'Buffy' Reboot Buzz Charisma Carpenter Eyes ‘Poetic’ Return After Cordelia’s ‘Unjust’ Angel Exit

The Hellmouth is rumbling again and this time it's bringing back more than just the nostalgia. With Hulu developing a brand new Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, fans are buzzing, and so is one of the original cast’s most beloved and wronged characters. Charisma Carpenter, who played the sharp-tongued and surprisingly deep Cordelia Chase, has made it clear she's open to returning and not just for a walk-on cameo. She's hoping for something bigger, better, and let’s be honest, way more poetic than the frankly shady sendoff she got in Angel.

Why Charisma Carpenter’s Return to Buffy Reboot Actually Matters

Let’s rewind. Cordelia Chase started off as the stereotypical high school mean girl in Buffy the Vampire Slayer but over time became one of the most compelling and complex characters in the Whedonverse. Her growth was real, her sass unmatched, and her evolution from queen bee to higher being? Iconic.

Until it wasn’t.

Fans were left bitter after Angel effectively wrote her out in a coma before unceremoniously killing her off in a dream sequence. Oh, and this all happened off-screen after a half-hearted return in a single episode. Classy, right? Even Carpenter has called the character’s fate “unjust,” and honestly, she’s not wrong.

Now that a new generation of Buffy is in the works, with Sarah Michelle Gellar involved and Joss Whedon very much not, the timing feels perfect to give Cordy the redemption arc she’s long overdue.

Carpenter Wants Cordelia to Return with Purpose

In a recent interview, Carpenter didn’t mince words. She’s open to returning but on one condition, Cordelia’s return has to mean something. She’s not interested in being thrown in for a quick fan-service cameo. She wants the reboot to do what Angel failed to: give Cordy the respect and resolution she deserves.

Describing her ideal return as “poetic,” Carpenter is envisioning a storyline that gives closure to Cordelia’s character and finally pays off her rich narrative arc. She’s even praised the new reboot team, including director Chloé Zhao and showrunners Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, calling them “a dream team.”

That’s a pretty big green light from Carpenter, and fans are eating it up.

The Buffy Reboot is Already Changing the Game

Let’s be real, nobody needed a reboot of Buffy unless it was going to be bold and different. So far, the Hulu project seems to be just that. Rather than rehashing the original characters, the new story will reportedly center on a new Slayer, played by rising star Ryan Kiera Armstrong. Sarah Michelle Gellar will return, but this time she’ll be guiding the next generation, not hogging the stake.

Most importantly, Joss Whedon is nowhere near it. That matters because Carpenter was one of several actors who publicly accused him of misconduct during the original shows. With Whedon out of the picture and a more inclusive, respectful team behind the scenes, the stage is set for a fresh take on the Buffyverse, one that can finally treat its characters with the depth and dignity they deserve.

Including Cordelia Chase.

Fans Are Ready for Cordelia’s Comeback

Across Reddit, Twitter, and pretty much every corner of the fandom, fans are dreaming up ways Cordelia could return in the reboot. The most popular idea? Cordy as a celestial guide or higher being, someone who pops in to help the new Slayer on her journey, kind of like a sassier, way more stylish version of a Jedi ghost.

Others want her back in flashbacks, or even as a central character in her own arc. While no one’s asking for her to be resurrected in some cheap, undead soap opera twist, everyone agrees on one thing: she deserves better than what she got.

If the reboot is really about honoring the legacy of the original show while pushing forward, then Cordelia’s return feels less like a maybe and more like a must.

What This Could Mean for the Buffyverse

Bringing back Cordelia Chase isn’t just about fan service. It’s about fixing a glaring narrative injustice and giving one of the most dynamic characters in the Buffyverse a proper sendoff. It’s also a way to pass the torch or the stake in a way that actually means something.

With Carpenter on board, the right creative team in place, and a new Slayer ready to rise, the stars are aligning for a Buffy reboot that doesn’t just rehash the past but rewrites it with purpose.

Final Stakes

So here’s the deal. Charisma Carpenter is ready. The fans are ready. The Buffy reboot is finally poised to be the redemption arc this franchise has been missing. If Hulu and the showrunners are serious about doing things right this time, then a poetic Cordelia Chase comeback is not just welcome, it’s essential.

Want more Buffy reboot news, casting scoops, and hot takes from the Hellmouth? Stay tuned right here, because this is one resurrection story we’re dying to see done right.