Sarah Michelle Gellar Is Back in Action: Buffy Star Boards Stop That Train
Sarah Michelle Gellar hits the accelerator, joining action comedy Stop That Train as Hulu slams the brakes on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.
Well, here’s one way to bounce back after having your long-awaited franchise reboot pulled out from under you: sign up for a wild new comedy that sounds about as far from the supernatural gloom of Buffy as possible. Sarah Michelle Gellar, recently unhooked from Hulu’s canceled attempt to bring Buffy back (the awesomely titled Buffy: New Sunnydale), is now taking a very different ride — literally — into the chaos of Stop That Train, a drag-fueled action comedy anchored straight in the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe.
From Vampire Slayer to Runaway Train… Stewardess?
In a bit of casting that feels both random and weirdly perfect, Gellar is playing — wait for it — herself. She joins a stacked, if somewhat bonkers, line-up: Nicole Richie, Raven-Symoné, Michelle Visage, Chris Parnell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Charo (yes, that Charo), Brian Jordan Alvarez, Natasha Leggero, Drew Droege, and Joel McHale are all set to drop in for cameos or larger roles. In other words, we’re looking at maximum camp.
The film’s premise is exactly as messy and ridiculous as you’d hope. According to the official description:
'Tess (played by Ginger Minj) and DeeDee (Jujubee) work as train stewardesses on the over-the-top Glamazonian Express. But when a disaster called a “Stormganza” threatens to send the train off the rails, they’re forced to team up with snotty first-class staff and President Gagwell (RuPaul, naturally). The result: a messy collision of drama, drag, and comedy hurtling at high speed.'
No word yet on whether Gellar as “Sarah Michelle Gellar” picks up a stake or sticks to cocktails, but honestly, with a movie this over-the-top, anything is possible.
How Did We Get Here?
If you missed the saga: Gellar was all set to return to her signature role as a grown-up Buffy mentoring rookie slayers in Hulu’s sequel series. It even had a title: Buffy: New Sunnydale. But for reasons only execs and, probably, NDAs know, Hulu pulled the plug before giving it a full series order. Instead of crying into her crossbow, Gellar’s gone and joined the most colorful ensemble this side of a Pride parade.
Who’s Actually On This Train?
- Sarah Michelle Gellar (as herself)
- RuPaul (President Gagwell)
- Nicole Richie
- Raven-Symoné
- Michelle Visage
- Chris Parnell
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson
- Charo
- Brian Jordan Alvarez
- Natasha Leggero
- Drew Droege
- Joel McHale
- Ginger Minj (Tess)
- Jujubee (DeeDee)
If that reads like a fever dream, buckle up — that’s the energy this movie is banking on.
Big Picture
This project is still in early days, but it’s already promising more celebrity cameos than sanity might dictate. So, if you’re still mourning the resurrection of the Slayer that never happened, at least Gellar’s next gig sounds like pure serotonin. Not the return Buffy fans expected — but definitely the drag train comedy no one saw coming.