A magical twist is coming to Riverdale [1]! The CW's Riverdale [2] and Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina exist in the universe established in the original Archie comic series. In the Archie comics, Riverdale and Greendale are neighbouring towns. Because of this, the comics feature many crossovers between the magical realm of Sabrina Spellman and the everyday teenage escapades of Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, and Jughead Jones [3]. However, on screen, the worlds of Greendale and Riverdale have only ever collided through small crossovers and Easter eggs. Fortunately, this will soon change. Almost a year after CAOS aired its final episode [4], actress Kiernan Shipka is returning to the Archie universe for the ultimate Riverdale crossover [5] event.
When Does the Riverdale x Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Crossover Episode Air?
The sixth season of Riverdale [6] returns on The CW on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 9 p.m. ET for a special five-episode event before taking its annual midseason hiatus. Shipka will reprise her role as Sabrina in the fourth episode of season six (the 99th episode of the series overall). Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Gabriel Correa [7], the episode is titled "The Witching Hour(s)." Since the show will run for five weeks, it's safe to assume it will premiere on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 9 p.m. ET.
What Is the Riverdale x Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Crossover Episode About?
In the Riverdale season five finale, fans find out that Cheryl's ancestor Abigail Blossom was accused of witchcraft and burned alive. Then, in her last moments, she bestowed a curse on the town of Riverdale. According to Decider, the crossover episode will see Cheryl Blossom perform a dangerous spell, "one that may mean the difference between life and death for a beloved member of the Blossom family [8]." Luckily, it seems Sabrina will be on hand to provide some much-needed assistance.
How Is Sabrina Alive in the Riverdale x Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Crossover?
Although Sabrina dies in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series finale to rescue her friends and their loved ones from the Void, there are several ways in which Sabrina could show up in Riverdale [9]. First and foremost, she could be resurrected. After all, death doesn't always last in the supernatural world.
However, it's more likely the episode takes place before her unfortunate, canonical demise. The vague sets and costumes of both shows [10] and the appearance of Greendale high school bully Billy Marlin in Riverdale [11] suggest Riverdale and CAOS are set in different, albeit close, timelines, making such a storyline not hard to pull off.
Another theory is that Riverdale's Sabrina is a different character [12], as there have been multiple versions of Sabrina. For example, in CAOS part three, the teen witch splits into two separate Sabrinas after using the magical powers of the Unholy Regalia to travel back in time to save her friends and family from the pagans. So theoretically, with the help of a bit of magic, something similar could happen that creates a new Sabrina.
What Have the Cast Said About the Riverdale x Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Crossover Episode?
Shipka celebrated the news on Instagram by posting a photo of herself on the Riverdale set [13]. "From Greendale to Riverdale. See u in Season 6," she captioned the post. In a statement, Aguirre-Sacasa said: "We've been talking about having Sabrina visit Riverdale [14] since season one, so it's thrilling that this is finally happening, as part of our Riverdale special event. 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."