Netflix's 'Sabrina' Series: All the Details (So Far) About the 'Riverdale' Offshoot

Kiernan Shipka and Ross Lynch star in the series, which landed at Netflix with a two-season, 20-episode order after being developed for The CW.
Left, Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; Right, courtesy of WBTV
Shipka and Lynch

Netflix is expanding the world of Riverdale.

The streaming giant, which has SVOD rights to The CW Archie Comics drama, will grow that universe by adding its untitled Sabrina the Teenage Witch take from Riverdale mastermind Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.

The series, originally developed for The CW, moved to Netflix with a two-season, 20-episode, straight-to-series order in December.

Here's a handy guide to all the details about the upcoming series.

LOGLINE

The series imagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft. Tonally in the vein of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, this adaptation finds Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature — half-witch, half-mortal — while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit.

CREATIVE TEAM

Riverdale showrunner Aguirre-Sacasa, who also serves as chief creative officer of Archie Comics, penned the script for the new series. He will direct the drama and executive produce alongside Riverdale collaborators Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater and Lee Toland Krieger. The project hails from Warner Bros. Television-based Berlanti Productions.

WHY IT'S ON NETFLIX AND NOT THE CW

Sabrina's move to Netflix is widely considered a win within the halls of Warners, as the platform switch — which was discussed first with The CW's board along with execs from both of its parent studios — allows the indie studio to retain 100 percent ownership of the series. Had the Sabrina project remained at The CW, Warner Bros. would have had to share ownership — and, more importantly, profits — with corporate cousin CBS, as part of The CW's business model. (Riverdale is a co-production of Warners and CBS.)

THE CAST

Casting on the drama has now been completed. Here's a primer of all the series regulars (and a few key recurring players):

Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka)
The Mad Men grad will star as Sabrina Spellman, an empowered young woman, half-human, half-witch, who is just beginning her dark education as a sorceress, even as she tries to maintain a normal life as a sophomore at Baxter High. Intelligent, compassionate and brave to the point of recklessness, Sabrina is all that stands between us and the forces of darkness that threaten our world.

Harvey (Ross Lynch)

The Austin & Ally and My Friend Dahmer actor will play the male lead, Harvey Kinkle, Sabrina's boyfriend. Described as the prince charming of the dark fairytale, Harvey is the son of a coal miner, a dreamboat and a dreamer, completely unaware of the dark forces conspiring to keep him and Sabrina apart.

Hilda (Lucy Davis)

Wonder Woman's Davis will take on the role of Hilda Spellman, one of Sabrina's two witch aunts. More nurturing than Zelda, Hilda's motherly nature and warm sense of humor belie a wicked, ghoulish streak. She's is as adept at brewing spite jars against her family's enemies as she is at concocting love potions for the students at Baxter High.

Zelda (Miranda Otto)

The Lord of the Rings alum is set as Zelda Spellman, Sabrina's stern witch aunt. Proud and devout, Zelda believes there is no greater honor than serving the Dark Lord as a member of the Church of Night. She is the family’s disciplinarian, fiercely protective of Sabrina, and very much Cain to Hilda’s Abel.

Mary (Michelle Gomez)

The former Doctor Who actress will take on the part of Mary Wardell, Sabrina's favorite teacher and mentor at Baxter. When she is possessed by the devil's handmaiden, Madam Satan, Ms. Wardell turns into a sultry, cunning manipulator who is always trying to lure Sabrina down the Path of Night.

Ambrose (Chance Perdomo)

The newcomer will play Ambrose Spellman, Sabrina's warlock cousin from England. Placed under house arrest by the Witches Council, Ambrose is forbidden from leaving the funeral home where he lives with the Spellman women. Witty, puckish and pansexual, he is one of Sabrina’s partners in crime, always up for mischief.

Rosalind (Jaz Sinclair)

The Vampire Diaries actress is taking on the part of Rosalind Walker, the brash, empowered and outspoken daughter of Greendale's minister and Sabrina's best friend at Baxter High.

George (Bronson Pinchot)

The Perfect Strangers actor, perhaps best known as Balki, will recur as George Hawthorne, Baxter High's villainous, puritanical principal. He is a constant thorn in Sabrina's side and is always trying to thwart her escapades.

Blackwood (Richard Coyle)

The Collection actor is set as Father Blackwood, the high priest of the Church of Night and dean of the Academy of the Unseen Arts. Ruthless and ambitious, Blackwood hides a terrifying dark agenda that will put him in direct conflict with Sabrina and other members of the coven.

Prudence (Tati Gabrielle)

The actress, who counts The 100 and Freakish among her credits, will play the series regular role of Prudence, a student at the Academy of Unseen Arts and the de facto leader of a trio of witches known as the Weird Sisters. Beautiful and cunning, Prudence nurses a deep, personal and possibly life-threatening grudge against Sabrina.

Agatha (Adeline Rudolph)

The relative newcomer, who modeled extensively in Europe, plays one of the three Weird Sisters — a trio of powerful, uncanny teenage witches at the Academy of Unseen Arts who look down their noses at Sabrina for being half-mortal. 

Dorcas (Abigail Cowen)

The Stranger Things actress will recur as Dorcas, one of the three Weird Sisters. 

PREMIERE DATE

A premiere date for the series has not yet been determined.

Bookmark this page for the latest casting information on the show.

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