Every other Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!
Sarah Michelle Gellar — er, Prinze — may be a grown-up glamorous lady in big-screen movies now, but once upon a time she was the teenage vampire ass-kicker Buffy on beloved series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you could recast that show with new actors, who could fill SMP's shoes?
What about other characters, like Xander, Willow, Giles and Spike? If you so desire, you could also recast other players who came and went, like Cordelia, Angel, Dawn and Anya, though these characters are not necessary for the recast.
Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, Jan. 22, complete with a "new" cast photo. To see a list of characters to recast and a photo of the BuzzSugar t-shirt, read more
Characters to recast:
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Prinze)
Xander (Nicholas Brendon)
Willow (Alyson Hannigan)
Giles (Anthony Head)
Spike (James Marsters)
The BuzzSugar t-shirt


















See by Chloe
3.1 Phillip Lim
Martick Jewellery
Buffy-- Ellen Page
1Xander-- Chace Crawford(from Gossip Girl)
Willow-- Zooey Deschanel
Giles-- Tom Welling
Spike-- Chad Michael Murray
Buffy-Evan Rachel Wood (if she can deal with Mr.Manson she can handle vampires)
2Xander-Adam Brody
Willow-Samaire Armstrong
Giles-Hugh Laurie
Spike-Ed Westwick (he is evil enough)
Buffy: Natalie Portman
Xander: Michael Cera
Willow: Kate Bosworth
Giles: Joseph Fiennes
Spike: James McAvoy
Angel: Hayden Christensen
3Cordelia: Leighton Meester
Buffy(Scarlett Johannson)
4Willow(Danielle Harris)
Xander(Adrian Grenier)
Giles(Daniel Day-Lewis)
Spike(Stephen Dorff)
I know at least one of these is going to be obvious, but...
Buffy - Hayden Panettiere
5Willow - Kat Dennings
Xander - Shia Labeouf
Giles - David Thewlis
Spike - Tom Felton
i loved this show! i can't even think of anyone that can substitute for the real thing..
6by the way - there's a rumor i heard for all you buffy fans - the WHOLE set of dvds (season 1 - to the end) is at costco for $100 bucks... thought i'd pass on the info!
Buffy Ellen Page
7Xander Michael Cera
Willow Katherine Heigl
Giles Denzel Washington
Spike Ryan Philippe
Oh, my GOD, my favey favey show!! I miss Buffy so much, STILL. ;(
Buffy - Kristen Bell
Xander - Shia LeBeouf
Willow - Ellen Page
Giles - Hugh Laurie
Spike - James McAvoy
Extra Credit:
Angel - Emile Hirsch
Cordelia - Megan Fox
Anya - Amanda Bynes
Tara - Chloe Sevigny
Riley - Paul Walker
Dawn - Daveigh Chase
I think I use Hugh Laurie in, like, every recast!
8Buffy--Michelle Ryan
9Willow--Tina Majorino
Xander--Kyle Gallner
Giles--Jude Law
Spike--Jason Dohring
if it makes a difference i really like WiplashgirlChild's picks (coming from a hardcore buffy fan who really can't see anyone else but SMG being buffy!)
10Buffy- Kristin Stewart
11Xander- Penn Badgley
Willow- Amber Tamblyn
Giles- Paul Bettany
Spike- Kyle Schmid
*Kristen
12
13Buffy Kristen Bell
Xander Zach Levi (Chuck on 'Chuck')
Willow Tina Majorino
Giles Charles Shaugnessey (Mr. Sheffield on The Nanny)
Spike Ed Westwick- (Gossip Girl- Chuck Bass)
Extras-
Cordelia- Rachel Bilson
Wesley- James Scott (All My Children, Days of Our Lives)
14Buffy: Blake Lively
Xander:Zach Braff
Willow:Alexis Bledel
Giles: Simon Cowell
Spike: Jesse Spencer
Simon would be great. "Buffy, that was just dreadful. I really don't know why you're the chosen one."
15Buffy: Britney Spears
16Xander: Adnan Ghalib
Willow: Alli Simms
Giles: Sam Lufti
Spike: Kevin Federline
Love this show. Really can't see anyone else in these parts...but also can't resist a recast challenge. So here goes.
Buffy - Natalie Portman
Xander - Patrick Fugit
Willow - Jena Malone
Giles - Colin Firth
Spike - Cillian Murphy (he's got those cheekbones)
And for fun...
Dawn - Ellen Page
17Anya - Anna Paquin
Cordelia - Rachel Bilson
Angel - Ryan Reynolds
Buffy - Kristen Bell
18Xander - Ashton Kutcher
Willow - Rachel Bilson
Giles - Michael Weatherly (even those he's not British)
Spike - Seth Green
Buffy – Kristen Bell
Xander – Zachary Levi (Chuck)
Willow – Tina Majorino
Giles – Ewan McGreggor
Spike – Milo Ventimiglia
For funsies
19Angel – Hayden Christensen
Cordeila – Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl)
this show can never be recast.
seriously, i don't think this show is old enough to
be recast. a lot of ppl are putting down actresses who are similar in age to smg, so it doesn't make a lot of sense.
btw, i LOVE that angel isn't included in the recast.
