The complicated legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Cult series has been marred by allegations of 'cruel' behaviour on set, 'toxic' plot lines and cast members' troubled personal lives

Two decades after Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired its final episode, a surprise reboot of the era-defining show has been announced - but does the beloved series stand the test of time?. Last week, the streaming platform Hulu said it would be taking over the show for a reboot, with lead actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, 47, revealing she would be reprising her role - despite having previously vowed to avoid taking part in any future spinoffs.

The cult series, set in the fictional Californian town of Sunnydale in the late 90s to early noughties, followed teenager Buffy, played by Gellar, who attended school by day and hunted evil spirits by night. It reached millions of viewers around the world and attracted a loyal following of fans in its six-year run from 1997-2003 - but despite achieving cult status, many aspects of the show have failed to stand the test of time in a post-Me Too era, while some of the cast and crew have fallen from grace.

Arrests, allegations of abusive behaviour on set and distressing plotlines have plagued Buffy the Vampire Slayer's legacy - as it now bids to appeal to a younger, modern audience. Among the figures whose reputations have been sullied are the show's creator Joss Whedon and Nicholas Brendon, who plays Buffy's loveable, puppy-dog best friend Xander. The content of the show, too, has been heavily scrutinised by modern-day viewers, as characters are accused of displaying 'toxic' masculinity and plotlines leave people in distress.

Although Gellar is slated to star in the reboot, Whedon, who was cancelled after a cast member accused him of being 'casually cruel' amid other allegations, is not expected to be involved with the new intonation of Buffy. Last week, the streaming platform Hulu, said it would be taking over the show for a reboot, with lead actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, 47, (pictured) revealing she would be returning to her role, despite having vowed firmly to avoid taking part in any future spinoffs.

Two decades after Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired its final episode, a surprise reboot of the era-defining show has been announced (pictured onset in 1997). Instead Chloe Zhao - best known for her Oscar-winning film Nomadland - will direct the production, while Dolly Parton has been named among the executive producers via her production company Sandollar, which was responsible for the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel television series.

Posting on Instagram to confirm she was involved in talks for the reboot, Gellar told fans: 'we will only make this show if we know we can do it right.'. Indeed, the production team faces a legacy from the original cult series that is at times uncomfortable. Here, FEMAIL looks back on the many controversies that have surrounded Buffy the Vampire Slayer as it's set for a reboot in the post-Me Too era...

Sexism and diversity rows. When it hit screens in the late 90s, Buffy was groundbreaking in many ways; it featured a female heroine who was skilled in martial arts to defeat 'bad guys', and Willow and Tara's relationship was widely considered the first recurring female couple to appear on a TV series. However, as years have passed since the series aired, it has received more and more criticism over a lack of diversity in other areas; while also being slammed for promoting toxic masculinity in male characters - some of whom were presented as heartthrobs.

Best friend and side-kick Xander, played by Nicholas Brendon, posed as the typical 'nice guy' but could scarcely walk the streets without ogling or pestering passing women. In one scene in the pilot episode, Buffy drops her books, to which Xander responds by saying 'Can I have you? Oh I mean, can I help you?', a demeanor he maintains throughout the show. Such behaviour has been criticised as anti-feminist by modern viewers of the show.

The overall depiction of female characters on the show has sparked furious debate among fans, with some branding the portrayals as sexist, while others say they are empowering. Series six of the show (which was perhaps the most controversial among the fanbase) depicted two prominent female characters indulging in 'evil' behaviour after suffering tragedy as they went on vengeful rampages. Such spiralling female characters led some to brand the writing as misogynistic; a criticism that the show's creators addressed years later.

While some fans rejoiced at the news, many have been left questioning how the show's infamously 'toxic' plotlines and behind-the-scenes controversies will translate to a modern audience. The Hulu reboot - which will surprisingly include lead protagonist, Gellar - will not feature Whedon, who's reputation took a career-shattering beating after a slew of allegations accused him of breeding a 'toxic' work environment, calling colleagues 'fat' and sleeping with cast members (pictured in 2005).