Liz Hersey is an Editor and Critic for ScreenRant's TV team, editing, reviewing, writing, and creating content about the iconic shows you love to watch. She began her editing career at ScreenRant in 2019, shortly after joining the site as a Writer that same year.
If Supernatural ever gets its much-desired reboot, it would do well to take lessons from the highly anticipated sequel series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale. Though demand for a Supernatural season 16 has never really gone away, seeing main actors Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, and Misha Collins reunite in The Boys season 5 trailer has stirred up even more clamor for another reunion.
Ackles and Padalecki have repeatedly said they are open to making more Supernatural, but that they wanted to wait about five years after the series finale before reprising their roles as demon-hunting brothers Dean and Sam Winchester. Given that Supernatural aired its controversial ending in 2020, that five-year window is up, and fans want more. Of course, a Supernatural reboot shouldn't exist just for the sake of it. So many revivals of popular shows land with a thud when they're revealed to be nothing more than tawdry nostalgia grabs, cheapening beloved TV universes that audiences held so dear. However, by the look of it, the Buffy revival is doing things right, and could lay the blueprint for Supernatural season 16's success. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale Brings Back The OG Supernatural TV Series Whisperings about a reboot ran rampant in the years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended in 2003, but those rumors became a reality in early 2025. That is when Hulu confirmed that the pilot for a sequel series was in development, and that Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao would be directing. Most excitingly, Sarah Michelle Gellar was in talks to reprise her iconic role as Buffy Summers. 2025 proved to be the year of the Buffy revival updates, as it was later revealed that Gellar would indeed star in the show in a supporting capacity, with Buffy serving as a mentor/Watcher-like figure to a new young Slayer. That Slayer is a shy high schooler named Nova, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong. Along with Gellar and Armstrong, several New Sunnydale cast members have been announced, playing characters ranging from Nova's friends and schoolmates to her crush, teachers, her single father, and a vampire named Shirley, played by The Studio's Chase Sui Wonders. Actors not among the new cast are OG Buffy actors, save Gellar. In January 2026, Gellar appeared on the Shut Up Evan podcast and answered many burning fan questions about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series, including the new title and why viewers wouldn't be seeing familiar faces right away. Gellar said, It's a continuation. Continuation. I think so. Because where is she now in this world? And what is this world that Buffy lives in with her and without her? You know, kind of exploration? So it's not a reboot. It's not picking up with all of the same characters right away. It is not like a sequel reboot. I just think it's Sunnydale. That's why. That's why the name was even important to me, you know? And Buffy knew Sunnydale. Like, it's. It's Buffy, but it's also something else. This may come as a disappointment to fans eager to see Willow or Spike, or even a resurrected Cordelia, but it's ultimately good news that New Sunnydale won't be a fan service bingo card. It'll be its own thing while also honoring the original series, and Supernatural could easily follow in its footsteps. Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Revival Could Be A Template For Supernatural's Return It's a given that Supernatural season 16 would have to bring Dean and Sam back from the dead, but the show has resurrected them plenty of times before, so it wouldn't be difficult for them to do it again. The issue is what to do with them when they're alive. Though many weren't a fan of the series finale, Supernatural still delivered 15 incredible seasons of Dean and Sam hunting demons while also battling against big bads. This is a lot of seasons, and to give fans more of the same would feel tired and cheap. A much better premise for a Supernatural revival would be one similar to New Sunnydale's, in which the Winchester brothers pass the torch to the next generation of young demon hunters rather than taking center stage themselves. Fans would still get a healthy dose of Ackles and Padalecki's crackling brotherly chemistry while also getting to see Dean and Sam adjust to the next chapter of their lives. Having the brothers in a mentor capacity would also allow them to experience some peace after having spent so many years battling the forces of darkness, while not taking them out of the fight completely. Just like Buffy has been to hell and back , and we want to see her on our screens again without causing her more undue anguish, when it comes to the Winchesters, we want more banter, less death. If We're Lucky, Buffy Vs. Superatural Could Happen On TV With Buffy ending in 2003 and Supernatural premiering in 2005, we've never experienced them airing simultaneously. But that could all change if their new shows were to release at around the same time. Subscribe for deeper coverage of TV revivals and reboots Curious about how revivals should be handled? Subscribe to our newsletter for in-depth coverage and thoughtful analysis of TV revivals, reboots, and sequel series — context that helps you evaluate whether a return earns its keep. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. This is a big"if" — especially because, as far as we know, there's no current Supernatural revival in the works. Plus, even if a Supernatural season 16 does come to fruition, it would likely take years for it to be written, filmed, developed, and released, whereas New Sunnydale is so much further along in the production process. As reported by Variety, Hulu has officially given Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale an expected 2026 release window. The only way a Supernatural revival could occur at the same time is if they had been filming it in secret, which is highly unlikely. Still, release dates and windows change all the time, and there have been no new updates about when New Sunnydale is coming out since the Variety report in November 2025. Should Hulu wish to delay the release of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series, this would open the door for a Supernatural season 16 to accompany it on TV. So, while Buffy vs. the Winchesters remains a pipe dream, it's not impossible. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series puts a brand new slayer in the spotlight and carries on the continuity of the iconic seven-season original series. Sarah Michelle Gellar returns as the titular Buffy Summers in a supporting role. Powered by Expand Collapse Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed Supernatural TV-14 Drama Mystery Sci-Fi & Fantasy Action Supernatural 8/10 696 9.5/10 Release Date 2005 - 2020 Network The WB, The CW Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse
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