Sarah Michelle Gellar casts 15-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong for Buffy reboot – as she shares teen’s emotional response | Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar has found her “chosen one” in the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.

The Golden Globe nominee took to Instagram this week to announce that Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Firestarter, American Horror Story) has been cast as the lead opposite Gellar in the highly-anticipated reboot series.

Gellar will reprise her iconic role as Buffy Summer in the untitled project set for release in 2026.

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“From the moment I saw Ryan’s audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side,” Gellar captioned the announcement video.

In the video, the actress is seen delivering the news to the nervous 15-year-old, who broke down in happy tears.

Catch the emotional announcement in the video above.

Sharing the exact moment she delivered the exciting news to Armstrong, Gellar asked her: “How do you feel about helping me save the world?”

“Good…” Armstrong replied nervously.

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“Want to be my chosen one?” Gellar responded. “Will you stand by my side and save the world?”

It was a big yes from the teen as she broke down in happy tears. 

Armstrong will play the new slayer in the reboot series, which Gellar will star in and executive produce. 

“Ryan, we all love you and from the second we all saw your tape there was nobody else in our eyes that could do it, that we wanted to do it with,” Gellar continued.

“I am so excited to stand by your side and have you be my partner on this journey… There’s nobody else in any of our eyes, you are our chosen one.”

Armstrong’s dad stepped into the video as her family heard the life-changing news. 

Catch the full announcement in the video above. 

The reveal sent fans into a frenzy with one follower commenting: “Omggggg this is so real now and i’m so so excited.”

”AAAAAAA ITS OFFICIAL ❤️😍❤️😍,” wrote a second.

“IMAGINE OUR QUEEN BUFFY-THEE SMG ASKING YOU TO BE HER-OUR CHOSEN ONE,” said another, while a fourth added: “New Slayer confirmed 😭😭😭 is this real.”

Sharing the official news on Instagram, Gellar had nothing but praise for the rising star.

”To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift,” she wrote.

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“The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room. Welcome to #NewSunnydale.”

More than two decades after Gellar hung up her wooden stake as Buffy Summers, the cult classic TV series is being revived for a new generation.

The series is being touted as a continuation rather than a remake, focusing on a new Slayer stepping into the spotlight.

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Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals), a self-confessed lifelong Buffy fan, is set to direct the pilot and will also serve as an executive producer.

The original Buffy The Vampire Slayer premiered in 1997 and ran for seven seasons, becoming a cultural phenomenon. With its sharp wit, complex characters, and groundbreaking portrayal of a strong female lead, the series has maintained a dedicated fan base.

With the a new Slayer to take the lead, fans are certainly thrilled!

Stream every episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer on Stan.

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