But it wasn’t just Hollywood stars who were considered for a role in “Buffy.” Some hugely popular musicians almost appeared in small roles in the series, but their careers got in the way. This includes Jenny Lewis, best known for her band Rilo Kiley, who has also acted in films like “The Wizard” and “Pleasantville.”
In 2013, Lewis tweeted at Whedon, “Remember when you wanted me to be a werewolf?” (via The A.V. Club). The indie rock star was likely being considered for the role of Veruca, a singer who seduces Willow’s boyfriend Oz. The series creator confirmed that he did want Lewis on the show, but she was “busy doing the Frug,” a Rilo Kiley single and music video.
Believe it or not, Britney Spears was also slated for a guest appearance on season 5 of “Buffy,” but had to pull out of her role last minute due to scheduling conflicts. “It’s not happening,” co-executive producer Marti Noxon told TV Guide in 2000.
Although the pop star’s press rep said that Spears “loves the show” and would “probably do it one day,” she never did end up appearing in the series. The part that Spears was intended for was April, the robot girlfriend created by a basement-dwelling nerd with villainous aspirations.
“We had never seen [Spears] act at all,” Whedon explained in a 2009 interview. “So I was like, well, we’ll cover our bases, we’ll write a show about a robot, and that way if she can’t, we’re fine!” Even though Spears didn’t end up playing April, her interest in “Buffy” did inspire several characters that ended up being a major part of the show. “The creation of Warren our villain, the Buffybot — it all came from the fact that we thought Britney Spears was gonna be on the show,” Whedon concluded.