Kiernan Shipka Is Heading to ‘Riverdale’ As Sabrina Spellman

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Riverdale

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After years of asking, begging, and pleading, it’s official: Kiernan Shipka is heading to The CW’s Riverdale as Greendale’s witchiest resident, Sabrina Spellman. The news comes hot on the heels of Riverdale‘s Season 5 finale, which teased some witchy goings on for Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) in Season 6.

“We’ve been talking about having Sabrina visit Riverdale since Season One, so it’s thrilling that this is finally happening, as part of our ‘Rivervale’ special event,” said showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa via a statement provided to Decider. “It’s also perfect that she shows up to help Cheryl Blossom during her hour of greatest need. Everyone on set lost their minds—I think fans will, too. It’s really fun and special.”

In Season 6’s fourth episode, titled “The Witching Hour(s),” according to a synopsis provided by Warner Bros: “Cheryl is performing a dangerous spell, one that may mean the difference between life and death for a beloved member of the Blossom family. Luckily, she’s getting a much needed assist from everybody’s favorite twenty-something witch, the iconic Sabrina Spellman (played by Kiernan Shipka), visiting from Greendale in this years-in-the-making crossover.”

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina ended its run on Netflix rather unceremoniously at the end of last year (December 31) after 36 episodes, though showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa teased at the time that he had been planning on more episodes, including a “Witch War” with the witches of Riverdale. Though both series come from Archie Comics, Sabrina is not a direct spinoff of Riverdale, like The CW’s Katy Keene. Instead, picture them as parallel universes that touch on each other mostly for Easter eggs, rather than straight crossovers.

Since both Sabrina and Katy Keene ended, though, Aguirre-Sacasa has been working in actors and teases to the other shows on Riverdale. Lucy Hale, Katy Keene herself, has both been mentioned and “showed up” in the form of a phone call with Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) last episode. Bernardo (Ryan Faucett), the beefcake firefighter from Katy Keene popped over to Riverdale to help train Archie’s (KJ Apa) new fire department. Adeline Rudolph, who played Agatha on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, showed up in a multiple episode arc as Cheryl’s (Madelaine Petsch) new love interest, Minerva Marble. And actor Brahm Taylor also showed up as Earl, a homeless man, in a direct riff on his part on Sabrina as Eldritch terror The Uninvited (who was also a homeless man).

But despite all that, none of the main stars of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina have showed up as their canonical characters on Riverdale, or vice versa — until now. Shipka is currently scheduled to appear with Riverdale star Cole Sprouse in the upcoming Blood Ties, as well as the Halloween podcast movie Treat, which premieres October 25 on podcast platforms.

The news was first reported during a chat with Riverdale writer Evan Kyle hosted by The Dipp.

Riverdale returns to The CW starting Tuesday, November 16 at 9/8c.

Where to watch Riverdale

Where to watch Chilling Adventures of Sabrina