Ready or Not 2 gives Sarah Michelle Gellar her best movie role in over 20 years

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It was disappointing news when the planned revival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was cancelled before filming even began. But there’s still something to look forward to this week: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come features what many consider to be Sarah Michelle Gellar’s strongest movie performance in over twenty years.

Following small parts in Clerks III and Netflix’s Do Revenge, Sarah Michelle Gellar unexpectedly appeared in last year’s I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot, briefly reprising her role as Helen Shivers. However, it’s Ready or Not 2 that marks her full return to the big screen, with a significant role in the fun horror-comedy sequel.

The new movie starts right where the first one left off, with Grace (Samara Weaving) once again fighting for her survival. This time, she’s facing off against some of the world’s richest and most powerful families, who have also involved her sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), to ensure Grace plays their dangerous game.

Although several families are part of the story, the Danforths are the main focus. Twins Ursula and Titus are the most likely suspects in a plot to kill Grace and Faith, which would allow them to keep their wealth and influence.

I’m really excited to see Sarah Paulson as Ursula again! This role lets her explore some really interesting, darker sides, kind of like in Cruel Intentions, but it also allows her to make Ursula so much more than just a stereotypical rich villain. She clearly has a blast with the fun, twisted energy of Ready or Not 2 – it’s just as funny and scary as the first one – and she brings a real complexity to Ursula that makes her a truly unpredictable villain. It’s great to see her add so much depth!

To see Sarah Michelle Gellar in a role as meaty and showcasing her full talent, you’d have to look back to her films from the late 90s and early 2000s – like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream 2, Cruel Intentions, and Scooby-Doo. This is easily one of her strongest and most impressive performances since then.

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Gellar also recognizes how enjoyable the role was. She told Digital Spy before the movie came out that playing the character was a ‘real pleasure’ and ‘fun to get into.’ (She added that she was glad she said that before the Buffy revival was cancelled, or it would have been an even more painful comment.)

This new installment is fantastic – it beautifully builds on the original while delivering a fast-paced and exciting story. I especially loved coming in to play a wild character and collaborate with such talented actors. Honestly, every day on set was a pleasure, and I felt incredibly fortunate to be involved.

Playing Ursula was a blast from start to finish! I already had a strong idea of the character, and the moment I put on the very first costume – the only one I even needed to try – it all just clicked. Our costume designer, Avery Plewes, perfectly captured her essence; she knew exactly who Ursula was the moment I stepped into it.

They were really impressed and wanted to explore Ursula’s personality further by having her outfits reflect more of who she is.

Even though a return to the role of Buffy for Sarah Michelle Gellar isn’t happening, fans can still enjoy her in Ready or Not 2 this weekend. There’s a scene where her character stakes Grace, which actor Adam Weaving described to Digital Spy as a “dream come true,” offering a brief moment for fans to imagine she’s back as Buffy.

It’s not much, but it’s something for us to cling to.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is released in cinemas on 20 March.

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2026-03-19 15:19