Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel, but who else was considered for the role? Introduced as somewhat of an antagonistic figure in Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 1, Cordelia would gradually become a fan favorite thanks to her memorable one-liners and dynamic with the show’s main characters. Initially unsure about the idea of moving to the spin-off, the actress asked series creator Joss Whedon for the option of returning to Buffy, but the change proved to be an upgrade for Carpenter. As one of the core cast for the bulk of Angel’s five seasons, the actress was given more room to explore the complexities and vulnerabilities of an ostensibly spoiled rich girl.
However, the actors who nabbed career-defining characters on Buffy weren’t always the first names considered. Though she quickly settled into the part of Willow Rosenberg, Alyson Hannigan was not seen in the unaired pilot for the series. Riff Regan had the role instead, though was ultimately recast. In a change which likely would have altered his trajectory, Ryan Reynolds could have played Xander Harris. However, after receiving an official offer to sign on for the teen drama, Reynolds declined because he didn’t want to relive his high school experience. Cordelia, similarly to the characters of Buffy and Angel, was linked to a few other Whedonverse alums before landing on Carpenter.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who went on to play Buffy, auditioned for Cordelia. Whedon was impressed with Gellar enough that he asked her to try out for the title role, and after a few readings, was convinced that the actress was the right fit to play the show’s lead protagonist. Bianca Lawson, who would go on to appear as the vampire slayer Kendra, was originally cast as Cordelia. In an interview with myFanbase, she explained why she had to turn the role down. Lawson’s quote has been included below.
“I was committed to another show at the time. And, no I didn’t think about how my Cordelia would have been different because Charisma’s portrayal was wonderful. She was the perfect Cordelia. And, might I add - was lovely to work with.”
The WB, which aired Buffy for its first five seasons, leaned on Whedon to recast Cordelia. According to George Snyder, who had the job of Whedon’s assistant at the time, the network feared that it might face backlash for depicting an interracial romantic relationship. It’s possible that, once Lawson backed out of playing Cordelia, Whedon went in a different direction to avoid clashing with The WB so early into his tenure as a showrunner. Given that Whedon hasn’t given his own of what happened, only part of that story is known. Lawson would continue to be a familiar face to fans of the teen genre, thanks to her pivotal guest stints on Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries, and Teen Wolf. More recently, she’s garnered praise as one of leads on the drama series Queen Sugar.
In the end, the actors chosen proved to be remarkably well-suited to their roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Gellar helped change the landscape of television, as viewers watched her character evolve over the course of the series. Carpenter, as well, shifted Cordelia from a ing player to a genuine hero by the time she made her last appearance in Angel season 5. Still, it’s interesting to think of how different the show would be if the various cast changes had never taken place.
