Buffy The Vampire Slayer Movie Cast - Reimagining Their Iconic Roles
Now that we're back in the Slayer's beloved world, we can start thinking about the characters in a new light. Come along as we take a look at the world-famous Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie cast, imagining their roles and how the film became a classic.
Author:Elisa MuellerReviewer:James PierceJan 24, 20244.1K Shares87.1K Views
The compelling storytelling and unforgettable characters of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" have ensured the show's lasting impact on pop culture. Now that we're back in the Slayer's beloved world, we can start thinking about the characters in a new light. Come along as we take a look at the world-famous Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie cast, imagining their roles and how the film became a classic.
Sarah Michelle Gellar As Buffy
In the plot, Buffy, expelled from her Los Angeles school, arrives as the new girl at Sunnydale High. Unbeknownst to others, her expulsion was due to a vampire-filled gym, a consequence of her role as the chosen Slayer. Throughout the series, Buffy grapples with balancing school, a normal teenage life, and her duty as a Slayer.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, with a background in acting since age 5, took on the iconic role after soap opera stints. During Buffy's run, she also appeared in films like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (1997) and "Cruel Intentions" (1999). Post-Buffy, she stepped back from acting, focusing on ventures like her company Foodstirs. Gellar returned to TV in Paramount+'s "Wolf Pack," playing Kristin Ramsey in a mentorship role.
David Boreanaz As Angel
Angel, described as tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious, stands as Buffy's soulmate with a cursed twist - he's a vampire pushing 300 years but looks killer in a leather jacket. Despite knowing the risks, the star-crossed love story unfolds, leading Angel to hell and back when he loses his soul, creating an immense challenge for Buffy.
After three seasons, Angel departs from his true love and Sunnydale, heading to Los Angeles. There, he transforms into a supernatural P.I. in his eponymous spinoff, spanning five seasons. Following this, David Boreanaz maintains a prolific career, appearing in approximately 350 episodes across two other hit series. Notably, he played FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth in Bones (2005-2017), starring alongside Emily Deschanel, and portrayed Navy SEAL team leader Jason Hayes in SEAL Team (2017-2022).
Alyson Hannigan As Willow
Alyson Hannigan's character, Willow, undergoes remarkable transformations in her character arc. Initially portrayed as a somewhat childish and awkward teenager with a penchant for overalls, Willow's journey spans various relationships - from a crush on her best friend Xander to a romance with werewolf musician Oz and ultimately finding love with soulmate Tara. Concurrently, her character evolves into a potent witch, delving into dark arts during times of grief and rage, only to grapple with addiction and fight her way back to reality.
Post-Buffy, Hannigan seamlessly transitioned to network television, starring as Lily in the successful sitcom How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014) alongside a stellar cast. Since 2016, she has showcased her amiable personality as the host of the magic showcase Penn & Teller: Fool Us. In the fall of 2023, Hannigan joined Dancing With the Stars. Married to Alexis Denisof since 2003 (known as Buffy’s Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), they share two daughters.
Nicholas Brendon As Xander
Xander, the wisecracking sidekick among supernaturally powerful friends, emerges as the underestimated yet reliable member of the Scooby Gang. Despite lacking supernatural abilities, his unwavering loyalty consistently leads him to come through for his friends and the world when it matters most. Xander eventually discovers true love with the former vengeance demon Anya (Emma Caulfield Ford).
Nicholas Brendon, once a serious baseball player sidelined by injury, found his breakthrough role on Buffy. Post-show, he had recurring roles on series like Criminal Minds and Private Practice, and starred alongside Bradley Cooper in the short-lived Fox series Kitchen Confidential.
However, recent years have presented challenges. Brendon faced personal struggles, walking off the set of Dr. Phil in 2015 and revealing his battles with depression, substance abuse, and childhood molestation. Legal issues also arose, with reports of arrests in multiple states for various charges. Health problems further complicated his journey, including spinal surgery, cardiac events, and a diagnosis of tachycardia, a congenital heart defect.
Anthony Head As Giles
Rupert Giles, Sunnydale High’s British librarian with a concealed identity as the Slayer’s Watcher, adds depth to his character with hidden layers. Serving an ancient organization guiding each Chosen One, Giles possesses an extensive knowledge of vampires, demons, and arcane texts related to the Hellmouth's denizens.
Actor Anthony Head reduced his involvement in season six, opting to spend more time with his family in England, especially his young daughter. Post-Buffy, he ventured into the Doctor Who universe, including the 2007 animated feature Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest. Embracing a darker role, Head portrayed the dictatorial King Uther in Syfy’s Merlin (2008-2012) and appeared in the 2013 film Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters as the Centaur Chiron.
His television presence extended to Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on Amazon, Netflix miniseries The Stranger, and a guest spot on Bridgerton. Notably, Head engaged in a three-year stint as Rupert Mannion, a scheming character in Ted Lasso, showcasing his versatility beyond the supernatural realm.
