Sarah Michelle Gellar is diving back into a teen horror flick for Paramount+’s series “Wolf Pack” as a star and executive producer. So, what really tempted her to return to the genre that launched her career?
“It was like all the stars aligned,” the actress said during a Television Critics Association panel on Wednesday. “I really honestly had no intention of saying yes at first. I read the script, and it was the first time my interest was so piqued and I wasn’t sure where it was going.”
After leading “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for seven seasons and starring in films like “Cruel Intentions,” Geller said she’s received more horror movie and TV pitches than she has ever received. But there was something in the script for “Wolf Pack” that reminded him of his roots.
“I think one of the beauties of ‘Buffy’ was the metaphorical aspect of it. We were using these real monsters as metaphors for the horrors of high school and for me, that’s what made the show. It’s so important and Why it still stands the test of time,” she continued.
Then it was a conversation with writer and executive producer Jeff Davis about the issues of the “Wolf Pack” (“predominantly anxiety and depression among children… and the lack of connectivity near youth”) that sealed the deal. . However, Davis admitted that he did not think it would be possible to get Geller on board.
“When the studio came up to me and said, ‘What about Sarah Michelle Gellar?’ I said, ‘We’re never going to get Sarah Michelle Gellar,'” he said, sending a script anyway, never thinking he’d hear back. “Then suddenly the next day, I got a call from her agent. That ‘Sarah wants to meet on Zoom.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, s-, really?’ So it’s quite a surprise to know how real and grounded she is.”
In addition to the script, Gellar said she was also inspired by the idea of making a series for a streaming service in 2022 that would allow for a lot more creative freedom than a network show in the ’90s.
“Even ‘Brutal Intentions’, which pushed the envelope so far, could only go so far because we were still under the guise of dramatic ratings,” she explained. “Streaming is still like the wild, wild west. It’s the untouched part that I haven’t had a chance to do.”
In “Wolf Pack”, Geller plays Kristin Ramsey, who is brought in to catch the teenage arsonist who started the massive forest fires that led to a supernatural predator terrorizing Los Angeles. There could have been a re-awakening. She joins a mostly teenage cast, which she jokingly “pained”, but gave her the opportunity to explore more adult themes within the genre she had previously worked with as a teenager herself.
“When we knew Sarah was coming on board, I went to the kids and I said, ‘We’ve got a big star coming on the show. It’s pretty exciting. I really hope you know who she is’ is,” Davis said.
Luckily, he didn’t disappoint. “We went home and everyone saw ‘Brutal Intentions’ as we found out you were joining the show,” series star Armani Jackson told Geller during the panel. “So we were really excited.”
“Wolf Pack” will premiere on Paramount+ later this year.
