Sarah Michelle Gellar Says Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot Is ‘Progressing Faster Than I’d Anticipated’ (Exclusive)

Things are moving along smoothly with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, according to Sarah Michelle Gellar.

The actress, 47, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that she is surprised by the current status of the recently announced reboot to the popular series, in which she starred in a career-defining role as titular slayer Buffy Summers.

“We’ve set up our offices, which means things are progressing probably faster than I’d anticipated,” Gellar — who has partnered with Trainline for its new “Ticket to Summer Travel in Europe” campaign — says. “But it’s going to be a process, I think.”

“To do it the way it needs to be done, everyone has to be patient with all of us, because this isn’t something that [will just happen],” she continues.

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PEOPLE confirmed last month that a new chapter in the Buffyverse is officially in the works, over two decades after Buffy‘s final bow.

The currently untitled project — which is nearing a pilot order at Hulu, per Deadline and Variety, which were first to report the news — will focus on a new slayer, with Gellar appearing in a recurring role.

Chloé Zhao, who is a noted fan of the series, is set to direct and executive produce the pilot, while Nora and Lila Zuckerman are attached to write, showrun and executive produce.

Gellar is also set to executive produce, along with the original series’ executive producers, Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui and Kaz Kuzui. Dolly Parton, who was an uncredited producer on the hit ’90s show through her company Sandollar Entertainment, will also return.

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According to Gellar, she is “excited” about “the idea and the group behind” the Buffy reboot series.

“I pinch myself every day when I get into these rooms, and I’m looking at Gail Berman, the Zuckermans and Chloé Zhao,” she says. “It’s an incredible group.”

“There was no world where I thought Chloé Zhao was going to call me and partner with me, and ask my advice on things and my opinion — especially because she hasn’t done television,” Gellar continues.

“She’ll call me, and she’ll say, ‘Well, I have to defer to you,’ and I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ Those aren’t words I ever thought I would hear,” adds the mother of two.

Buffy aired for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003 and was followed by Angel, a spinoff series, which ran from 1999 to 2004. Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head, David Boreanaz, Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters, Eliza Dushku and Seth Green were among others in the main Buffy cast, as well as Michelle Tractenberg, who died at the age of 39 last month.

As for what she hopes longtime fans of Buffy will take away from the upcoming reboot — as well as new viewers who are introduced to the heroic character and her world for the first time — Gellar tells PEOPLE, “As an actor, you just want to do work that stands the test of time, that people still enjoy, not just when it comes out, but years later, and it still is impactful for them.”

“So the fact that this show is still so impactful to the people that watched it the first time along with me, to young kids today that are just discovering it and feel like it still speaks to them, being able to bring more people to her, it’s the greatest gift an actor could ever ask for. Truly,” she continues.

The Buffy reboot series is expected to begin filming soon. The original series is currently available to stream in full on Hulu.