Kiernan Shipka Nabs Lead Role In ‘Sabrina’ On Netflix; But Will Not Be Spinoff Of ‘Riverdale’

Kiernan Shipka has been announced for the lead role of teenage witch Sabrina from the Archie Comics title in Netflix’s upcoming series “Sabrina.” Shipka will play Sabrina Spellman, an empowered and occasionally reckless young woman who is half-human, half-witch and is just beginning her dark education as a sorceress. At the same time she tries to maintain a normal life as a sophomore at Baxter High.

A previous live-action TV series based on the character aired on ABC and the WB from 1996-2003. The Netflix series take though is inspired by the comic book “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” which reimagines the origin and adventures of the character as a dark and much more macabre coming-of-age story.

Here are some reactions on social media to the casting of Shipka to ‘Sabrina’ on Netflix.

WELCOME❤️😍 ARCHIE IS WAITING FOR MEET U [ad_1]

— 《Previously SERIES》 (@PreviouslySerie) [ad_2]

Dream casting! I am so thrilled! Congrats!!

— B. (@dollihaze) [ad_1]

Congrats girl!!!!! You were amazing on [ad_1] so really happy to see you as Sabrina 😀

— Justine D. (@Lady_Junky) [ad_2]

Congratulations – such exciting news! [ad_2]

— Theodora (@TheodoraG13) [ad_1]

I’ve been waiting for this show for soooo long!😍 So excited, CONGRATS – xx

— Gabs saw Ariana (@moonligvtsel) [ad_1]

According to the [ad_2], the Untitled Sabrina Project 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.

Despite the obvious link by publisher and that it is not only made by Warner Bros. TV but shares the same executive producers (Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti, Jon Goldwater, Sarah Schechter), this [ad_1] of The CW’s “Riverdale”. “Riverdale,” inspired by “Archie,” is shown internationally via Netflix and has been a hit for the streaming service – leading to them winning the rights to “Sabrina” after The CW passed on the project in the development phase.

Netflix, which not only [ad_1] Riverdale to a [ad_2] last spring, but also knows its way around teen horror period pieces thanks to Stranger Things, seems like the [ad_2] for what they’re describing as “a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft.”

Shipka most recently appeared opposite Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange in FX’s hit event series Feud: Bette and Joan as B.D., the strong-willed teenage daughter of Bette Davis (Sarandon). She is perhaps best known for playing Sally Draper on seven seasons of the Emmy-winning AMC drama Mad Men.

What do you think of Shipka’s casting as Sabrina? Are you excited for the show? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo Credit: AMC