The 2026 Academy Awards delivered plenty of viral moments, but one unexpected interaction between Leonardo DiCaprio and Gwyneth Paltrow quickly caught fans’ attention. 

Cameras spotted the longtime Hollywood stars deep in conversation during the ceremony, sparking speculation online. 

The lively exchange came despite DiCaprio attending the event with his Italian girlfriend, model Vittoria Ceretti, and it wasn’t long before viewers began dissecting the moment frame by frame.

Leonardo DiCaprio Spotted In Animated Chat With Gwyneth Paltrow At Oscars

During a break at the Academy Awards, Leonardo DiCaprio was seen chatting closely with Paltrow inside the Dolby Theatre, where the ceremony is held each year.

According to the Daily Mail, the interaction appeared friendly and animated. Observers noticed the two actors leaning toward each other while laughing and speaking intently, creating a moment that quickly spread across social media.

At one point, DiCaprio even held Paltrow’s hand during the exchange, prompting further curiosity among viewers watching the ceremony unfold.

The actress, who is married to television producer Brad Falchuk, appeared to gently pull her hand away before the conversation continued.

Moments later, DiCaprio returned to his seat alongside Ceretti, who attended the ceremony as his date for the evening.

DiCaprio Once Tried To Romance Gwyneth Paltrow Years Ago

While the Oscars interaction surprised fans, Paltrow previously revealed that the pair’s connection actually dates back decades.

During a 2023 appearance on the podcast “Call Her Daddy,” the “Marty Supreme” star shared that Leonardo DiCaprio had attempted to pursue her romantically earlier in their careers.

“Nope, never made out with Leo,” Paltrow said while reflecting on the moment. According to the 53-year-old, she chose not to explore the possibility of dating the “Titanic” star.

“He tried back in the day. But he was already, like, you know, he was very loose with the goods from when he was 19,” Paltrow revealed.

The revelation resurfaced after their Oscars interaction began circulating online, with many fans recalling Paltrow’s earlier comments about turning him down.

Leonardo DiCaprio Attends Oscars With Longtime Girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti

Despite the attention surrounding his exchange with Paltrow, DiCaprio spent the evening beside his beautiful partner, whom he has been dating since 2023.

The Italian model has become a regular presence alongside the actor at high-profile events, and their relationship has drawn particular interest because it appears to challenge a long-running internet joke about DiCaprio’s dating history.

For years, fans have speculated about the Hollywood star’s tendency to date younger partners and move on before they reach their mid-20s. Ceretti, however, has remained in a relationship with him for nearly three years.

The couple arrived together at the Academy Awards, with Ceretti later sitting beside him during the broadcast inside the theater. 

DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor, though the award ultimately went to Michael B. Jordan.

DiCaprio’s New Look Sparks Buzz On Oscars Red Carpet

Even before the ceremony began, Leonardo DiCaprio had already become a major talking point online because of his appearance on the red carpet.

The film producer debuted noticeably darker hair and a bold mustache while posing for photographers in a classic black tuxedo.

The facial hair immediately caught viewers’ attention, with many comparing it to the signature look often worn by Pedro Pascal, who arrived at the ceremony clean-shaven.

Some fans jokingly suggested that Pascal had somehow passed the mustache along to DiCaprio for the evening.

“Leonardo DiCaprio stole Pedro Pascal’s mustache and the ceremony hasn’t even started yet, I’m not ready,” one viewer wrote on social media per the Daily Mail. 

Another user reacted to the look with a short comment that quickly gained traction online, noting, “porn stache.”

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bold Oscars Style Divides Fans Online

pedro pascal shaved off his mustache and gave it to leonardo dicaprio pic.twitter.com/7sB6ee66ou

— caity ☘️ (@ktmob_) March 15, 2026

As photos from the red carpet continued circulating, social media users shared more mixed reactions to DiCaprio’s new look.

One fan joked about the coincidence between Pascal’s clean-shaven appearance and DiCaprio’s mustache, writing, “Pedro Pascal gave his mustache to Leonardo DiCaprio! #Oscars.”

Another observer pointed out the contrast more directly, posting, “Leonardo DiCaprio has a mustache, and Pedro Pascal is clean-shaven.”

Others took a more humorous approach to describing the transformation, with one user saying the actor looked “the most chopped he ever chopped.”

