'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Cast Reunites For New Spike-Centered Audio Story
Audible's 'Slayers: A Buffyverse Story' releases on October 12
Rebooting Buffy The Vampire Slayer has proven to be quite difficult, at least on television. Twenty years after the series finale, fifteen years after getting into the comics groove, and just in time for Halloween, the franchise shifts into another medium: audio.
Slayers: A Buffyverse Story is a nine-episode scripted audio original premiering October 12 that brings back a good handful of the original cast, written by Tara’s actress, Amber Benson, who also returns in her role. Those starring include lead James Marsters as Spike, Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, Anthony Head as Giles, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Emma Caulfield Ford as Anya, James Charles Leary as Clem, and Danny Strong as Jonathan Levinson. While audiobooks and podcasts are not struck work and use different contracts, all the work predates both of this summer’s strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
10 years after the series finale, Spike has gone deep undercover in Los Angeles, convincing the darker forces of the world that he’s returned to evil. Sixteen-year-old Slayer Indira Nunnally (Laya DeLeon Hayes) compromises his cover, and so Spike finds himself looking after her. In looking for a Watcher to assign his eager new protégé, they come across a veteran Slayer of a Buffy Summers-less alternate universe that didn’t have the mass activations: Cordelia Chase. She needs Spike’s help with a Drusilla that’s terrorizing her world.
“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,” Marsters said in a statement. “I’m excited for old and new fans to experience this beloved world of vampire slaying like never before, brought to life through immersive audio storytelling.” Rachel Ghiazza, Chief Content Officer at Audible remarked "Slayers: A Buffyverse Story offers a fresh, dynamic take on a cult-classic that takes listeners on a fun and nostalgic ride. The all-star cast reprising beloved roles, as well as newcomers, bring to life a storyline that will entertain fans of the original series and pull in first-time Sunnydale visitors.”
So far, Hayes is the only announced newcomer to the cast. As previously mentioned Slayers: A Buffyverse Story was written by Benson and Christopher Golden, and directed by them and Kc Wayland. The former two have also written comics based on the series. The comics include five additional canonical seasons of the television series, and a line by Boom! Studios that does to Buffy what they did to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by bringing its setting to modern day, running from 2019 to 2022. The latest series, which wrapped this past July saw Willow take on Slayer duties due to a spell gone awry. The production also allows Carpenter to reclaim Cordelia in a healthier work environment than she had when the spinoff Angel took the character in the direction it did late in her time there because of franchise creator Joss Whedon.
The series will also have a New York Comic Con panel on Friday, October 13 at 1:30pm, featuring Marsters, Hayes, Carpenter, Caulfield Ford, Leary, Landau, Benson and Golden and all weekend long attendees can visit Audible’s Slayers-themed activation. But not the kind of activation that makes Slayers.
Source: Audible,Buffyverse Wiki