Buffy's Sarah Michelle Gellar Reveals Dream Actor for Slayer Universe Return!

The sequel to the 2019 hit, "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come," is poised to bring together a remarkable ensemble of genre icons, featuring the returning star Samara Weaving alongside newly added "scream queens" Sarah Michelle Gellar and Kathryn Newton. Celebrating the film's World Premiere at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Gellar and Newton sat down with Collider for a "Ladies Night" conversation, delving into their respective journeys into the "Ready or Not" franchise and their aspirations within the genre.

Sarah Michelle Gellar reflected on her extensive career, admitting that finding her voice on set took her "years," much longer than it should have. She emphasized the critical importance of self-advocacy, stating, "It's important to always advocate for yourself because no one else can advocate for you the way you can. And if you know in your heart something's wrong, you have to. It doesn't have to be the way the business used to be.” Beyond advocating for herself, Gellar has made it a priority to uplift and support other actors, notably Kathryn Newton.

Kathryn Newton expressed immense gratitude for Gellar's mentorship, highlighting how Gellar's belief in her is "surreal." During their interview, Gellar was quick to praise Newton's diverse filmography, asserting that Newton is "not afraid to take chances." Gellar elaborated, explaining that while many actors stick to their "wheelhouse" or follow representatives' advice, Newton embraces risks. "People use failure like it's a bad word in this business, and I believe failure is just your first attempt in learning,” Gellar added, reinforcing Newton’s approach.

Newton embraced Gellar’s observation about her fearlessness, further elaborating on her philosophy of "not saying no." While acknowledging the importance of learning to say no, Newton prefers to ask, "What can I make better? If I can make this movie better, I should probably do it." This approach, she believes, has opened up many learning opportunities. She even recalled accepting her role in "Ready or Not 2" without knowing the specifics, driven by a desire to have fun and without expectations, believing "there is no secret. It's don't have expectations and just have fun. I like to have fun. Making movies is fun!”

Gellar reiterated her commitment to nurturing younger talent, driven by her own experience of lacking older actors who could "protect and show the way." She sees it as her responsibility, having achieved success, to ensure younger actors like Newton "understand to have the voice" and have "a better experience," offering her unwavering support and an open line of communication. Newton, in turn, described the profound impact of having a fan-turned-mentor like Gellar see potential in her, inspiring her to one day "do it for someone else."

In a light-hearted moment during a "Dicey Questions" segment, Gellar didn't hesitate when asked to "fan cast" Newton into a franchise of her choice: “Oh, I want Kathryn on Buffy. That’s so easy.” Newton was thrilled by the idea, expressing her desire to join Gellar in "fighting vampires and stuff." Although a highly anticipated "Buffy" reboot on Hulu didn't materialize, the enduring legacy of the original show leaves open the possibility of a future revival, potentially starring both Gellar and Newton, further cementing their shared "scream queen" status.