Another viewer compared the new style to comedian Shane Gillis, while one fan offered a tongue-in-cheek compliment by writing, “He’s actually attractive for an old man.”

Still, plenty of viewers praised the actor’s red carpet presence. One admirer wrote that “Leonardo DiCaprio owns the red carpet – classic black tux, bow tie, and that bold mustache giving major leading-man swagger. Timeless yet fresh; he’s ready to take home the gold.”

It’s awards season! It’s the time of year when millions of people tune in to watch the Oscars and see their favorite artists get awarded for their work in some of the best movies of the year. As an homage to the Academy Awards, it’s only fitting to look back at some of the previous top-performing films that have set records for having the most nominations in Oscar history. Titanic, The Shape of Water, and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring are just some included in the list of movies that have received the most Oscar nominations.

While not all of these films were able to win as many prestigious prizes as the nominations would have you believe, they are still easily considered some of the most iconic and greatest films of all time. It is also worth noting that other notable films, such as The King’s Speech, The Revenant, and A Streetcar Named Desire are among those that have received 12 nominations but have not been included in the list.

25

‘Gladiator’ (2000)

12 Nominations (and 5 Wins)

Image via DreamWorks Distribution LLC

The first Best Picture winner for a film released in the 21st century, Gladiator provided a glorious scale and production to the ruthless world of gladiatorial combat that wowed the Academy and cemented itself as an action epic classic. Its Best Picture victory varies greatly compared to the winners of recent years, finding much more success in the below-the-line technical categories while still taking home the big prize at the end of the day.

Its path to victory certainly wasn’t easy, beating out heavy hitters like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Traffic. Still, there is a sense of brilliance and exceptional prowess from Ridley Scott’s massive cinematic epic that left an impact with audience voters, spearheading the 21st century with a bombastic, highly engaging epic that still holds up tremendously to this day. Ironically, the film’s sequel, Gladiator II, would also be nominated for Best Costume Design 24 years later, paralleling one of the awards that the original film won.

24

‘Mrs. Miniver’ (1942)

12 Nominations (and 6 Wins)

Image via MGM

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Mrs. Miniver was one of the most striking and effective romance movies of all time, and one that especially struck a chord with the world that was in the midst of a deadly World War. The film was able to shed light on the pain and difficulties of war impacting home life in a way rarely ever explored in film until then, a notion that made a massive impact on both worldwide audiences and the academy. On top of its massive showing at the Academy Awards, the film would also be highly lucrative at the box office, being the highest-grossing film of 1942, and a massive critical and financial success.

Mrs. Miniver made massive waves at the Academy Awards with its 12 nominations, largely driven by being the first of only a few films in history to earn 5 acting nominations, of which it would win 2 of the 4 categories. The film would also make a notable impact in Oscars history when Greer Garson gave the longest acceptance speech in Oscars history for winning Best Actress, speaking for 6 minutes and setting into motion the rule of cutting off acceptance speeches that went on for too long.

23

‘Dances With Wolves’ (1990)

12 Nominations (and 7 Wins)

Image via Orion Pictures

A massive-scale blockbuster Epic that would redefine the genre and breathe new life into it, Dances With Wolves combined the past and the present of Westerns to enchant audiences and the Academy alike for a resounding performance at the 63rd Academy Awards. The film’s massive scale and greatness as a technical marvel helped make it a massive success that made the most of the abilities of modern filmmaking to breathe new life into the past.

The majority of Dances With Wolves‘s success would relate to its below-the-line wins, nearly sweeping these awards with wins in Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Score, all coming together with an emphatic win for Best Director. What makes its dominance at the awards so interesting is that, as time has passed, it is often in contention with the other major player of the awards season, Goodfellas, which has become equally acclaimed, if not more so than Dances With Wolves.

22

‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)

12 Nominations (and 7 Wins)

Image via Universal Pictures

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The undeniable magnum opus from legendary director Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List, perfectly balanced the director’s emotional strengths and humanist elements to create the ultimate tearjerker and World War II story. The harrowing and heartbreaking look at the atrocities and pain faced during the holocaust soon became the quintessential retelling of these events in the medium of film, further amplified by the top-notch filmmaking and exceptional craft on display.

