Script-writing was done by Mutant Enemy, a production company created by Whedon in 1997. The writers with the most writing credits [49] are Joss Whedon, Steven S. DeKnight, Jane Espenson, David Fury, Drew Goddard, Drew Greenberg, David Greenwalt, Rebecca Rand Kirshner, Marti Noxon and Doug Petrie. Other authors with writing credits include Dean Batali, Carl Ellsworth, Tracey Forbes, Ashley Gable, Howard Gordon, Diego Gutierrez, Elin Hampton, Rob Des Hotel, Matt Kiene, Ty King, Thomas A. Swyden, Joe Reinkemeyer, Dana Reston and Dan Vebber. [50] National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 3–9)". The Los Angeles Times. November 12, 1997 . Retrieved April 18, 2021– via Newspapers.com.

National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 19-25)". The Los Angeles Times. November 28, 2001 . Retrieved May 13, 2021– via Newspapers.com. The series premiered on March 10, 1997, on The WB and concluded on May 20, 2003, on UPN. The series follows Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a succession of young women known as "Vampire Slayers", or simply " Slayers". In the story, Slayers, or the "Chosen Ones", are chosen by fate to battle against vampires, demons and other forces of darkness. Buffy wants to live a normal life, but as the series progresses, she learns to embrace her destiny. Like previous Slayers, Buffy is aided by a Watcher, who guides, teaches and trains her. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy surrounds herself with a circle of loyal friends who become known as the "Scooby Gang" – a reference to the animated franchise Scooby-Doo that features a group of friends solving mysteries together. National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 8-14)". The Los Angeles Times. February 18, 1999 . Retrieved April 30, 2021– via Newspapers.com. Oriol Roig is a comic book artist based in Barcelona. He began as a freelance storyboard artist in advertising. He’s drawn comics for the European market and for BOOM! Studios. Some of the exterior shots of the college Buffy attends, UC Sunnydale, were filmed at UCLA. Several episodes include shots from the Oviatt Library at CSUN. [26] [27] The exterior of the mansion where Angelus, Spike, and Drusilla lived was Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House. [28] Format [ edit ]National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 1-7)". The Los Angeles Times. November 10, 1999 . Retrieved May 3, 2021– via Newspapers.com. In the first few seasons, the most prominent monsters in the Buffy bestiary are vampires based on traditional myths, lore, and literary conventions. As the series continues, Buffy and her companions fight an increasing variety of demons, as well as ghosts, werewolves, zombies, and unscrupulous humans. They frequently save the world from annihilation by a combination of physical combat, magic, and detective-style investigation, and are guided by an extensive collection of ancient and mystical reference books.

The world of The Last Vampire Slayer continues at BOOM! Studios in August 2023. Casey Gilly ( Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Lost Summer) and Oriol Roig ( Forlorn) present the next chapter in the BUFFY THE LAST VAMPIRE SLAYER saga, set after the events of the Buffy The Last Vampire Slayer Special! Katie Holmes and Selma Blair were in the running for the role of Buffy in 1996. [78] Natasha Lyonne was also offered the role but declined it due to not wanting to commit to a series at the age of 16. [79] Other actresses who originally auditioned for the role of Buffy and got other roles in the show include Julie Benz (Darla), Elizabeth Anne Allen (Amy Madison), Julia Lee (Chantarelle/Lily Houston), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase) and Mercedes McNab (Harmony Kendall). [80] Bianca Lawson, who played slayer Kendra Young in season 2 of the show, originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia before Carpenter was cast in the role. [81] In Buffy's senior year at high school, she meets Faith ( Eliza Dushku), another Slayer called forth when Slayer Kendra Young ( Bianca Lawson) was killed by vampire Drusilla ( Juliet Landau) in season two. Although Faith initially fights on the side of good with Buffy and the rest of the group, she later joins forces with Mayor Richard Wilkins ( Harry Groener) after accidentally killing a human. She reappears briefly in the fourth season, looking for vengeance, and moves to Angel where she voluntarily goes to jail for her crimes. Faith reappears in season seven of Buffy, after having helped Angel and his crew, and fights alongside Buffy against the First Evil. The cast of characters grew over the course of the series. Buffy first arrives in Sunnydale with her mother, Joyce Summers ( Kristine Sutherland), who functions as an anchor of normality in the Summers' lives even after she learns of Buffy's role in the supernatural world (" Becoming, Part Two"). Buffy's younger sister Dawn Summers ( Michelle Trachtenberg) is introduced in season five (" Buffy vs. Dracula"). Angel ( David Boreanaz), a vampire cursed with a soul, is Buffy's love interest throughout the first three seasons. He leaves Buffy after realizing he will never be able to give her a normal life. He goes on to make amends for his sins and to search for redemption in his own spin-off television series, Angel. He makes several guest appearances in the remaining seasons, and is present in Buffy 's final episode.

