‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ to End After Part 4

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is preparing to cast its final spell. On Wednesday night, Netflix announced that the supernatural drama’s upcoming fourth installment will be its last. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 4 (aka Netflix’s Sabrina Season 4) is slated to premiere in late 2020 — hopefully, just in time for a socially-distanced Halloween.

Netflix’s Sabrina announcement is just one of many cancellations in recent weeks, but considering that the teen drama only received two full seasons (each season is divided into two parts), the news is extra surprising for fans. Why did Netflix cancel Sabrina? Why is Netflix canceling shows right and left, especially considering the forthcoming pandemic-induced content lull? Here’s everything you need to know about that surprise CAOS cancellation!

DID NETFLIX CANCEL SABRINA?

Unfortunately, yes. Last night, the official Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Twitter account announced that it is preparing for one last trip around Hell. “Our final chapter is coming later this year,” they wrote. “Coven forever.”

WHY DID NETFLIX CANCEL SABRINA? WHY IS SABRINA CANCELLED?

This one is the real stumper. When Chilling Adventures of Sabrina first debuted in fall 2018, the Kiernan Shipka-led series was one of the most highly-anticipated series of the year. Netflix doesn’t release viewership data, but if Rotten Tomatoes is any indication, the series is incredibly popular with both viewers and critics: CAOS Part 1 debuted to a 91% critics rating and an 80% audience score, and those numbers have stayed consistent through subsequent installments.

However, given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it’s possible that Netflix wanted to quit while Sabrina was ahead. In a March interview with Decider, star Gavin Leatherwood confirmed that CAOS Part 4 has already been filmed in its entirety. Pandemic or not, it’s possible that Netflix felt it would be too difficult to bring everyone back to Vancouver for 10 more months.

NETFLIX CANCELS SABRINA: WHY IS NETFLIX CANCELLING SHOWS?

In recent weeks, Netflix has announced that a variety of different shows will be ending, including Ozark, The Kominsky Method, and Dead to Me. All of these shows are incredibly popular with viewers, but Netflix seems to have decided that the cost — each has a big-name cast and high production values — outweighs the benefits. Plus, as Netflix moves to consolidate productions in-house, shows produced by outside studios (including these three and Sabrina) are more likely to get the axe.

WHY WAS SABRINA CANCELLED AMID THE OTHER NETFLIX CANCELLATIONS AND ARCHIEVERSE CONSOLIDATIONS?

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is the second Archie Comics show to be canceled in the past few days: this week, The CW also canceled Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Katy Keene, a Riverdale spinoff. While we may never know what really goes on behind the scenes at major companies like Netflix and Warner Bros. TV, Aguirre-Sacasa will certainly bounce back. The Archie Comics boss is currently preparing for Riverdale Season 5, which has consistently dominated ratings in key demographics, and has a lucrative overall deal with Warner Bros. TV for additional content.

Where to stream Chilling Adventures of Sabrina