Considering the fact that Schindler’s List has attained a powerful legacy in the over 30 years since its release as one of the greatest dramatic films of all time, it’s understandable that it would find itself dominating the 66th Academy Awards. It was certainly satisfying that it would also mark the long-awaited first Academy Award win for Spielberg, after an array of previous nominations for Best Director and Best Picture over the years. Although the film wouldn’t win every award it was nominated for, most notably losing out on Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor to Tom Hanks in Philadelphia and Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive, respectively.

21

‘My Fair Lady’ (1964)

12 Nominations (and 8 Wins)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

There’s nothing that the Academy loves quite like a high-energy musical, with one of the most successful musicals in Academy history being musical comedy My Fair Lady. The nearly 3-hour-long film reprised a lot of elements from the original stage musical, even including actors like Rex Harrison reprising their roles, and made the most of the medium of film to elevate and evolve the musical energy and style. The film would go on to be one of the most acclaimed and successful movie musicals of all time, further cemented in its legacy by its massive returns at the Academy Awards.

Ironically, My Fair Lady would end up not being the most nominated musical of the 37th Academy Awards, with Mary Poppins (which will be talked about later in the list) earning 13 nominations. However, the film would beat out Mary Poppins when it came to wins, winning 8 Academy Awards over Mary Poppins‘ 5 wins and winning many more high-profile awards, such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

20

‘On the Waterfront’ (1954)

12 Nominations (and 8 Wins)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Largely beloved and considered to be one of the defining films of the 50s, On the Waterfront is a masterful crime drama that still holds up brilliantly in the modern era, making waves when it was first released and being a hit at the Academy Awards. The film follows Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando), a kindhearted dockworker who wants to escape the harsh life of crime that he’s been wrapped up in, made worse when he witnesses the death of a friend. After falling in love with the friend’s sister, Terry attempts to do what he can to leave his life on the waterfront and expose his corrupt employers in the process.

On the Waterfront is one of the most influential and iconic crime dramas of all time, with its legacy and strengths still being felt in film today. It’s no wonder that the film had such an impact at the Academy Awards, not only taking home the big prize of Best Picture, but also taking home awards for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Supporting Actress. The most notable win, however, is Brando’s win for Best Actor for his portrayal of Terry Malloy, a performance that is still in conversation as one of the greatest performances of all time.

19

‘The English Patient’ (1996)

12 Nominations (and 9 Wins)

Image via Miramax

While the film has largely been forgotten by general audiences in the nearly 30 years since its release, The English Patient made a massive splash at the 69th Academy Awards, beating out the likes of Fargo and Jerry Maguire to win Best Picture. The film follows Hungarian map maker Count Almásy (Ralph Fiennes) on his assigned quest to chart the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert in the 1930s. However, the dangers and rise of World War II prove to throw Almásy into a world of danger, betrayal, and unexpected love.

The English Patient is emblematic and all-encompassing of a lot of the same conventions and trends that largely defined the most successful and Oscar-bait-y films of the late 20th century, making it far from shocking that the film found such massive success. While aspects of the film may not have aged the best in the decades since its release, it’s undeniable how much of an impact that The English Patient had on the academy when it released, helping it win Best Picture on top of Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Cinematography.

18

‘Ben-Hur’ (1959)

12 Nominations (and 11 Wins)

Image via MGM

A massive spectacle that brought the gargantuan scale and weight of a real Colosseum arena to the big screen in a way that has never truly been accomplished before or since, Ben-Hur is a feat of filmmaking that was always going to win big at the Academy Awards. A remake of a classic film from the 1920s, the film sees Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) being falsely accused by his childhood friend-turned-overlord, being banished and put into slavery while his family is made into prisoners. This acts as only the beginning of Ben-Hur’s quest for revenge, fighting through the ranks and making his name known in the process.

Ben-Hur was nominated for 12 out of 15 possible categories that it was eligible for, yet even more shocking was that it nearly swept every award it was nominated for, winning 11 out of its 12 nominations. Even after 65 years, this is still the tied record for the highest amount of awards that were won by a single film, cementing its status as one of the biggest Academy Award success stories of all time. No film in the future may surpass the heights that Ben-Hur first achieved in terms of wins, although several other films have earned more nominations.

17

‘Emilia Perez’ (2024)

13 Nominations (and 2 Wins)

Image via Netflix

One of the most controversial and divisive Best Picture nominees of recent memory, Emilia Perez has been somewhat of an unexpected phenomenon where it found massive acclaim among the industry and awards bodies and wildly mixed among critics and audiences. The musical crime film about a cartel leader faking their death so that they can undergo a gender transition was already largely contentious when it premiered at film festivals, only growing more divisive following its release, nominations, and recent controversies.