Eliza Dushku As Faith
Dushku took on the role of Faith, an unruly and unsettled Slayer introduced during Buffy's brief demise. Following her departure from the series, the actress, already known for True Lies (1994), Bring It On (2000), and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), ventured into various projects. Dushku starred in the two-season Fox supernatural drama Tru Calling and appeared in the horror film Wrong Turn (2003) and the R-rated comedy Sex and Breakfast (2007).
Notably, she portrayed a California wine country bar owner in 2008’s Bottle Shock, sharing the screen with Chris Pine, Alan Rickman, and Bill Pullman. Dushku also starred opposite Cary Elwes in The Alphabet Killer (2008) and took a leading role in Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse, which aired for two seasons on Fox from 2009-10, playing a trained killer with a memory erased between assignments. In 2018, Dushku secured a $9.5 million legal settlement after alleging sexual harassment by Bull star Michael Weatherly on the show's set, where she had a recurring role.
James Marsters As Spike
Spike, the perennially troublesome bad-boy vampire, serves as a constant challenge for Buffy, even during their complicated romantic entanglements. Originating from Angel's dark past, Spike spent centuries traveling the world with Drusilla and Darla, spreading chaos before settling in Hellmouth.
Contrary to expectations, James Marsters, the Juilliard-trained actor behind Spike, is neither a natural blond nor English; he was born in Plumas County, California. Beyond Buffy, Marsters made frequent appearances on Angel and had a recurring role on The WB’s Smallville as the alien Brainiac and Brainiac 5. His diverse TV portfolio includes voicing Zamasu in the anime series Dragon Ball Super and related video games.
In 2018, he starred in the indie dramedy A Bread Factory, earning a rare 100 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. From 2017 to 2019, he portrayed Chase Stein’s father Victor on Hulu’s Marvel series Runaways, which centered around teens discovering their parents are supervillains. On the musical side, Marsters is a musician, releasing albums both solo and as a member of the rock band Ghost of the Robot.
Charisma Carpenter As Cordelia
Carpenter, known for her portrayal of Sunnydale High's queen bee Cordelia, transitioned to the Angel spinoff after graduation. In Angel, she played Angel's "girl Friday" for a significant portion of the series. Post-Buffy, Carpenter recurred on other WB series like Charmed and Veronica Mars, taking on the role of Rebecca Sewell in ABC's The Lying Game.
Venturing into the film industry, she appeared in The Expendables (2010) and its 2012 sequel as Lacy, the girlfriend of Jason Statham's Lee Christmas. Carpenter also made guest appearances on procedural dramas such as CSI, Blue Bloods, and Chicago P.D.
In the #MeToo era, Carpenter bravely spoke out about years of "hostile and toxic" treatment by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, particularly during her pregnancy. She disclosed that she was "unceremoniously fired" from Angel after giving birth, with her character meeting demise while in a coma. Carpenter received support from fellow cast members, including Michelle Trachtenberg, who mentioned restrictions on being alone in a room with Whedon.
Danny Strong As Jonathan
Playing the role of Jonathan, a nerdy character who took a dark turn when pushed to the limit, Strong held a relatively modest position in the Buffy universe. However, his career trajectory soared beyond that point. Joining the cast of Gilmore Girls as Doyle McMaster, a romantic interest for Paris, was just a step in Strong's multifaceted career.
His true stride emerged in the realm of writing, earning him six Primetime Emmy nominations and winning two in 2012 for his work on HBO's Game Change, a production delving into Sarah Palin's impact on John McCain's presidential campaign. Strong went on to co-write The Butler (2013) and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and 2 (2014 and 2015), co-create Fox's Empire, and develop Hulu's Dopesick. Despite his success in writing, Strong continues his acting career, featuring on Billions as Todd Krakow.
Kristine Sutherland As Joyce
Sutherland, originally Kristine Young, gained recognition for her role as the neighbor Mae in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) before assuming the character of Buffy Summers' mother. Since her departure from the show, marked by a poignant, non-Hellmouth-related death, Sutherland has engaged in occasional acting projects.
Notable among them is the 2008 miniseries Comanche Moon, and most recently, the 2020 dramedy Before/During/After, where her longtime husband, John Pankow, also starred. In recent years, reports suggest she has directed her efforts towards other interests, particularly photography.
Amber Benson As Tara
Benson portrayed Tara, a soft-spoken yet powerful good witch on Buffy, whose death sends her girlfriend Willow on a challenging journey of grief. Post-Buffy, Benson expanded her involvement in the entertainment industry, taking on roles as a producer, director, and actor in films like Chance (2002) and Lovers, Liars & Lunatics (2006).
Her versatility was further showcased when she appeared as a vegetarian vampire in two episodes of Supernatural. Beyond acting, Benson collaborated with Christopher Golden, contributing to numerous Ghosts of Albion projects and co-authoring several novels. Recently, Benson and Golden co-wrote the Audible original series Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, featuring Carpenter's Cordelia as the Slayer, alongside cast members Marsters, Caulfield Ford, and Head.
