Sarah Michelle Gellar was not always keen on reprising her role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer after the series ended in 2003, following seven seasons.

However, as Gellar has signed up to return to the Buffy-verse in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, she has reflected on never closing the door on the possibilities that may arise.

“I actually like when people bring up that I said ‘never,’ because I really felt that way,” Gellar told ComicBook. “So, lesson learned, first of all, young children… Never say never. Say, ‘I don’t see it happening,’ but don’t say ‘never,’ because then you have egg on your face.”

She continued, “But I truly thought that’s where I was at. I never heard a take or a reason to do it. Then Chloé Zhao came to me, and she had the reasons, and she had the take. Also, I was in a different place. The world was in a different place. With that being said, it’s still taken us four years to get to this place because I would say, ‘Yes,’ and then I would call a month later and say, ‘No. No, no, no. I can’t.’ I’m Cameron Frye from Ferris Bueller. ‘Again, again, again…’”

With Chloé Zhao attached to direct the pilot of the Buffy reboot, many would want to work alongside the Oscar-winning director, but Gellar reveals she also shot the filmmaker down initially.

“I just asked people to give me the time and understand that it took us six years to get a sequel to Ready or Not. When you want to do things right, it takes time. Mind you, I also said no to Chloe many times in the beginning, as well. Her passion, and her reasoning for wanting to do it, and why now, and why it is necessary.”

During an appearance on the Shut Up, Evan podcast, Gellar opened up about what led her to accept returning as Buffy and work with Zhao.

“Chloé Zhao came to me and not just her passion, because I’ve seen people with passion before, but she knew how to go into the world. She knew what the world was, and she knew the way,” Gellar said. “And that was the first time I said, ‘Maybe, could I possibly do this? And this went on for three years now … me and Chloé going back and forth, saying I could do it, saying I can’t, and really spending the time to develop what it is and why it is.”