When it initially received 13 nominations, Emilia Perez was in the conversation to win Best Picture and take home an array of other awards, but following the waves of controversy, any momentum that the film had was squarely dashed into the dust. While it didn’t go home empty-handed, still winning the awards for Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for “El Mal”, it was beaten out in every other category, even losing the previously shoo-in Best International Feature to I’m Still Here.

16

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ (2008)

13 Nominations (and 3 Wins)

Image via Paramount Pictures

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one of many masterful dramas to come from legendary director David Fincher. The film follows Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), who lives an unusual life: he was born looking like an elderly man and appears to get younger and younger as the years go by. In the old folks’ home where he lives, he meets a young girl of the same age. As they fall in love, however, they know it is only a matter of time before Benjamin’s condition becomes a persistent complication that will jeopardize their future together.

It comes as no surprise that Fincher’s film has captured the hearts of many viewers and film critics. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button received 13 nominations out of the 26 possible categories and won three awards for Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, and Best Makeup. Interestingly and annoyingly, Academy frontrunner Cate Blanchett did not receive an Oscar nomination for her role as Daisy Fuller (adult version) in the film.

The 98th Academy Awards delivered plenty of headline moments, but few were as dramatic as the night surrounding Teyana Taylor. 

The multi-talented star first sparked online debate over her reaction to losing the Best Supporting Actress category, and the conversation only intensified minutes later. 

A backstage confrontation captured on video showed Taylor visibly furious after claiming she had been pushed in a crowded hallway, turning what was already a viral moment into one of the most talked-about scenes of the evening.

Teyana Taylor Confronts Man Backstage After Heated Oscars Incident

Teyana Taylor made a scene at the Oscars on Sunday after she claimed a man shoved her.

When did the Oscars become the Waffle House?pic.twitter.com/j6YcZbfrFn

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— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 16, 2026

Shortly after the awards segment concluded, a video began circulating online showing Teyana Taylor in a crowded hallway inside the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards is held.

In the clip, posted by a verified account on X, the visibly upset star pointed toward someone off camera while raising her voice, accusing a man of getting physical with her as she tried to move through the packed area.

“You’re a man putting his hands on a female,” Taylor said during the confrontation. 

Witnesses nearby appeared concerned as the exchange unfolded. 

The actress repeated her frustration several times while addressing the situation directly.

“You’re very rude. You’re very rude. You’re very rude,” she said, making it clear she was angry about what had just happened.

Taylor Says She Was Shoved In Packed Oscars Corridor

As the tense moment continued, Teyana Taylor explained to people around her what she believed had happened in the busy hallway. 

According to the star, the man had pushed her while navigating through the crowd of attendees.

“He literally shoved me,” Taylor said while describing the incident. She also pointed toward another woman nearby, claiming the situation involved more than just herself. 

“He was damn near shoving her,” she added.

The video clip ended with the 35-year-old drawing a clear boundary as she addressed the situation one final time. “Do not touch me, do not shove me, do not push me,” she said firmly. The confrontation quickly spread across social media, becoming one of the most widely shared clips from the evening.

Teyana Taylor’s Oscars Reaction Immediately Sparks Social Media Frenzy

The evening had already placed Taylor in the spotlight as cameras focused on the nominees for Best Supporting Actress. The category included Amy Madigan, Wunmi Mosaku, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning.

When Madigan’s name was announced as the winner, Taylor reacted instantly. The performer jumped up from her seat, raising her arms above her head while clapping enthusiastically.

The moment played out in a split-screen broadcast showing reactions from multiple nominees, and viewers quickly began sharing opinions online about Taylor’s animated response. 

Some fans believed the excitement looked exaggerated for someone who had just lost the category.

“Teyana Taylor faking the happiness, girl sit down and relax,” one viewer wrote on X per the Daily Mail. 

Another person posted a blunt reaction to the clip circulating online, writing, “Lmao that Teyana Taylor reaction, the fakest sh** ever.”

The debate spread rapidly across social media, with some viewers wondering whether the energetic celebration was genuine or simply an attempt to mask disappointment.

