TV
James Marsters Loves the Idea of a “Buffy” Reboot and Would Be Up for Returning as Spike
Like many ’90s favorites, the Joss Whedon-created “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is getting a small screen revival, seemingly hitting the reboot button for a fresh new take on the series that ran from 1997 until 2003. It’s worth noting that the project is right now in its *very* early stages, so it’s impossible to know what form the new series will be taking.
Many fans are none too happy that “Buffy” is being brought back with what we can only assume will be a new Buffy, but star James Marsters loves the idea. Marsters, who played the character Spike in the original series, also has an interest in reprising his beloved role.
“I think the world very much needs a new slayer right now,” Marsters tells Indiewire. “I think it is fabulous. I saw a tweet by [showrunner Monica Owusu-Breen], and she wants an entirely new slayer within the universe established by Buffy. So she’s not going to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer — she’s going to be Sabrina or whatever it is. I think that’s a great way to go and I’m very excited about it.”
He continued, “I am open to whatever Joss [Whedon] has in mind — whether that’s playing Spike or something else. I told him that a long time ago. Joss’s mind is always surprising, so yeah. I’m open to playing Spike if Joss is involved. What would be great is if he comes back and he’s like, ‘Buffy, you look terrible — how you’ve aged. I still love you, of course, but…”
Whedon is set to executive produce the new series alongside original series’ exec producers Gail Berman, Fran Kazui and Kaz Kazui as well as Joe Earley from Berman’s Jackal Group.
AMC has announced that The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only LIVE, the standing-room-only performance celebrating AMC’s premiere of its newly-released The Vampire Lestat at New York City’s iconic Beacon Theatre last month, will debut on streaming.
The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only LIVE begins streaming on AMC+ on August 23.
Ahead of its streaming premiere, fans can preview the concert event, featuring original songs from series composer Daniel Hart and performed by Sam Reid, in Hall H at Comic Con International on July 24.
Our own Daniel Kurland attended the special event, highlighting how electric the Immortal Vampire is on stage: “It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.”
Based on Anne Rice‘s The Vampire Chronicles book series, The Vampire Lestat is the rock and roll-centric third season of AMC’s “Interview with the Vampire” created by showrunner Rolin Jones.
The Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by “muses” from his wild and rebellious past. As his band’s popularity and star power rises, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population.
Jacob Anderson, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles and Jennifer Ehle star with Reid. Executive producers include Jones, Mark Johnson, Hannah Moscovitch, the late Anne Rice, and her son Christopher Rice.
The series finale airs this Sunday, July 19, on AMC and AMC+.