The Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe is officially expanding - not on TV, but in a new format that promises to bring the same supernatural thrills fans loved. Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, an Audible Original audio drama created by Amber Benson (Tara Maclay) and longtime Buffy novelist Christopher Golden, will reunite several original cast members for a nine-episode, eight-hour adventure set 20 years after the show’s iconic 2003 finale.
Benson and Golden are billing the project as both a reunion and a fresh supernatural tale that blends nostalgia with new stakes. The cast reprising their roles includes James Marsters (Spike), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Anthony Head (Giles), Juliet Landau (Drusilla), Emma Caulfield Ford (Anya), Amber Benson (Tara), James Charles Leary (Clem), and Danny Strong (Jonathan). Newcomer Laya DeLeon Hayes joins the ensemble as Indira, a 16-year-old Slayer who finds herself in over her head.
The story centers on Spike, who has gone deep undercover in Los Angeles, convincing the local forces of darkness that he’s returned to his evil ways. His plans are disrupted when he crosses paths with Indira Nunnally, a rookie Slayer in need of guidance. While searching for a Watcher to train her, Spike encounters a parallel reality where Buffy Summers never existed - and Cordelia Chase is the one and only Slayer!
In this alternate world, Cordelia faces a dangerous “Big Bad” whose plans threaten chaos. She joins forces with Spike, whose past comes back to haunt him when his former flame Drusilla is revealed as the villain behind the turmoil. The series promises a mix of danger, redemption, and unexpected alliances.
“I’m ecstatic to be back with my dear friends for this next chapter in the Buffyverse… 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.”
- James Marsters
One point of curiosity for fans has been the absence of Buffy herself and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Golden addressed this on Twitter, clarifying that only the rights holders can declare something canon, that recasting Buffy was never an option, and that Gellar had no interest in reprising the role. Buffy is mentioned in the series but does not appear.
The project also notably has no involvement from Buffy creator Joss Whedon, following allegations from multiple cast and crew members about an alleged toxic work environment during the original show’s run. For some fans, that separation is a welcome change.
Charisma Carpenter, who has publicly criticized Whedon in the past, expressed her enthusiasm for Slayers on Instagram, calling it “justice for Cordelia” and praising Benson and Golden for crafting a story that redeems her character. “It’s ultimately why I agreed to be a part of it,” she wrote.
James Marsters, now 61, shared his excitement in a statement: “I’m ecstatic to be back with my dear friends for this next chapter in the Buffyverse… 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.”
Slayers: A Buffyverse Story will not only revisit fan-favorite characters including several who died in Buffy or its spinoff Angel but also expand the mythology in surprising ways. With Benson herself returning as Tara and Caulfield reprising Anya, the drama will explore alternate realities where these characters’ fates took different turns.
For longtime Buffy fans, the series promises both a dose of nostalgia and a bold reimagining of the Slayer mythos. And if the Audible experiment proves successful, it could be the start of a new era for the Buffyverse - one told through sound, but with all the wit, drama, and supernatural stakes the franchise is known for.