Taylor’s Oscars Loss Analyzed By Body Language Expert

The discussion around Teyana Taylor’s reaction soon drew commentary from body language expert Judi James, who offered her interpretation of what viewers saw on screen.

James suggested the reactions from both Taylor and fellow nominee Fanning were unusually dramatic.

“The split-screen responses from Elle Fanning and Teyana Taylor as they didn’t get Best Supporting Actress were overkill performances of counter-intuitive emotions that should have won an award in a category of their own,” James said.

According to the expert, the performers appeared to express excitement typically associated with winners rather than nominees who had just lost.

James explained that Taylor’s movement was particularly noticeable in the broadcast. “Teyana dived forward from her seat as though she’d received an electric shock,” she said.

The expert also described how the actress appeared to transition quickly from that initial movement into a celebratory response.

She said, “When she came up, she was in full celebratory mode, clapping with her hands above her head.”

Teyana Taylor Caps Off Major Awards Season At The Oscars

Despite the controversy surrounding the night, Taylor’s presence at the Academy Awards marked a milestone in her career.

The “Straw” star had enjoyed a strong awards season thanks to her performance in “One Battle After Another,” which ultimately went on to win Best Picture at the ceremony.

Earlier in the season, Taylor also secured a major win at the Golden Globe Awards, taking home Best Supporting Actress for the role. 

Her performance also earned nominations from the Critics’ Choice Awards, the BAFTA Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards.

The Oscar nomination itself marked her first recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, highlighting the growing momentum of her acting career.

Outside of film, Taylor has also continued making waves in music. She recently earned a Grammy Awards nomination for Best R&B Album for “Escape Room,” reinforcing her reputation as a multi-hyphenate performer who continues to move between music, film, choreography, and directing.

Rob Reiner received a moving tribute at the Oscars, with stars gathering on stage to honor the late director’s remarkable career. The moment celebrated his enduring impact on the film industry and the countless lives he’s touched, while highlighting the stories and performances that have made his work unforgettable.

Billy Crystal Led The Rob Reiner Tribute

On March 15, the Academy Awards paid a tribute to Reiner, led by his longtime friend and “When Harry Met Sally” star, Billy Crystal.

Crystal began the 4-minute tribute by saying he met the director in 1975 on the set of the sitcom “All in the Family,” where he played the role of Reiner’s character’s best friend. The actor then went on to mention some of the director’s most notable films, while stills from the movies were shown.

“Rob’s movies will last for lifetimes, because they were about what makes us laugh and cry, and what we aspire to be far better in his eyes: far kinder, far funnier, and far more human,” Crystal noted.

“To the millions who have enjoyed his films all these years, I want you to know, here and around the world, how many times Rob told me that it meant everything to him, that his work meant something to you — and for us who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him,” Crystal concluded.

The Academy’s Tribute To Michele Singer Reiner

In the segment, Crystal also honored Reiner’s wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who was a producer and professional photographer. The couple married in 1989 after meeting on the set of “When Harry Met Sally,” and as Crystal noted, their partnership was “unstoppable.”

“It was her energy that had them working tirelessly to fight social injustice in the country that they both loved. Rob and Michele Reiner became the driving force in the landmark decision for marriage equality across the United States,” Crystal said.

Per Inside Philanthropy, the Reiners co-founded the American Foundation of Equal Rights (AFER) in 2009. AFER led the effort to fight against Proposition 8, a California ballot initiative passed in 2008 to ban same-sex marriage. In 2013, a Supreme Court decision restored marriage equality in California, setting the stage for the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015.

The 17 Stars Who Paid Tribute To Rob And Michele Reiner

Toward the end of the tribute, 16 actors and actresses from Reiner’s movies joined Crystal on stage to honor the beloved director. They held hands and took a moment of silence while the audience stood from their seats and applauded.

The list of stars included Crystal and Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally), Christoper Guest and Michael McKean (This is Spinal Tap), Jerry O’Connell and Will Wheaton (Stand by Me), Kathy Bates (Misery), Carol Kane, Mandy Patinkin, Carey Elwes, and Fred Savage (Princess Bride), John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga (The Sure Thing), Annette Bening (The American President), and Demi Moore, Keifer Sutherland, and Kevin Pollack (A Few Good Men).

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After a heartfelt round of applause, the stars on stage turned their gazes toward the photo of the Reiners projected on the screen as the lights dimmed.

