Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Cancelled at Netflix; Final 8 Episodes to Premiere in Late 2020 — First Photos
It’s been a rough week for the Archieverse. Just days after The CW pulled the plug on Riverdale spinoff Katy Keene, Netflix has gone and cancelled fellow sister series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina after two super-sized seasons (or four parts), multiple sources confirm to TVLine.
The Kiernan Shipka-headlined series’ final eight episodes (aka Part 4) will premiere later this year.
“Working on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has been an incredible honor from Day One,” said showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa in a statement to TVLine. “The cast, beginning with Kiernan as everyone’s favorite teen witch, has been an absolute joy. I am beyond thankful to the crew, writers, editors, assistants, and everyone for pouring so much love into this dark dream of a show. I’m also grateful to our partners at Netflix, Warner Bros., Berlanti Television and Archie Comics for letting us tell the story we wanted to tell, the way we wanted to tell it. We can’t wait for everyone to see Part Four.”
Originally in development at The CW as a companion to Riverdale, Sabrina eventually moved to Netflix, where it scored a 20-episode straight-to-series order. It premiered on the streamer in Oct. 2018. A second season of 16 episodes was subsequently ordered, the first eight of which dropped in January.
The cast of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina includes Shipka in the title role, Miranda Otto as Zelda Spellman, Lucy Davis as Hilda Spellman, Ross Lynch as Harvey Kinkle, Gavin Leatherwood as Nicholas Scratch, Chance Perdomo as Ambrose Spellman, Jaz Sinclair as Rosalind Walker, Lachlan Watson as Theo Putnam, Michelle Gomez as Madam Satan, Richard Coyle as Father Blackwood, Tati Gabrielle as Prudence Blackwood, Adeline Rudolph as Agatha and Abigail Cowen as Dorcas.
In the final eight episodes, “The Eldritch Terrors will descend upon Greendale,” per Netflix. “The coven must fight each terrifying threat one-by-one (The Weird, The Returned, The Darkness to name a few), all leading up to…The Void, which is the End of All Things. As the witches wage war, with the help of The Fright Club, Nick begins to slowly earn his way back into Sabrina’s heart, but will it be too late?” (Check out the gallery above for a first look at Part 4, or click here for direct access.)
TVLine’s Streaming Renewal Scorecard has been updated to reflect Sabrina‘s conclusion.
It better not end on a cliffhanger.
If it does then there will be another season.
Say it isn’t so! Sabrina is one of my favorite shows. Why is it cancelled? Ratings are good.
What an utter disappointment.
May the Dark Lord hex you, Netflix!
LOL what ratings?
When Netflix releases its “numbers”, Sabrina looked like a top performer. So those numbers are its version of ratings I would think…
They did the same thing to 13 Reasons Why. Netflix is never intended to do more than 4 seasons-type of series. What a shame.
2020 just keeps getting better and better. This sux. I can’t handle any more …
My heart breaks to hear this. One of my favourite shows, gone too soon. Maybe they could just leave the show in the “Cain Pit” and hopefully someday it’ll find a way to resurrect. Crossing fingers!
They always cancel the most entertaining shows. Not certain why.
Hope they were able to craft a satisfying conclusion… Really I don’t know why any producers would want to sell to Netflix at this point.
I don’t get it either. The creative freedom compared to networks is nice, but what if you want more than 30 episodes in four years?
You would think that moving to a streaming site would grant the showrunners not only more creative freedom, but more seasons, especially if the show is well-liked & popular, but ever since streaming services have become a more dominant force, scripted programing has become disposable & not a main priority. At least that’s the impression I’m getting.
I read something a while back on Deadline, an article titled “Feeling the Churn” – I’d link, but considering it’s another entertainment news site I’m not sure that wouldn’t get my comment moderated. The article said Netflix had determined the sweet spot for series was three seasons, anything after that had diminishing returns for them. It’s a shame, and I do think eventually if they keep this up, it will harm any series on that platform, as people won’t want to watch something, get invested, only to have it yanked as it doesn’t perform to some metric that says get out after the peak. It’s extremely frustrating as a watcher.
They pay extremely well.
Yeah and they promise big payouts after season x and then never renew the shows for season x+1
it’s a scam
So was it cancelled or just ending? The article makes it seem like Netflix pulled the plug on the show. Yet Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s statement makes it appear as if the show reached it’s natural conclusion.
Seems like cancelled to me. The actors don’t seem to have been looking for other work.
ending, they never intended to do 7 plus seasons type of stories
A shame.
Should have sold to The CW.
…At the time it would have been part of the Netflix deal like Riverdale so would have been better run-length wise yes.
What is with Netflix? They have had multiple excellent, well-received and very popular shows and they just cancel them. The Marvel shows were biggies. Yeah, Disney probably had a hand in it, but who knows. Sense8, another HIGHLY popular show, cancelled by Netflix after 2 seasons and they had to bring it back for a “tie-everything-up” movie because people were so upset. Now, another well-received and very popular show, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”, has been cancelled by Netflix. It’s almost like they are trying to fail.
