Sabrina The Teenage Witch is set to RETURN to TV

Melissa Joan Hart brought Sabrina The Teenage Witch to life in the popular magical sitcom, which aired from 1996 to 2003.

And the hit show, based on the Archie Comics series of the same name, looks set to return to TV screens next year with a much darker and more grown up tone than viewers are used to.

The CW and Warner Bros are reportedly developing an hour-long weekly drama as a companion series for teen drama Riverdale, which also hails from the Archie universe.

 

Magical news: Sabrina The Teenage Witch looks set to return to TV screens with a much darker and more grown up tone than viewers are used to. Pictured is the original TV witch, played by Melissa Joan Hart from 1996 to 2003, and her talking cat Salem

According to Variety, the rebooted Sabrina The Teenage Witch show will be based on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comic, while taking inspiration from horror classics such as Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist.

The coming-of-age programme will see Sabrina ‘wrestling to reconcile her dual nature as a half-witch, half-mortal while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family, and the daylight world humans inhabit’.

The show is being developed as a spin-off for Riverdale, which debuted on the CW last year and follows Archie Andrews and his friends, who become embroiled in a murder mystery in their small town.

Spin-off: The CW and Warner Bros are reportedly developing an hour-long show as a companion series for teen drama Riverdale, which also hails from the Archie Comics universe

Spin-off: The CW and Warner Bros are reportedly developing an hour-long show as a companion series for teen drama Riverdale, which also hails from the Archie Comics universe

Success story: Riverdale debuted on the CW last year and focuses on Archie Andrews (right, played by KJ Apa) and his friends, who become embroiled in a murder mystery 

Success story: Riverdale debuted on the CW last year and focuses on Archie Andrews (right, played by KJ Apa) and his friends, who become embroiled in a murder mystery 

Sabrina played a major role in the comic series Afterlife With Archie and was then granted her own comic.

It has been hinted on Riverdale that something ‘magical’ is on its way and it’s been widely rumoured there will be a crossover between the two shows.

Speculation has been rife online that actress Dove Cameron could be set to take on the role, and the blonde has kept fans guessing with cryptic Instagram posts.

Countdown: The chilling new version of Sabrina The Teenage Witch is reportedly being scheduled for the 2018/19 season

Countdown: The chilling new version of Sabrina The Teenage Witch is reportedly being scheduled for the 2018/19 season

Popular show: Melissa Joan Hart brought Sabrina The Teenage Witch to life in the hugely popular magical sitcom, which aired from 1996 to 2003 and focused on the teen witch, her wacky aunts and talking cat Salem

Popular show: Melissa Joan Hart brought Sabrina The Teenage Witch to life in the hugely popular magical sitcom, which aired from 1996 to 2003 and focused on the teen witch, her wacky aunts and talking cat Salem

The chilling new version of Sabrina The Teenage Witch is reportedly being scheduled for the 2018/19 season.

Archie Comics CCO and EP on the show, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa recently teased that Sabrina would be making an appearance in Riverdale.

‘Some people don’t even know that Sabrina is in the Archie family’ Roberto told EW. ‘There is absolutely a universe where Sabrina pops up in Riverdale or one town over in Greendale.

‘Certainly, the priority is launching Riverdale and making sure that show is as good as it can be and as embraced as we want it to be… I’ll just tease that Sabrina has potential with a capital P.’

90s hit: Sabrina The Teenage Witch followed the young witch's disastrous forays into magic

90s hit: Sabrina The Teenage Witch followed the young witch’s disastrous forays into magic

Sabrina was made popular by actress Melissa Joan Hart in the original TV series.

Melissa was actually reprising her role as Sabrina when she starred in the hit show, having first appeared in a TV movie by the same name.

Executive-produced by her mother, Paula Hart, the show was the then-20-year-old’s second TV hit – she had also starred in Clarissa Explains it All on Nickelodeon.

It followed her home life with aunts Zelda and Hilda Spellman and her disastrous forays into magic, which she struggled to keep secret from her boyfriend Harvey Kinkle, mean girl Libby and hapless high school Principle, Mr. Kraft.

The show, which aired for seven series, went on to focus on Sabrina’s college days before concluding in 2003.

Fan favourite: The show, which aired for seven series, went on to focus on Sabrina's college days before concluding in 2003

Fan favourite: The show, which aired for seven series, went on to focus on Sabrina’s college days before concluding in 2003

 

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