Corey Feldman Claimed He Wasn’t Invited To The Tribute

Reiner has worked with plenty of actors throughout his decades-long career, and Corey Feldman spoke about not being contacted to join the Oscars tribute. Feldman was one of the lead characters in “Stand By Me,” alongside O’Connell and Wheaton, who attended the tribute, and River Phoenix, who passed away in 1993.

According to The Blast, Feldman was reportedly “devastated” over not being included, especially since Reiner has been outspoken about how “Stand By Me” and the late director were influential in his career.

In March, Feldman confirmed via X that he was not invited. “I understand many believe it’s due to being outspoken about the abuse I suffered as a child and the campaign to silence me. However, this isn’t about me. It’s not my moment at all. It’s about the tragic loss of our friend Rob Reiner and his memory,” he wrote.

Rob And Michele Reiner’s Deaths

The couple was discovered deceased in their Los Angeles home on December 14, 2025. Their cause of death was determined to be multiple stab wounds, and their son, Nick, was arrested.

Nick was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty in February. He is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on April 29 for a preliminary hearing. According to reports, if convicted, Nick faces the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

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Published Mar 16, 2026, 7:01 AM EDT

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Pi Day was Saturday (3/14), but instead of testing your pie knowledge, we’re going to go a different culinary route. How much of a Bear Buff are you?

Image via Matt Dinerstein – © 2022, FX Networks

Chloé Zhao spoke publicly for the first time about the cancellation of her Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.

During a red carpet interview with Variety at the 2026 Oscars on Sunday, March 15, Zhao, 43, reflected on Hulu’s unfortunate decision after creating the reboot’s pilot and preparing to direct and executive produce Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale.

“I had an incredible, incredible time with Sarah [Michelle Gellar], with all the cast and crew doing this. And we, first and foremost, see ourselves as the guardians of the original show,” Zhao told the outlet. “Our priority for Sarah and for us has always been to be truthful to the show, to be truthful to our fans. So, things happen for a reason, and we keep our hearts open and we welcome the mystery, and what this might lead us to.”

The outlet then asked whether Zhao, who was nominated for a best director Academy Award for her work on Hamnet but missed out to One Battle After Another’s Paul Thomas Anderson, would shop the project “to other distributors.”

Related: Sarah Michelle Gellar Breaks Silence on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Revival

Handout/Getty Images Earlier this week, Us Weekly confirmed the cult classic television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer was in talks for a revival, and now, Sarah Michelle Gellar who played the titular role of Buffy Summers more than 20 years ago, is breaking her silence. Gellar, who has been adamantly against a reboot for years, confirms […]

Zhao cryptically responded, “Welcome the mystery.”

Gellar, 48, announced in an Instagram video on Saturday, March 14, that Hulu decided “not to move forward” with the reboot, which would have seen her reprise her role as Buffy Summers from the WB’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The original series aired from 1997 to 2003.

“So I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me – unfortunately Hulu has decided not to move forward with Buffy: New Sunnydale,” Gellar, 48, said. “I want to thank Chloé Zhao because I never thought I would find myself back in Buffy’s stylish yet affordable boots, and thanks to Chloé I was reminded how much I love her and how much she means not only to me but to all of you.”

Zhao responded directly to Gellar’s announcement, writing, “Grateful for you, always” alongside a tearful smiley face emoji in the comments section.

Fans were quick to pick up on the stars’ interaction, sharing support for the project and also urging Zhao to find a Hulu alternative. “@chloezhao We believe in you! Please keep shopping it around! Buffy fans will support you to the ends of the earth!,” one fan wrote in response to Zhao’s comment.

Us Weekly confirmed in February 2025 that Gellar would once again step into Buffy’s shoes, noting that she would star alongside a new vampire slayer portrayed by Ryan Kiera Armstrong.

Gellar told Us at the time, “It’s incredibly emotionally overwhelming. It’s just a place I didn’t know that I would find myself. While it was new, it was also incredibly familiar, and I feel very lucky.”

Armstrong, 16, spoke about the project’s cancellation hours after Gellar’s announcement, taking to her own Instagram to reflect on fan support.

“I wanted to come on here and say thank you for all of the support that you guys have given me and this show throughout the last couple months. It’s been really special,” she said in a video. “I also want to say thank you to all the fans who believed in this new chapter, and who believed in me, so thank you guys. Thank you to the cast I worked with. You guys are awesome.”