Andrew Wells, portrayed by Tom Lenk (seasons 5–7): A nerd who becomes a foe of Buffy, mainly through peer pressure, bad judgment, and a secret love for Warren Mears. After he's captured and held by the Scooby Gang, he eventually starts helping. He does try to redeem himself throughout season seven. There are several humorous hints that he is gay. His character continues to grow and develop after the end of the seventh season of Buffy, as evidenced by his guest appearances on Angel. During Season 8, he resides in Italy being the Watcher of many vampire slayers. Buffy calls Andrew part of the family in Predators and Prey, Part 3. National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 25-31)". The Los Angeles Times. February 3, 1999 . Retrieved April 29, 2021– via Newspapers.com. National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 17–23)". The Los Angeles Times. November 26, 1997 . Retrieved April 20, 2021– via Newspapers.com. Main articles: Buffyverse canon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer video games, List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels, and List of Buffyverse comics National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 15-21)". The Los Angeles Times. October 24, 2001 . Retrieved May 12, 2021– via Newspapers.com.

In addition to Boreanaz, Angel inherited Buffy series cast regular Charisma Carpenter ( Cordelia Chase). When Glenn Quinn ( Doyle) left the series during its first season, Alexis Denisof ( Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), who played a recurring character in the last nine episodes of season three of Buffy, took his place. Carpenter and Denisof were followed later by Mercedes McNab ( Harmony Kendall) and James Marsters ( Spike). Several actors and actresses who played Buffy characters made guest appearances on Angel, including Seth Green ( Daniel "Oz" Osbourne), Sarah Michelle Gellar ( Buffy Summers), Eliza Dushku ( Faith), Tom Lenk ( Andrew Wells), Alyson Hannigan ( Willow Rosenberg), Julie Benz ( Darla), Mark Metcalf ( The Master), Julia Lee ( Anne Steele) and Juliet Landau ( Drusilla). Angel also continued to appear occasionally on Buffy. National Nielsen Viewership (March 11–17)". The Los Angeles Times. March 20, 2002 . Retrieved May 15, 2021– via Newspapers.com. National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 28-March 5)". The Los Angeles Times. March 8, 2000 . Retrieved May 5, 2021– via Newspapers.com.National Nielsen Viewership (May 4–10)". The Los Angeles Times. May 13, 1998 . Retrieved April 24, 2021– via Newspapers.com.

It’s awesome what Casey is doing with Buffy. Urban fantasy with monsters, magic, romance, drama… What’s not to love?” says artist Oriol Roig. “Getting to bring this to life is an absolute treat.” National Nielsen Viewership (April 14–20)". The Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1997 . Retrieved April 14, 2021– via Newspapers.com. National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 24–30)". The Los Angeles Times. December 3, 1997 . Retrieved April 20, 2021– via Newspapers.com. National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 9-15)". The Los Angeles Times. November 18, 1998 . Retrieved April 28, 2021– via Newspapers.com.Spike's unorthodox coven is revealed, along with their plans to continue Willow's work and save humanity, but they're struggling with spells, and the brutality of the vampires against witches had deep ramifications. But Buffy is having visions of the past that brings up conflict with Spike, as well as guilt. Can they find a way to make the spells work, find out what part Thessaly plays in all of this, as well as deal with a threat more deadly than perpetual darkness? Rutenberg, Jim (April 21, 2001). " 'Buffy,' Moving to UPN, Tries to Be WB Slayer". The New York Times . Retrieved December 8, 2019.