Except, the latest version of the stake-wielding teen to be given the cinematic treatment will go ahead without Whedon himself. After writing the script for the hugely popular TV series, which starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, it has been confirmed that he will not be involved with Buffy’s return to the big screen.

Instead, the script has been given a makeover by actress and writer, Whit Anderson, and taken up by Warner Bros. Also involved is Batman Begins producer, Charles Roven, who has said he “saw something special in Anderson’s tone and story“.

Fans of the cult show will either be eager to see the return of the much-loved characters or, perhaps more likely, up in arms about the reboot, which many feel to be somewhat premature.

Of course, it’s not the first time that Buffy has been given the cinematic treatment. In fact the character was first introduced to the world in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer film, starring Kristy Swanson and Donald Sutherland, although it was not nearly as popular as the subsequent TV series.

Anderson, however, seems confident about the project, referencing Christopher Nolan’s Batman remake as an example of how a familiar character and story can be “brought to the big screen with vital new vision”. Perhaps the upcoming Spider-Man reboot will serve as some indication as to how successful this concept can be. And if all else fails, everyone still loves vampires, right? ….right?

“Everything has its moment. Every movie takes on a life at some point, and this seems like the moment to do this,” he told the Hollywood Reporter.

Hmmm, anything to do with the popularity of fellow vampire hit franchise Twilight, Kuzui? Considering the fact that Robert Pattinson plays fanged hero Edward in the series, I’m not sure how much sympathy vampire slayers will get in this day and age.