Chilling Adventures of Sabrina showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa reveals that season 5 would have introduced Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead as witches from Riverdale. The hit Netflix series premiered in 2018 and concluded its final season in 2020. Adapted from the Archie comic book series of the same name, the show followed the titular teenage witch as she fought the forces of evil and attended high school. Throughout its run, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina garnered largely positive reception for its gothic horror storytelling and tongue-in-cheek humor. It also frequently alluded to the broader Archie universe, with characters referencing the nearby town of Riverdale in multiple episodes.
In Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the protagonist, Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka), resides in the town of Greendale with her aunts, Hilda (Lucy Davis) and Zelda (Miranda Otto). As a half-human and half-witch, Sabrina struggles to reconcile her two identities, particularly once she reaches sixteen. At this time, she must decide whether or not to attend the Academy of the Unseen Arts, a school that specializes in dark magic. As she grapples with her burgeoning witchcraft, Sabrina also works to defeat a rising evil that threatens to hurt the entire community of Greendale. Along the way, she faces unforeseen losses that force her to confront the darkness inside of herself.
While speaking to Deadline, Aguirre-Sacasa shared details about future storylines he had hoped to explore in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina before its untimely cancellation. While he prepared for a possible ending, he had also crafted exciting plans for a fifth installment:
“When I got word we weren’t doing any additional parts or seasons we had already suspected four would be the last part, so we really wanted to go out with a bang. We had Sabrina sacrifice herself to save her family, her friends, her town. On the other hand, we didn’t know definitely so we did end on a cliffhanger. I finished editing the finale at the beginning of the pandemic and pitched a possible part five to Netflix which would’ve produced Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and all the Riverdale characters as witches and there would’ve been a witch war between the witches in Greendale versus all of these witches and warlocks in Riverdale. Netflix was excited about that idea but due to the pandemic, it didn’t feel possible.”
Like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Aguirre-Sacasa also remains a showrunner of Riverdale. The CW show debuted in 2017 and quickly became a pop culture sensation. Following the iconic Archie characters Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes), Archie (KJ Apa), and Jughead (Cole Sprouse), the reboot merged drama with an overarching murder mystery. Similar to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the main characters often mentioned the nearby town of Greendale in passing. On Instagram, stars from both shows occasionally posted behind-the-scenes pictures of both casts hanging out together. This, in turn, excited fans hoping for a possible crossover chapter in the future.
Despite the unfortunate cancellation of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the beloved figures of the show could perhaps find new life on Riverdale. Although the CW series ostensibly focuses on “real-world” plotlines, a supernatural arc is not entirely inconceivable. Considering Aguirre-Sacasa’s influence on both creative properties, there is always hope that Sabrina and her friends might make unexpected cameos in a future episode of Riverdale. After all, the powerful teenage witch could teach Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead a few witchy tricks.
Source: Deadline