We may not yet have a release date other than ‘hopefully sometime in 2018’, but Netflix’s Riverdale spin-off slash sister-show Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has already begun production and filming is underway! Here’s what we know so far:
One of our first looks at the spellbound couple! (L-R: Ross Lynch as Harvey Kinkle & Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina Spellman — Picture Source: JKING/BACKGRID)
The Cast
The fantastic Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men, When Marnie Was There, Avatar: The Last Airbender) has been cast in the titular role of Sabrina Spellman, alongside Disney alumni Ross Lynch (Austin & Ally, My Friend Dahmer) as love interest Harvey Kinkle! The kooky witch aunts have also been cast, with comedienne Lucy Davis (The Office BBC, The Archers) and Miranda Otto (freakin’ Éowyn from Lord of the Rings) as Aunts Hilda and Zelda, respectively.
Jaz Sinclair (Paper Towns, When the Bough Breaks) will portray a retooling of Greendale High’s Rosalind Walker, who has gone from an annoying classmate to Sabrina’s feisty best friend, and Michelle Gomez (Doctor Who),will play — spoiler! — Madam Satan, the Big Bad of the series.
Smaller roles lifted straight from the pages include Chance Perdomo as the house-arrested Ambrose Spellman, Bronson Pinchot as Principal Hawthorne, Richard Coyle as Father Blackwood, and Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph & Abigail Cowen as Prudence, Agatha and Dorcas of the antagonistic Weird Sisters.
While fan-favourite Salem Saberhagen — the former-warlock currently imprisoned in a cat — is confirmed to appear in the series, the lack of casting news leaves it unclear if he will speak, and his role as comic-relief seems like it may be taken over by Cousin Ambrose.
It Will Have At Least Two Seasons
That’s right! Netflix has ordered this show straight to series, with two seasons of ten episodes each already greenlit and good to go. You get expect things to get a little more magical until at least late 2019!
It Probably Won’t Cross Over
Though Sabrina was originally slated to appear on Riverdale and work her way into a solo series, the two-season order straight to Netflix casts a shadow of doubt over that plan. Maybe, if The CW plays nice, we’ll see some crossovers from Greendale to neighbouring Riverdale, but I wouldn’t hold your breath! The showrunners and network heads have confirmed that as of right now the shows are two separate entities, but there’s a chance for discussions in the future.
It Will Pull From The Horror Comics
If the casting isn’t evidence enough, the series’ first tidbit of the script has (allegedly) leaked and has shown that the series is staying true to its comic roots. However, like Riverdale, this series is sticking closer to the newer, darker comics — in this case, the Archie Horror-imprinted series of the same name, as opposed to the classic digest comics that the original Melissa Joan Hart Sabrina the Teenage Witch television show was loosely based off of. Oh right, and one more thing…
It Won’t Tie Into The Old Show
Sorry, folks, but all evidence seems to indicate that the new show is severing all ties from MJH and the crew and taking things down a more dramatic horror-filled path. That doesn’t mean you can’t hold out for the odd reference, in-joke or cameo, though!
We can’t wait — how about you? For all your Riverdale and Sabrina updates, recaps, and fun stuff, don’t forget to watch this space at The Game of Nerds!