Season 3 was not well received by the fans. A lot of fans on twitter found the many musical numbers to be annoying
There wasn’t all that many musical numbers. The Magicians had way more. Way, way more. Using Twitter outrage to gauge fan reception is like going to McDonalds for a salad.
You mean The Magicians that had talking rabbits, was a satire of Narnia and Harry Potter, and openly made fun of itself? The show that used songs as part of plot as opposed to CAOS using songs just…because? The difference between the first part of CAOS and the third part are night and day in terms of writing and overall tone. The show started as something that embraced the darkness of the source material and the camp, but evolved into AHS: Coven’s wannabe little sister who spent too much time watching Riverdale
This is what I said all this is because they made a mess of season. It was awful and rushed. If theyd have wrote it wrote that whole season wouldve just about them getting to hell and getting Nick. And they shouldve made the hell journey a mix style between LOTR & Hellraiser. Rather than leaving themselves fckd up with nowhere to go they shouldve just said We will re do season 3 and delete that mess. This show couldve lasted years then
Sense8 was HUGELY expensive, like the most expensive show ever made range of expensive.
Not mentioning The OA, might as well just not watch shows.
While I loved both Sense8 and the OA, I have to be fair and point out that Sense8 was massively expensive and Brit Marling couldn’t deliver the OA in any sort of timely fashion. Neither of those cancellations can honestly be called unfair, although both really hurt. And Netflix even ponied up for a still-expensive closure special for Sense8, too.
They spend around $4bn a year more each year than they make and none of their content does all that well, hence the figures they release being based on a very suspect idea of what a view is. No-one has worked out how to make steaming work financially especially those who drop content all at once (and even the weekly ones have an issue of a lot of subs waiting for the season to complete and then subbing for a month) as it means they need to provided every customer with a reason to keep a sub for another month which means excessive content spend. So what they end up doing is making new shows and then drop them before talent contracts have rises or bonuses kick in which would make it more expensive just in the hope of still being around when someone finally cracks how to make streaming work financially.
Oh and Disney had nothing to do with the Marvel shows ending, Netflix original contracts are all in Netflix favour with only them being able to activate the break clauses. As long as Netflix wanted more seasons they got more. They decided they didn’t which is odd as actually they were some of the cheaper shows for them as Disney/Marvel were making much of the money from these via other revenue streams not from Netflix commissioning fee. I’m guessing though that’s where the issue was for Netflix, they are spending way more on each show now simply to not just pick up the SVOD rights but for he full rights package so they are the ones who profit from home media, merchandise and the likes which Disney weren’t going to give them and certainly not at anything close to the low fee they were paying
NF is probably a money laundering exercise. Most of their long term subscribers spent most of their time on older shows like Friends, West Wing, Psych, etc. But now that the producers of those shows have their own streaming services, they are taking the shows back. Leaving NF with scant content. As you say, the streamers have a dicey business model. People will hold out until they can watch 2-4 projects at once, all during 1 month. There is simply no incentive to have a streamer for 12 months. Or even 10, Or 8. I don’t know why anyone would pay for more than 4 months of a streaming service in any given year. As you say, it is a bad model.
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NF is just burning through money. Their bonds are just above junk bond status. Their hope is to hold on until the other services go away, and then they can charge what they want. Basically, a monopoly. Only, the other studios waited until the tech was good, then they waded in, with their own huge libraries of shows/movies.
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People whined about a la cart channels for years. It is coming, and will cost about 3-5 times what your current cable/satellite bill currently costs.
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Plus, like I said, money laundering. As such, if a show isn’t a HUGE hit, and I mean zeitgeist altering, a la Stranger Things, or awards bait, like Handmaid’s Tale (different net, but concept works), then it doesn’t make sense to keep it around.
Fascinating! Thanks for the insight.
I loved Sense8 but let’s be real that show was super expensive to make.
Lol another one bites the dust. What is Netflix planning to release next year ? It seems to be ending most of its bigger name shows (not that I watch this one anyway)
Eh, not quite. “Grace and Frankie” will end in Season 7. When Tom Ellis of “Lucifer” wanted a more substantial payday, they eventually gave it to him, hence the show getting a sixth and FINAL season. When Fox canceled “Lucifer” Netflix picked it up. They saved it. And just this morning we learned that the creator of “The Crown” had a change of heart about ending the series after Season 5. So now, the show will get a sixth and final season. And let me tell you, “The Crown” is one of the more expensive shows to produce. Same with “The Witcher.” And we all know that got renewed for a second season. Now, I tried watching “Sabrina” but I gave up on it after the first two episodes in Season 1. I didn’t like it. “The Witcher” is an interesting series but I couldn’t keep up so I was like “No.” People get angry when a Netflix show gets cancelled or a show’s new season takes forever to premiere. No matter what Netflix does it’s damned if they do, damned if they don’t. They can’t please everyone. ..obviously. There’s more important things than a show, such as, I don’t know, a pandemic going on in the world, looting and rioting going on here in the U.S. after George Floyd was murdered by those cops. So, be grateful we even have these shows to take us away from reality, no matter how short lived they may be. And by the way, there are hundreds of shows and movies that you can try out. It’s called going to the “Search” section and type in words like “Horror,” “Thriller” etc. Not that hard. It’s not like we’re going anywhere. ..😉
Or maybe people have a right to fee the way they do? Especially when they come to an article about a television show they enjoyed. I doubt very much that people have forgotten about the pandemic and the racial injustice in our country. Maybe television is a small glimmer of escape for them. I know it is for me. So thanks for your attempt at strangely shaming people for not caring as hard as you do…
What? That seems so random and ubrupt.
