5 reasons to get excited about the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

A new, bloodier adaptation of Sabrina the Teenage Witch is coming to Netflix this fall. Here’s why you should be looking forward to streaming the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

During Netflix’s panel at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on Sunday it was announced that the streaming giant’s upcoming series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will be premiering this fall. On Friday, Oct. 26, Netflix will drop the 10-episode first season for viewers around the world to binge. But until then, here’s five reasons you should start getting excited.

1. It’s release date

Premiering the Friday before Halloween is going to play so well for the dark Sabrina the Teenage Witch re-imagining. Knowing a good portion of their subscribers will be in the mood for something spooky around that time, Netflix is safe to assume they are going to accumulate a fair amount of views throughout that weekend. And with the upcoming Halloween continuation being the only major horror release this October, I’d be surprised if there wasn’t an angry mob out there dying to sink their teeth into a new genre series by then.

2. Aesthetic

While it is widely being reported that Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will be “tonally in the vein of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist,” it hasn’t been confirmed whether or not the show will be set during the 1960s like its comic book source material. Nevertheless, whether it’s set during the politically turbulent 60s or in a more modern era, CAOS is bound to be full of deliciously creepy imagery, and striped turtlenecks, based on the mood board Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa posted on Twitter.

Aguirre-Sacasa is quoted by TVLine saying the series “is a darker, more macabre version of Sabrina,” so I guess we can kiss goodbye the squeaky clean, family-friendly good humor of the Melissa Joan Hart starring program from the 90s.

3. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

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Based on the CW’s surprise success with Riverdale, it was only a matter of time before Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa blew the cobwebs off and put a spin on another beloved, but dated, comic book character. Having revived the character himself when Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #1 debuted in 2014, Aguirre-Sacasa will be able to see the show out as he sees fit. Drawing from his own writing, I couldn’t think of a better person to be at the reins of CAOS. Unafraid to turn what we know and love on its head, Aguirre-Sacasa can somehow reshape these iconic characters in a way that is both refreshing yet, all at once, respectful to the past. Let’s just hope CAOS can match Riverdale in the same aspect.

4. Possible Riverdale crossover

While we previously reported that a Riverdale/Chilling Adventures of Sabrina crossover wasn’t in the cards just yet, there’s no reason to give up hope for the near future. Jon Goldwater, Riverdale executive producer and CEO of Archie Comics, told TVLine this past spring that he “would love it if they could figure out a way to cross over.”

In another story, TVLine attributed Netflix’s two-season order of CAOS to Riverdale’s runaway success on the platform, which “returned [last] fall to double its Season 1 numbers” after past episodes were made available to stream. If correct, I believe Netflix would be wise in mapping out a crossover of some kind in the near future. They obviously see value in the two Archie Comics properties, so doubling down and giving the fans what they want seems like a no-brainer.

At the very least, I think it’s safe to say there will be a few Riverdale easter eggs for the attentive watcher to discover. And even if it turns out CAOS isn’t set in modern times, I’m sure a time travel spell would be just the trick to put Sabrina, Betty, Jughead, and company in the same room.

5. Season 2 coming sooner than expected

Collider reported that both season 1 and 2 of CAOS were being filmed back to back. With that in mind, who’s to say we won’t get our hands on another 10 episodes come spring? While highly unlikely, and probably unprecedented, if Netflix feels they have a smash hit on their hands, why wouldn’t they rush release another season they already have on the can?

I suppose one reason to hold off on season 2 would have to do with the eligibility period for the 2019 Emmys. Running June 1 of this year to May 31 of next year, releasing two seasons in the same awards calendar might not be the best choice for Netflix if they deciding to push a For Your Consideration campaign for the show. Similar to what the streaming service did for the latest season of Glow, I could see a mid-June season 2 release working well for CAOS.

With Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka headlining as the half witch/half mortal Sabrina Spellman, CAOS is poised to make a splash when it premieres in Oct. Shipka, who terrified audiences in A24’s widely underrated 2017 release The Blackcoat’s Daughter, stars opposite former Disney star Ross Lynch who will portray Sabrina’s boyfriend Harvey Kinkle.

Wonder Woman’s Lucy Davis and Annabelle: Creation’s Miranda Otto round out the cast as Aunts Hilda and Zelda, respectively. Still unknown though is who will voice Salem, Sabrina’s iconic talking familiar.

 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina premieres Oct. 26 on Netflix.