Now that the Spellmans have taken her final bow, the opportunity is there for Zatanna, DC’s mistress of magic, to be the next Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. With HBO attempting to do something different in the wake of the Arrowverse, there’s potential in a spin-off about a sorceress and the arcane secrets of the DC multiverse. With so much history in the mythos and a need for Sabrina’s spiritual successor, a supernatural-horror drama may be just what Doctor Fate ordered.
Zatanna Zatara is perhaps one of the lesser-known members of the Justice League. Identified by her magician’s tricks, iconic fishnets, and top hat, the character is one of DC’s most powerful spellcasters. In 2020 Star Trek's J.J. Abrams confirmed that a Zatanna movie was finally in development. Although the superhero appeared in shows such as Smallville and Young Justice, it'd be the first time she’s headlined a live-action project based on her comics.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was a Netflix fan favorite to many, recognized for its dark tone, horrific imagery, and supernatural themes. When it ended, viewers wanted more, and since then there have been attempts to try to copy its success with shows like Charmed and Fate: The Winx Saga. Although having attempted their own horror stories in the past, DC now has an opportunity to follow in Sabrina Spellman’s wicked footsteps with a new supernatural spin-off based on Zatanna’s movie, or potentially leading up to it. Between her mysterious past, dark adventures, and profession as a stage magician, her character sets up for a spellbinding drama in the same suit as Sabrina’s and could even surpass her popularity, especially given how popular superhero shows and films have been in recent history
Television is an ideal medium to adapt horror comics such as Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and DC is no stranger to such shows. In the past, the comic studio has adapted properties such as Swamp Thing and Constantine to critical - albeit short-lived - success. Both shows were known for their darker stories and more horrific imagery, comparable with Netflix's original series. Some even argue DC is at its best when it decides to delve deeper into the occult and push the typical superhero stories to delightfully spine-tingling places. Given the likes of Zatanna, Swamp Thing, and Constantine have all already featured onscreen, it's stands to reason that DC isn't averse to having these more occult figures feature in shows, and this is likely doubly true for a show that could capitalize on the popularity that Chilling Adventures of Sabrina had during the course of its run.
There’s plenty to work with for a supernatural-horror drama starring Zatanna. Originating initially in the pages of Hawkman, Zatanna was a sorceress seeking her missing father, Giovanni Zatara, one of DC’s first magical heroes. Giovanni stashed away a series of magical items in his disappearing box for his daughter to discover, leading her to a life of honing her abilities and using them to help others. Otherworldly cults, evil wizards, as well as her family’s magical linage are just some of the conspiracies she uncovers in her journeys, and they’re conducive to the kind of stories that made the Riverdale spin-off popular.
The stage is ready, the opportunity is there, and the show must go on, now that the curtain has dropped on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Zatanna is the perfect candidate to carry on the wand, with how much they have in common. Perhaps after the DC extended universe's upcoming movie, she’ll return for the encore audiences want.
