episode 2/3 at the latest.

God, his kids are the worst, especially the boy. And yeah, his wife was classic "I'm an executive producer" implausibly hot.

Micah Sweet · 2026-04-13T23:14:01+0100

Ruin Explorer said:
You misremember, I'm afraid.

Daniel was not a "minor character". He wasn't the main PoV character, that was Johnny, obviously, but Daniel is absolutely the next most major character after Johnny in S1 with his implausibly beautiful wife, his annoying children (one of whom was also a major character (Sam), his car dealership, his useless employees, his huge-ass house, and so on all present from like, episode 2/3 at the latest.

I would say the reboot being Faith The Vampire Killer (it can be changed back to Slayer dramatically later) or something like that would be a good move. Definitely whole "have a different title" idea is a smart one - audiences are much more generous to a show that's a continuation but not claiming to be the exact same show as before.

Of course, Eliza Dushku is on record as not being all that interesting in acting anymore, but it's a cool idea.

Gradine · 2026-04-13T23:15:38+0100

Ruin Explorer said:
I mean, Johnny was THE main character in Cobra Kai. Daniel didn't get as much screen time initially though he was one of several other major characters so got plenty. But the show was initially very much Johnny's show first and everyone else's second.

Some would argue he's the main character of the Karate Kid...

Autumnal · 2026-04-14T02:10:45+0100

Clint_L said:
I like both, but they aren't that similar, other than being women who kick ass. What makes you see Buffy as a Xena reincarnation?

Honestly, nothing. Just me being goofy.

doctorbadwolf · 2026-04-14T03:16:19+0100

GrimCo said:
Nomen est omen. If you call your show Buffy the vampire slayer, people expect Buffy as main character that kicks ass and slays vampires. Or what ever else, but show called Buffy needs main character named Buffy around which story revolves.

They didn't name show Karate Kid the show, they named it Cobra Kai. With that name, they subverted audience expectations and also told that it's not about (only) Daniel any more. Also, from the start, with teasers and trailers, they were open with show being about "other guy".

Reason why people hated Masters of the Universe: Revelations is because they promised He Man and then killed him off in first episode and switched to Teela.

Okay but that doesnt have anything to do with why the show was cancelled.

nyvinter · 2026-04-14T14:00:09+0100

Ruin Explorer said:
I mean, Kennedy was in charge, but I don't think Acolyte was a knee-jerk cancellation, it was a poor ratings cancellation.

We've also heard how Disney has killed projects even though Kathleen Kennedy believed in it. Her "crime" was not having a finished synopsis for the new trilogy. Despite this, her reputation of shielding people from higher up executives and letting them do what they needs is great and necessary when managing something like Star Wars. Without that there's only "safe" productions and no chances because no-one dares to try anything.

But that only works to a certain point before Disney interfeers. (I'd argue that both Acolyte cancellation and tLJ backtrack both happened because loud voices reached the parts of Disney has been really weird about women main characters for a while now and will not give those the time or attention it needs to succeed.)

Anyway, Kathleen Kennedy leaving Star Wars is a loss period IMO especially when what they needed* was a more creative co-worker at an executive level. And I don't think people like Filoni is good at that level, he's one of those that's good at making his own things.

*) Sure, it also needs the fandom to be less toxic but not sure that will ever happen.