Iconic Sunnydale Site Returns in Buffy Reboot Photos

Hulu's upcoming reboot of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' will honor a classic location from the original series, though with a playful, humorous twist.

Production photos from the new series' pilot filming (initially shared on Reddit) reveal a recognizably familiar Sunnydale High School corridor. Complete with lockers and the door to the original gang's meeting spot—the library—it feels instantly iconic.

However, a wider shot reveals this setting is precisely that: a constructed set. More specifically, it's part of a haunted house attraction paying tribute to Buffy's original, vampire-plagued alma mater.

Il y aura une maison hantée sur le thème du lycée de Sunnydale lors du Vampire Weekend dans Buffy Contre les Vampires : New Sunnydale pic.twitter.com/27KsXh7AWp

— Slayer Archives (@SlayerArchives) August 12, 2025

The haunted house exterior is decorated with banners announcing it as part of "Sunnydale's Vampire Weekend," an event that seems to be a knowingly campy celebration of the town's status as a supernatural hot spot.

On set, actors portraying festival-goers have been seen in artificial vampire makeup—distinct from the 'real' vampiric prosthetics used for the show's actual creatures. Other "Vampire Weekend" attractions include stalls selling mystical curiosities and a carnival sideshow named "Van Helsing's Bloodbath."

Much like the recent reveal of Sarah Michelle Gellar's return as Buffy—now in corporate attire—this reboot continues to subvert expectations. The events of the original series have seemingly faded into legend, with the town's infamous Hellmouth now serving as the theme for an event that blends eerie charm with a renaissance fair's aesthetic.

In the original series, Sunnydale High School was famously destroyed during the season three finale, "Graduation Day," as the school united to defeat the Mayor and a horde of vampires. The school was later rebuilt, only to be swallowed—along with the entire town—by a massive sinkhole in the series finale.

This naturally raises questions about where the reboot will be set. Are we seeing a Sunnydale that has been reconstructed from the ashes, now embracing its macabre history—much as the new show honors its predecessor?

Earlier this week, Sarah Michelle Gellar was commended by a new co-star for being on set daily, serving as a lore advisor for the production. This includes, reportedly, offering precise direction on how someone should look after being bitten by a vampire.