Summary
- Sarah Michelle Gellar's absence from Slayers: A Buffyverse Story is disappointing for fans who hoped to hear her voice Buffy again.
- Michelle Trachtenberg will not reprise her role as Dawn in the audio series, likely due to her character's connection to Buffy and the alternate reality storyline.
- Alyson Hannigan's absence as Willow is also disheartening, but the presence of Amber Benson as Tara hints at a mention of Willow in the audio series.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast is reuniting to create a special project 20 years following the show's series finale. Still, a handful of essential stars from the original television show will not be returning. Audible, an audiobook and podcast service, announced in September 2023 that it is producing a Buffy sequel series titled Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, which will revolve around Spike, played by James Marsters, and set in the present day. It will tell the story of Spike going undercover in Los Angeles to convince evildoers that he is back to being one of them, and the series features parallel realities, a new protégé, and old friends.
Over the seven seasons of The WB supernatural drama television show, the main cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer went through many changes. The constants were always Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Xander Harris, played by Nicholas Brendon, and Willow Rosenberg, played by Alyson Hannigan. However, the stars reprising their roles in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story are Marsters as Spike, Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, Anthony Head as Rupert Giles, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Emma Caulfield Ford as Anya Jenkins, Amber Benson as Tara Maclay, James Charles Leary as Clem, and Danny Strong as Jonathan Levinson.
6 Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar)
The most devastating Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast member left out of Slayers: A Buffyverse Story is Buffy Summers herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Gellar played the famous vampire Slayer for all 144 episodes of the supernatural television show. So, of course, fans would be ecstatic to see (or listen to) her portrayal of Buffy again. Unfortunately, the actress is not set to voice Buffy in the Audible series.
Gellar is not set to reprise her iconic role in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, and the show's premise gives a hint as to why she is missing. While Spike, who is Buffy's ex-boyfriend, is undercover in Los Angeles, he encounters a Slayer from an alternate reality where Buffy never lived. As a result, Gellar is not involved in the sequel series. However, there is always the hope that she will reprise her Buffy the Vampire Slayer role in a future project.
5 Dawn Summers (Michelle Trachtenberg)
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5 premiere introduced the audience to Dawn Summers, played by Michelle Trachtenberg, and she went on to appear in every remaining episode until the series finale at the end of season 7. Dawn was Buffy's younger sister, so it was a bit confusing as to why it took the writers five seasons to introduce her, but once Dawn came onto the scene, it was like she had been there all along. However, Dawn's sudden appearance in Buffy's life became clearer as the series went on, and her journey into adulthood was one of the most complex storylines of the entire show.
Trachtenberg will not reprise her role as Dawn in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story on Audible. The actress not being involved with the audio series is not too surprising, given her character's connection to Buffy and the fact that a central aspect of the show revolves around Buffy not existing in a parallel reality. Of course, there is a possibility that Trachtenberg (or any of these actors) makes an unannounced cameo in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story. But fans must wait for the audio show's premiere on October 12, 2023, to find out.
4 Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan)
Aside from Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan is the only other Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor to appear in all 144 episodes of the television series. Hannigan played Willow Rosenberg in The WB teen drama show. Willow was Buffy's best friend and a significant member of the affectionately dubbed Scooby Gang, thanks to her magical powers. Buffy was not the only character with supernatural abilities in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and as the seasons went on, Willow became a fan favorite with the audience. Willow is undoubtedly one of Hannigan's most memorable roles, but the actress will not return to it anytime soon.
Hannigan was not one of the names on the cast list for Slayers: A Buffyverse Story. Although her character's dead girlfriend, Tara Maclay, played by Amber Benson, is set to reprise her role in the audio series, Willow is not. It is disappointing that Willow, one of the most significant characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, will not be heard in the sequel. But since Benson is involved in the project, there might be some kind of mention of Willow in the audio series.
3 Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon)
Xander Harris, played by Nicholas Brendon, is one of the most controversial characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so it is not too surprising that he is not involved in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story. Plus, Brendon has refrained from the spotlight and appearing in any films or television shows in recent years due to personal problems. However, Xander was a constant in The WB supernatural series, seeing as he appeared in all but one episode throughout the seven seasons. Nevertheless, the Audible series will have to make do without Brendon's geeky character, who belonged to Buffy's friend group, the Scooby Gang.
2 Angel (David Boreanaz)
David Boreanaz played Angel, a centuries-old vampire, in 57 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on The WB. His character was introduced in the first season as a recurring player before getting bumped up to series regular status in season 2. Boreanaz left the show following season 3 because his character got his own spinoff in a series aptly called Angel. Despite Angel's popularity, Boreanaz will not return in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story.
Boreanaz has previously mentioned that he had no desire to reprise his role as Angel in any capacity, and one could assume that would apply to audio series. So the fact that the actor is not on the cast list of Slayers: A Buffyverse Story isn't shocking, but fans can still hold out hope that one day, Boreanaz will change his mind. Until then, the actor's schedule keeps him busy with other projects.
1 Andrew Wells (Tom Lenk)
Although Tom Lenk never reached series regular status in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the actor still played an important role in the television show. Lenk portrayed Andrew Wells, a member of the villainous group, The Trio, and he was introduced during season 6. Given that Danny Strong is reprising his role as Jonathan Levinson in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, it's a little surprising that Andrew is not set to appear in the audio series, as well. But perhaps it didn't make sense for Andrew to be a part of the story, or the former Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor was not available to participate.
