Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the most influential shows of the past 25 years. But ever since it went off the air 20 years ago (followed by its spin-off Angel one year later), fans have wondered if the Buffyverse would continue in any form. In that time, all we’ve had is comic books and novels. But now, many members of Buffy cast are coming back together at last for an audio adventure. According to Entertainment Weekly, a new audio drama called Slayers: A Buffyverse Story is coming via Audible. And it centers on none other than our personal favorite vampire with a soul, Spike, once again played by James Marsters.
Along with Marsters returning as William the Bloody, Slayers also sees the return of Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Anthony Head (Rupert Giles), Juliet Landau (Drusilla), Emma Caulfield Ford (Anya), Amber Benson (Tara), James Charles Leary (Clem), and Danny Strong (Jonathan), as well as newcomer Laya DeLeon Hayes. Slayers is written by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden, writer of many Buffy novels, and directed by Benson, Golden, and Kc Wayland. In a statement, Marsters said “I’m ecstatic to be back with my dear friends for this next chapter in the Buffyverse, as we take listeners on a familiar but unexpected journey chock full of horror, passion and mischief.”
The audio drama takes place some 20 years after the events of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer finale, “Chosen.” Spike goes deep undercover in Los Angeles, convincing the forces of darkness that he’s back to his evil ways. 16-year-old Indira Nunnally (Hayes) compromises his cover, and Spike finds himself on baby-slayer-sitting duty once more. While he attempts to track down a watcher for his eager new protégé, their paths collide with the veteran Slayer of a parallel reality where Buffy Summers never existed, and Cordelia Chase is the one-and-only Slayer. And Cordy needs Spike’s help with a classic big bad terrorizing her world… his old flame, Drusilla (Landau).
This synopsis explains how so many characters that were dead in the Buffyverse, like Cordelia, Tara, and Anya, are still alive in this story. They are all likely from the “Cordelia the Vampire Slayer” universe. This will be the first major Buffyverse project without its creator Joss Whedon, and its star, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Whedon has been mired in controversy since allegations of on-set abuse have come out about him recently. And Sarah Michelle Gellar has said many times she’s fine leaving Buffy Summers in her past. But with Disney now owning the Buffy IP, could this lead to more Buffyverse continuations? Certainly, the series finale opened up a door to a world with hundreds of Slayers in it.
Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, premieres October 12. Fans will get a sneak peek at New York Comic Con with a panel on October 13 at 1:30 p.m., and there will be a Slayers-themed activation at NYCC all weekend long.