20Buffy-Kristin Bell
21Xander-John Krasinski
Willow-America Ferrera
Giles-Ricky Gervais
Spike-Zachary Quinto
Buffy-Hayden Panettiere
22Xander-Michael Cera
Willow-Ellen Page
Giles-David Tennant
Spike-Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Buffy - Kristen Bell
Xander - Adam Brody
Willow - Ellen Page
Giles - Colin Firth
Spike - Jensen Ackles
Cordelia - Sophia Bush
23Angel - Milo Ventimiglia
Dawn - Hayden Panettiere
Anya - Jena Malone
Here goes…
Buffy (Monica Keena)
Xander (Nick Stahl)
Willow (Mila Kunis)
Giles (Lance Henkriksen)
Spike (Karl Urban)
Angel (James Franco)
24Cordelia (Megan Fox)
Anya (Kelly Carlson)
That is... Lance Henriksen*, as Giles.
25I see some people had some of the same ideas as me.
Buffy - Hayden Panettiere
Xander - James Marsden (a little older but definitely the Xander vibe from him)
Willow - Krysten Ritter (Gia from S2 of VM)
Giles - John Barrowman (Jack Harknesss, Torchwood)
Spike - Ed Westwicke
for extra credit ...
26Dawn - Willa Holland (Kaitlin, The OC)
Cordelia - Rachel Bilson
Angel - Jason Dohring
It's tough to imagine the show being cast with other actors and actresses. The original cast is perfect IMHO, especially Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Buffy - Amber Tamblyn ("Joan Of Arcadia") - one of the most talented young actresses right now
Xander - Jesse Bradford ("Bring It On") or Shia LaBeouf (Jesse probably is a little bit too old if you'd cast him now)- both are kinda geeky, yet handsome and charming
Willow - Kristen Stewart ("Speak") - she looks not only sweet, but also smart and is very gifted as an actress. A girl who's pretty tough to hate.
Giles - Victor Garber ("Alias") - originally I wanted to go with Johnny Lee Miller, but he's too young. Victor on the hand has everything a good father figure needs. He proved that on "Alias".
Spike - Ryan Gosling ("Stay") - talented and handsome.
Angel - Eric Dane ("Grey's Anatomy") - not a good actor, but at least he'd be handsome and mysterious enough
Cordelia - Caroline Dhavernas ("Wonderfalls") - pretty, likeable, but can play "b*tchy" just as well as nice
Anya - Becki Newton ("Ugly Betty") - I think she has a comedic timing that is just as good as Emma Caulfield's.
Tara - Jayma Mays ("Ugly Betty", "Heroes") or Majandra Delfino ("Roswell") - very likeable and shy.
Oz - Eric Lively ("Speak") - handsome.
27Alright, this is a little perverse but...
Buffy - Sara Foster
Willow - Jill Ritchie
Xander - Jordana Brewster
Giles - Susan Sarandon
Spike - Scarlet Johansson
Angel - Danny (from Tia Tequila)
Cordelia - Meagan Good
Dawn - Hayden Panettiere
Tara - Michelle Trachtenberg
Anya - Ashley Tisdale
28Buffy - Kristin Bell
Xander - Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds)
Willow - Jenna Fischer (The Office)
Giles - David Duchovny
Spike - Cillian Murphy
Anya - Liza Weil (Gilmore Girls)
29Tara - Chloe Sevigny
Andrew - Michael Cera
Warren - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Jonathan - Emile Hirsch
Drusilla - Helena Bonham Carter
Buffy- Hayden Panettiere
30Willow- Jena Malone
Xander- Zac Efron
Giles- Sacha Baron Cohen
Spike- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Oh this is a hard one. I can't picture any one other than SMG to be Buffy. I love this show.
31Buffy - Elisha Cuthbert
Xander - Adam Brody
Willow - Lacey Chabert
Giles - Matthew Broderick
Spike - Wentworth Miller
32Buffy - Taylor Momsen
33Willow - Tina Majorino
Xander - Michael Cera
Giles - Gary Oldman
Spike - Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
Buffy: Kristen Bell ("Heroes")
Giles: Victor Garber ("Alias")
Willow: Ellen Page ("Juno")
Xander: James Franco ("Annapolis")
Spike: Jonathan Rhees Meyer ("The Tudors")
Cordelia: Leighton Meister ("Gossip Girl")
34Angel: Dave Annable ("Brothers and Sisters")
Anya: Zooey Deschanel ("Tin Man")
Dawn: Anna Sophia Robb ("Bridge to Terabithia")
I am concerned with all the hot Giles. This could cause a few problems...
