When Buffy the Vampire Slayer was airing from 1997 to 2003, fans of the show wanted to see multiple characters developed in their own spin-offs. James Marsters’ punk-rock vampire, Spike, was one of them. But he didn’t get to star in his own show. The rumored spin-off project was never cleared by the studio. There were fears of franchise fatigue, budget concerns, and creator Joss Whedon’s commitments to other projects like Firefly and Serenity stalled progress.
Spike even appeared in the companion series of Buffy called Angel (1999–2004), but since then, there has been no progress on developing something based on just him. But with Buffy the Vampire Slayer getting a reboot, one can’t help but wonder if Spike, will appear in it. After all, while some stars have been confirmed to return, he isn’t one of them. At least yet.
However, his popularity endures, as fan forums and subreddits are full of ideas of what a revival could look like. So, there’s an appetite to see the antihero vampire with a soul. But does the actor want to return after so many years? Let us take a deep dive into the current status of a Spike spin-off.
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What Spike Actor James Marsters Has Said About the Spinoff
James Marsters has always expressed his love for the character of Spike and the desire to reprise him on screen. When he was set to return for the now-canceled Audible series, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, helmed by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden, the actor revealed what it was like stepping back into the role. In an interview with Collider in 2023, he said:
It was easy, as it should be. Like they say in acting, ‘If it’s working, it’s easy.’ And if it’s not working, it’s either because you don’t really understand the writing, or, if the writing, frankly is not that good, then it’s really hard.
Back then, Disney didn’t give a reason for canceling the series, but fans theorized it could be because a reboot was in the works. That ultimately turned out to be right. So, the question now is: will Marsters return for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot starring Sarah Michelle Gellar in a lead role?
In an Instagram post, he clarified that he doesn’t want to talk about it. The actor explained:
First of all, I think I’m just gonna get the elephant in the room out of the way, which is that it’s not a good thing for me to talk about the Buffy reboot. I’m sorry if you were coming here hoping for some news, but in the interests of having the project be the best it can be, it’s best that I keep my mouth shut right now, so I’m gonna do that…
I’m very excited that we’re gonna learn more about the journey of Buffy Summers and how she saves the world because I think the world needs her. So I’m gonna do my part by doing nothing right now.
However, just by making the video and addressing the reboot, he ignited the flames of his return again. But at the time of writing, his return hasn’t been confirmed.
Why They Should Reconsider Making a Spinoff Show on Spike
Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains a cult classic with a strong fan following. Now that a reboot is in the works, it could draw more attention to the original. As such, a new generation could fall for Spike’s charm again. So, if everything goes right, a spin-off with a younger Spike might also be possible.
After all, the door to making a spin-off with an older Spike is firmly closed since the character sacrificed himself to save his friends and Buffy. However, fresh adventures with a younger version could be popular with streaming services. But what could the young Spike’s adventures be about?
In an interview with Radio Times, James Marsters explained that the writers didn’t know what to do with Spike initially. He said:
They never really knew what to do with Spike because the original idea for Buffy was that that vampires were just metaphors for the challenges of high school, or the challenges of life. They were designed to be overcome, they were designed to die….
So trying to fit Spike long term into that kind of show is a weird fit. And so they were always like, coming to me at the beginning of every season saying, ‘We don’t know what to do with you! We have a plan for the season, we have a plan for all the other characters, we have all the arcs of all the other characters, we just don’t know what to do with you again.
However, he explained that since the writers were so creative so they were able to make his character work. The actor elaborated:
Because they were so creative, they were able to figure something out. But what it meant was I think that I was plugged into the other arcs. I was the villain, and then I was the wacky neighbour, and then I was the wrong boyfriend, and then I was the fallen man trying to redeem himself. And then ultimately a kind of guinea pig hero by the end.
So, creative writers can develop regular adventures for Spike and use the baseline established by the original writers, using him to serve the plot while keeping his core character traits the same. After all, that’s what made the original character such a hit with audiences.
We are just spitballing here. But what do you think about the idea of a Spike reboot? Do you think a new generation will love the old character? Or will some tweaks be needed? Let us know your thoughts and theories in the comments below.
All seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are streaming on Hulu.