Why cancel it ? It’s a very good show I’ve been waiting on part 4 to come out I want to know why they cancel good shows and leave crappy ones on there.
Honestly quite surprised, I thought there was a strong following behind this one… I’m kind of upset if it means this season will end with a cliffhanger. The Sabrina universe had SO MUCH to offer compared to Riverdale, bummer!
No final third season like most Netflix shows?
Netflix is such garbage, I’ll be sticking to Hulu.
It will actually close having 4 seasons…they just call them “parts”.
It’s two seasons in 4 parts, each part is not a season.
Considering Netflix shows usually only have 10 episodes give or take per season, these parts are basically seasons.
Is there an exclusivity clause or can it be shopped? ODAAT could be shopped to linear networks but no streaming services, which is why it landed at Pop when CBS wanted it for All Access. Marvel had a two year moratorium built in. I wonder what kind of clause Sabrina has or had?
Probably something similar to ODAAT. Theoretically it could end up at the CW — but I would be surprised if they save it.
They may air the repeats, like swamp thing if they can get it cheaply,may need it to fill holes
One Sabrina is worth 10 Warrior Nuns.
Netflux continues to give me reasons to drop it.
I dropped them in favor od HBO Max. I don’t miss it at all.
I hate Netflix. Damn what a stupid decision. STUPID
This just in: Netflix remains THE WORST!
Noooooooooooooooo don’t cancel it !!!!!
This is one of the most interesting shows on Netflix . I’m very disappointed in the streaming service with this action .
My wish would be another service to pick up this show…
such great characters and storylines… I was looking forward to the new school and teachers.. shameful
Nooooooooooooo!
Netflix… you take it back! More Sabrina.
I bet it moves to the CW.
The first half of season one was very good but then it suffered from what many tv shows do where the rest of the show isn’t as good.
This is shocking. By all indications, Sabrina was performing well for Netflix. Is there any inside information on why they pulled the plug?
I was actually hoping Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s pre-existing relationship would help The Brides land on Netflix now that ABC formally passed on it.
I’ve never understood the US mindset that shows must run forever. Netflix, as an international broadcaster, is operating more in the British / European way of shows finishing before they get old and stale. A total of 36 episodes is pretty reasonable., and who knows..some of the characters could very well show up on Riverdale.
Netflix is an American broadcaster with international versions. Television has always been different in the US. Shows in the US last “forever” because the business model allows it. It doesn’t work like that in Europe because the money isn’t there.
Why do you think so many British actors do American TV.
I always thought American TV hired British (and Australian) actors because they were cheap and they could actually act. And the US television industry is realizing their advertising based business model is flawed. Advertising revenue has been plummeting everywhere, and that is partly what’s driving the rush for every network to have its own streaming service.
I love that Netflix does 3-4 seasons per show. But I hate abrupt cancellations like this one. Dead to me and Ozark announced their final seasons in advance, this just seems to abrupt and I fear we won’t have a proper conclusion since the season was shot a while ago :(
Your premise is simply wrong. People could be perfectly pleased with just 4 seasons, provided the people actually making the show know it’s going to end there when they develop the show in the first place. The OA, the greatest thing ever developed in the history of art, had a pre-planned storyline from beginning to end. And then Netflix inexplicably cut it off mid way.
The OA being cancelled was not inexplicable. It was cancelled because not enough people watched it.
Unless your name is Doctor Who.
A show which survived initially because it was done on the cheap. It has been cancelled before, and it will quite probably be cancelled again at some time. The BBC hates the show, but it loves the international sales it gets.
Goodbye, Netflix. You’ve burned me too many times for me to continue subscribing to your content. Most of your shows are D-level movies or they come from other countries and have horrible dubbing or subtitles.
This is yet just more proof of why Netflix is the worst & why I would never subscribe to it It’s an unfortunate thing that wonderful scripted shows are becoming more disposable now than ever before.. It’s not worth the money to subscribe if they keep cancelling well-received shows. This always seems to be their MO. Create or rescue a show that’s both popular & well received, but only do a limited number of seasons & then get rid of it This is the worst business model ever & yet streaming services have adopted this model & continued to use it. A more successful model would be to keep these shows on as long as possible & generate more revenue. I urge everyone to think before subscribing to Netflix or any other streaming services.