Nicholas Brendon in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Preview:
Nicholas Brendon has died at the age of 54.
He was best known for his breakout role as Xander Harris on the cult-favorite series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’
In later years, he became an advocate for mental health awareness, sharing his personal challenges with candor.
Nicholas Brendon, the actor who rose to prominence as the witty and loyal Xander Harris on the beloved supernatural drama ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ has died at the age of 54.
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A statement from his family read:
“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was.”
(L to R) Nicholas Brendon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan and Anthony Head in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Born April 12, 1971, in Los Angeles, California, Nicholas Brendon Schulz discovered acting after overcoming a childhood stutter. He pursued performance in his early twenties, eventually landing guest roles before his big break.
That breakthrough came in 1997 when he was cast as Xander Harris on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’ The series ran for seven seasons and became a defining show of its era, with Brendon’s humor and heart making him a fan favorite.
Nicholas Brendon: A Life in Film and Television
(L to R) Charisma Carpenter and Nicholas Brendon in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Following ‘Buffy,’ Brendon appeared in films and television, including a recurring role on ‘Criminal Minds.’ He also worked in independent projects and remained a regular presence at fan conventions.
Nicholas Brendon: Offscreen
Brendan looked to maintain his privacy in his offscreen life, though he did face some publicized struggles with substance abuse and mental illness.
He will still be remembered by fans for the joy his characters brought them.
Nicholas Brendon in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Selected Movies and TV Shows Featuring Nicholas Brendon:
Ryan Kiera Armstrong stars in ‘ Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’.
Preview:
‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’s Ryan Kiera Armstrong is aboard the new ‘Buffy’ series.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is back as the vampire slayer.
Chloé Zhao will direct the pilot and produce.
It might not feature white smoke coming out of a chimney as with the recent Pope’s election, but we have a chosen one within the expanding world of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’
To be clear, this will be more a next step than a total reinvention of the vampire slayer concept, which has so far proved reliable on screens big and small and in comic book form.
The new series comes via Hulu, which has a pilot order in place with Gellar as co-star and executive producer.
‘Poker Face’ showrunners Nora and Lilla Zuckerman are developing what is being described as “the next chapter in the Buffyverse.” Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, whose movies include ‘Nomadland’ and Marvel’s‘Eternals’ is set to direct the pilot and serve as a producer.
Gellar’s Buffy Summers will be a mentor to the new Chosen One played by Armstrong, who like her predecessor will be charged with battling all manner of vampires and other demonic creatures (and endowed with strength and resilience to do so) while also navigating more mundane teenage life issues.
In keeping with the current trend for announcing casting decisions, Gellar took to Instagram to document her telling Armstrong the news that she’s gotten the role:
“From the moment I saw Ryan’s audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side. To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room.”
Lilla and Nora Zuckerman used some Buffy terminology to praise their new lead:
“We are so overjoyed to have found this generation’s slayer in Ryan Kiera Armstrong, she absolutely blew us away –– there is no question in our mind that she is the chosen one.”
(L to R) David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
‘Buffy’ is a concept that has already shown an ability to evolve.
It originated as a film starring Kristy Swanson in the title role. Joss Whedon wrote the film with Fran Kuzui directing and was released in 1992.
Five years later, the series version, created by Whedon and now starring Gellar, debuted on The WB.
It aired on The WB for its first five seasons before airing its final two seasons on UPN.
The original series’ executive producers included Gail Berman of the Jackal Group and Fran Kuzui & Kaz Kuzui via Suite B, who will all get a credit on the new pilot.
The cast of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
And fun fact: also executive producing the pilot is Dolly Parton, whose company Sandollar was producer on the original.
Whedon, who oversaw the show’s seven-season run, will not return to work on any new version. In 2021, the writer/producer, who also crafted the first two ‘Avengers’ movies and TV series ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ for Marvel, was accused of creating a toxic work environment on both ‘Buffy’ and ‘Angel’ by nearly a dozen people associated with the show, particularly Carpenter.
Berman, and the Kuzuis previously teamed up with 20th TV in 2018 for a potential ‘Buffy’ reboot written by ‘Midnight, Texas’ creator Monica Owusu-Breen, on which Whedon was an executive producer. That project, whose lead was envisioned as a Black woman, didn’t move forward.
The biggest dangling question any sequel series would need to answer is the clever notion introduced by the series’ final season, in that Buffy’s death (she got better) in a previous season triggered a raft of new potential Slayers.
And now we have an answer to whether we’ll see one in the new show: a big yes, since Armstrong will take on that role.
What has Sarah Michelle Gellar previously said about returning for a new ‘Buffy’ series?
Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Gellar has been in two minds about the idea of reprising Buffy Summers.
In 2023, she poured cold water on taking on a new ‘Buffy’ series, telling UK magazine SFX:
“I am very proud of the show that we created and it doesn’t need to be done. We wrapped that up. I am all for them continuing the story because there’s the story of female empowerment. I love the way the show was left: ‘Every girl who has the power can have the power.’ It’s set up perfectly for someone else to have the power. But like I said, the metaphors of ‘Buffy’ were the horrors of adolescence. I think I look young, but I am not an adolescent.”
“I always used to say no because it’s in its bubble and it’s so perfect. But watching ‘And Just Like That…’ (the ‘Sex and the City’ sequel series) and seeing ‘Dexter: Original Sin,’ and realizing there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, ‘Well, maybe.’”
Less maybe, these days, more fully aboard.
When will the new ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ series hit screens?
Hulu has yet to say when this might premiere and, indeed, with that pilot order, it’s still more of a case of if the show passes muster.
Still, given that attractive, grabby recognizable title and the original star attached, we’d guess this one has a good chance.
The cast of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
List of Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Franchise:
The cast of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” had a mini reunion on Sunday, though two key figures were missing.
Most of the “Scooby gang” was present for a panel at the Wizard World Portland convention, including Alyson Hannigan (Willow), Nicholas Brendon (Xander), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), Amber Benson (Tara), and James Marsters (Spike).
Feeling major FOMO, though, was “Buffy” series creator Joss Whedon. And Buffy herself, the Chosen One, Sarah Michelle Gellar was also not present.
Also taking part in the reunion were Julie Benz (Darla), Iyari Limon (Kennedy), James Leary (Clem), Clare Kramer (Glory), Alexis Denisof (Wesley), and Amy Acker (Fred from “Angel”).
“Buffy” ran from 1997 to 2003 on first The WB and then UPN. It yielded the spinoff “Angel” and inspired a passionate fandom.