35Buffy: Hayden Pantierre (heroes)
36Willow: Alexis Bledel (gilmore girls)
Xander: Josh Radnor (how I met your mother)
Spike: Johnny Depp
Giles: Steve Coogan
Buffy (Scarlett Johansson)
37Xander (Gordon Joseph Levitt)
Willow (Melanie Lynskey)
Giles (Gabriel Byrne)
Spike (Heath Ledger)
Buffy - Kristen Bell
38Willow - Ellen Page
Xander - Penn Badgley
Giles - Michael Caine
Spike - Milo Ventimiglia
This was a fun one! I had quite a few choices for some of the characters. Here are the best ones I came up with:
Buffy-Hayden Panettiere (Sometimes the obvious choice is the best one.)
Willow-Ellen Page
Xander-Penn Badgley
Giles-Christopher Walken (Don't even try to tell me he wouldn't make an amazing Giles!)
Spike-James Franco
Extras:
39Cordelia-Leighton Meester
Angel-Jared Leto
Dawn-Emma Watson
Anya-Brittany Snow
Buffy - Alona Tal (Meg on VM, Jo on Supernatural) Similar body type to SMG, she's blonde, and she was in the Israeli army, so you know she could fight.
40Xander - Zach Gilford (Saracen on Friday Night Lights) He has the fumbling stumbling attitude down pat as evidenced in nearly every episode of FNL
Willow - Emma Watson (Hermione on HP) Hermione and Willow are very similar, so you know she can play the brainy girl, and she's got the looks to pull of the sexy Willow of the later years
Giles - Paul Blackthorne (Harry Dresden on The Dresden Files) British, authoratative, and he's been in genre shows before.
Spike - Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Bend It Like Beckham) He has the lithe physique, and the ability to convey the smoldering danger that always emanated from Spike
Buffy: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars)
Xander: Zachary Levi (Chuck)
Willow: Alexandra Holden (How to Deal)
Giles: Kenneth Branaugh (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
Spike: Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind)
And two extras . . .
41Angel: Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors) (who, like Angel, is actually Irish)
Cordelia: Linda Cardellini (Freaks and Geeks) (to be the opposite of her old character Lindsay Wier)
Buffy - Kristen Bell
Xander - Adam Brody
Willow - Zooey Deschanel
Giles - Bradley Whitford
Spike - Jonathan Rhys Meyers
I think Kristen would make a great Buffy (though of course noone can replace SMG/P in my heart!) she's a fantastic comedy actress, and Buffy had some great one-liners, and as Veronica Mars she was pretty much a Buffy-type character with less vampires!
42Buffy-Hayden Panettiere
43Xander-Adam Brody or Penn Badgley (i really dont want 2 cast members from gossip girl in, it but Penn is just sooo cute)
Willow-Ellen Page
Giles-Hugh Laurie
Spike-Ed Westwick
Ok this is going to be crazy but...
Buffy - Kristen Bell
44Xander - Seth Rogan
Willow - Anna Faris
Giles - Daniel Craig
Spike - Emile Hirsch
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Prinze) > Blake Lively
45Xander (Nicholas Brendon) > Eric Millegan
Willow (Alyson Hannigan) > Saoirse Ronan
Giles (Anthony Head) > John Simm
Spike (James Marsters) > Callum Blue
Buffy- Evan Rachel Wood
46Xander- Penn Badgley
Willow- Summer Glau
Giles- Christopher Walken
Spike- Drew Fuller
Buffy - Hayden Panettiere
Xander - Adam Brody
Giles - Wil Wheaton
Willow - Ellen Page (Juno)
Spike - Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Angel - Taylor Kitsch
47Before I do the recasting I should mention that up until 6 months ago I had never seen an episode of Buffy. I happened across an episode on FX this past summer, and became addicted! This Friday I will receive the final two dics from the series from netflicks. This show is really amazing, I'm sad to be finished!
I LOVE the original cast, so this was a challenge. Here's my recast...
Buffy: Kristen Bell (LOVE HER)
48Xander: Chris Lowell
Willow: Amanda Seyfried
Giles: Victor Garber
Spike: David Anders
okay so the cast for this show was perfect so I would'nt change a thing but what the hell I'm up for a challenge.
Buffy:Hayden Paneterri (Heroes)
49Xander: Seth Rogen (He was age appropriate 10 years ago)
Willow:Ginnifer Godwin (Big Love)
Giles: Mandi Pantikin (Dead Like Me)
Cordelia: Mila Kunis ( That '70's Show)
Spike: Callum Blue (Dead Like Me, the Tudors)
Tara: Zoe Deshanel (Weeds)
Oz: James Franco
okay so the cast for this show was perfect so I would'nt change a thing but what the hell I'm up for a challenge.
Buffy:Hayden Paneterri (Heroes)
50Xander: Seth Rogen (He was age appropriate 10 years ago)
Willow:Ginnifer Godwin (Big Love)
Giles: Mandi Pantikin (Dead Like Me)
Cordelia: Mila Kunis ( That '70's Show)
Spike: Callum Blue (Dead Like Me, the Tudors)
Tara: Zoe Deshanel (Weeds)
Oz: James Franco
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