New Delhi, March 16 -- Chloe Zhao walked the Oscars red carpet on Sunday night in a look that said everything without saying a word.

The Hamnet director arrived in a striking black gown with a transparent black veil, finished with a diamond Bulgari necklace. It was understated, considered, and quietly powerful - much like the filmmaker herself.

The timing made it all the more loaded. Just the day before the ceremony, Hulu confirmed it would not be moving forward with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, titled Buffy: New Sunnydale, which Zhao had directed.

The decision came a year after the pilot had been ordered, and sources described it as "not a perfect match" between Zhao's filmmaking sensibility and the project.

It was a quiet bl...