Michelle Trachtenberg ‘felt hopeful’ about starring in Buffy reboot before her death
The late actress played Dawn, the younger sister of Buffy.
Michelle Trachtenberg was in talks to star in the upcoming revival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer before her death, it’s been reported.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the actress had died at the age of 39., after being found in a luxury apartment complex in New York.
She was best-known for her roles in TV shows including Buffy and Gossip Girl, as well as films such as Ice Princess and EuroTrip.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that a reboot of the series following vampire slayer Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, is in the works.
Details are scarce at the moment, except the fact that Sarah, 47, will be returning and that Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao will be at the helm.
However, it’s been claimed that Trachtenberg – who starred as Buffy’s younger sister Dawn Summers from 2000 until 2003 – was poised to return.
Tributes have come pouring in for the late star following her death (Picture: P. Lehman/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)‘Michelle Trachtenberg was in talks to return to Buffy the reboot and she was incredibly hopeful about it,’ a source told
‘Sarah Michelle obviously felt that the reboot would need her as much as it needed Sarah.’
The insider added that Trachtenberg had a ‘pivotal role’ in the original series, ‘and everyone was aware of her recent health struggles’.
‘They were hoping that, perhaps, casting her as Sarah’s sister in a reboot would help her overcome any issues she was having. She was not cast out by any means,’ they continued.
Tributes have poured in for Trachtenberg following the news of her death, including from her former co-stars.
She played socialite Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl (Picture: CW Network/Everett/Rex Features/Shutterstock)Blake Lively, who starred opposite Trachtenberg in Gossip Girl implored people to remember the late actress’s ‘work and huge heart’.
‘She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself,’ wrote Lively, 37.
The A Simple Favor actress added: ‘The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.’
Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford, 39, said that Trachtenberg was ‘one of a kind’ and a ‘force of nature’.
Buffy star Alyson Hannigan, 50, wrote that she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news of the actress’s death.
‘She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy. My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends,’ she wrote.
Trachtenberg made her debut in Buffy as Dawn in 2000 in the season five episode Buffy vs Dracula (Picture: 20th Century Fox Television/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)David Boreanaz, 55, who appeared in both Buffy and Angel, penned: ‘So very sad… Horrible news. RIP and prayers to her and her family.’
Gellar recently opened up about the Buffy reboot, emphasising that she was determined to make sure that the revival was done in the ‘right’ way.
‘I wish there was a better word than overwhelming. It’s heartwarming and exciting and also incredibly nerve-wracking at the same time,’ she told People Magazine.
The lead actress added that she believes fans ‘are going to be pretty impressed’.
The unnamed sequel has been tipped as the next chapter in the Buffyverse, and will serve as the third in the franchise – the original Buffy programme led to spinoff Angel.
Buffy creator Joss Whedon, who faced misconduct allegations in 2021, has no involvement in the reboot.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Michelle Trachtenberg’s representative for comment.
A previous version of this article was published on February 17.
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