Kiernan Shipka Cast as Sabrina in New TV Series!

Kiernan Shipka cast as Sabrina in new TV series

After many months of development, and a two-season order at Netflix, it has been announced that Kiernan Shipka will play Sabrina Spellman in the upcoming reboot of the teenage witch from Archie Comics!

Sabrina is described this way: “An empowered young woman, half-human, half-witch, Sabrina 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.”

Executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said, “We’re all such huge fans of Kiernan’s work that when we started talking about who this new incarnation of Sabrina could be, her name was on everyone’s wish list. This is a darker, more macabre version of Sabrina, and we’re incredibly excited for people to see Kiernan make this iconic character her own.”

Executive producer and Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater added, “I am thrilled that Kiernan is playing Sabrina and have no doubt that she will embody the strength, courage and boldness that has made the character a fan favorite.”

Kiernan Shipka most recently appeared opposite Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange in the hit event series Feud: Bette and Joan, in which she played B.D., the strong-willed teenage daughter of Bette Davis (Sarandon). She is perhaps best known for playing the role of Sally Draper for seven seasons of the acclaimed Emmy-winning drama series Mad Men, opposite Jon Hamm and January Jones.

Sabrina is based on the new comic book The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which reimagines 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.

Now that the two shows are on different networks, It remains to be seen if there will be any formal association between Riverdale and the Sabrina series. The Chiling Adventures of Sabrina comic book series features brief appearances by Archie characters like Betty and Veronica, but it is primarily a self-contained narrative.

Aguirre-Sacasa is writing the adaptation (the comic book basis for which he also wrote) and will executive produce. Lee Toland Krieger will direct and executive produce with Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Jon Goldwater. No premiere date has been set for the series.

Are you guys excited to see Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina? Let us know in the comments.