Emma Caulfield As Anya
Following her role as Anya, a vengeance demon turned human, Caulfield delved into diverse projects, including a guest appearance on Monk as a writing teacher attempting to gaslight Monk's assistant Sharona for murder. In 2010, she joined The CW's short-lived series Life Unexpected and TeenNick's Gigantic, created by fellow Buffy alum Marti Noxon. Concurrently, Caulfield, known for her role in Beverly Hills, 90210, co-created and starred in Bandwagon: The Series, a satirical show where she portrayed a fictionalized version of herself.
More recently, Caulfield took on the role of Dottie in Marvel's WandaVision, and she is slated to reprise the character in Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, set to release in 2024. In 2017, she married actor Mark Leslie Ford, and together, they have a daughter. In 2022, Caulfield shared that she has been battling MS for about a decade.
Seth Green As Oz
Green, who previously had a minor role as a vampire in the Buffy movie, entered the series as Oz in the season two episode "Inca Mummy Girl." As the guitarist in the band Dingoes Ate My Baby, regularly seen at The Bronze, Oz discovers he's a werewolf but continues a blossoming romance with Willow.
Following his departure in season four, the Austin Powers actor portrayed Lyle, aka "the Napster," in the 2003 remake of The Italian Job. Among his diverse roles, he starred in Fox's Dads, which had a one-season run in 2013, and lent his voice to Howard the Duck in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Most notably, Green co-created and starred in Adult Swim's long-running stop-motion sketch comedy Robot Chicken (2001-22).
Michelle Trachtenberg As Dawn
Trachtenberg joined Buffy in season five as Dawn, Buffy's previously unmentioned sister, creating intrigue with her sudden appearance. Already recognized for her roles in children's films like Harriet the Spy (1996) and Inspector Gadget (1999), Trachtenberg's character, Dawn, eventually revealed a mystical significance as the "key," holding the fate of the world in her safety.
Post-Buffy, Trachtenberg took on various film roles, including EuroTrip (2004), Ice Princess (2005), Black Christmas (2006), and 17 Again (2009). Transitioning to television, she played the manipulative socialite Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl, had recurring roles on Six Feet Under, Love Bites, and Weeds, and starred in Mercy, a one-season NBC medical drama in 2009. In 2014, she co-starred in the R-rated film The Scribbler, voiced a character in the extraterrestrial animated series Human Kind Of in 2018, and made a guest appearance in the Gossip Girl reboot in 2022.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Movie Cast - FAQ
Who Was The Original Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
The character is actually 25 years old, and although she won a legion of fans through Sarah Michelle Gellar's character on television, the Slayer first appeared on film, played by Kristy Swanson, in 1992.
Who Was Originally Supposed To Play Buffy?
'Poker Face's Natasha Lyonne says she was first pick to play Buffy the Vampire Slayer - but turned it down. Lyonne went on to slay in plenty of other meaty roles, though!
Who Did Buffy Marry In Real Life?
He loves cooking and cleaning. Freddie Prinze Jr has opened up about his marriage to Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar, revealing his cooking and cleaning skills are integral to all these years together.
Conclusion
In revisiting the iconic roles of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie cast, it becomes evident that the impact of these characters transcends the screen. Each actor's journey post-Buffy showcases their versatility and resilience in navigating the diverse landscape of the entertainment industry. The members of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie cast continue to leave a lasting imprint, proving that their contributions extend far beyond the supernatural realm of Sunnydale.
Jump to
Sarah Michelle Gellar As Buffy
David Boreanaz As Angel
Alyson Hannigan As Willow
Nicholas Brendon As Xander
Anthony Head As Giles
Eliza Dushku As Faith
James Marsters As Spike
Charisma Carpenter As Cordelia
Danny Strong As Jonathan
Kristine Sutherland As Joyce
Amber Benson As Tara
Emma Caulfield As Anya
Seth Green As Oz
Michelle Trachtenberg As Dawn
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Movie Cast - FAQ
Conclusion
Elisa Mueller
Author
Elisa Mueller was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to a mother who taught reading and a father who taught film. As a result, she spent an excessive amount of her childhood reading books and watching movies. She went to the University of Kansas for college, where she earned bachelor's degrees in English and journalism. She moved to New York City and worked for Entertainment Weekly magazine for ten years, visiting film sets all over the world.
James Pierce
Reviewer
James Pierce, a Finance and Crypto expert, brings over 15 years of experience to his writing. With a Master's degree in Finance from Harvard University, James's insightful articles and research papers have earned him recognition in the industry.
His expertise spans financial markets and digital currencies, making him a trusted source for analysis and commentary. James seamlessly integrates his passion for travel into his work, providing readers with a unique perspective on global finance and the digital economy.
Outside of writing, James enjoys photography, hiking, and exploring local cuisines during his travels.
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