SPOILER WARNING: This article contains minor spoilers for "Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Witching Hour(s)," the latest episode of Riverdale.
Sabrina Spellman is back! In "Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Witching Hour(s)," the latest episode of Riverdale, Greendale's favorite witch took a trip down to Rivervale at the behest of Cheryl Blossom. There, she assisted Cheryl in uncovering -- and breaking -- a local curse that went back through many generations of the Blossom family. If Sabrina actor Kiernan Shipka has it her way, this won't be the last time her character pays a visit to Riverdale.
Speaking to CBR, Shipka recalled how Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has been working on this crossover "for such a long time." She described Riverdale's version of Sabrina as "playful" and explained why she feels a little older and wiser, while confirming she is still the same character viewers know and love. She also shared her believe that Cheryl and Sabrina "are meant to be a duo," compared witch baseball to an iconic Twilight moment, teased where she'd like to take the character and more.
CBR: When did you find out you'd be back as Sabrina on Riverdale? What was your initial, gut reaction?
Kiernan Shipka: Oh, I was so excited! I've been talking to [Riverdale showrunner] Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa] about it for such a long time, and the fact that it finally came to fruition... It almost didn't feel real until I was up there and in the headband, but we really did it, and it was so fun. I had the best time.
On Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, you were obviously there from the outset and that's where you really discovered your character. What was it like to take all those years of character-building and experience and sort of port them over to another established set?
It was exactly that, in the most thrilling way. You articulated that so beautifully. It was like I had built this character over such a long period of time, and I feel like my knowledge of Sabrina and who she is and how she moves, it was all so abundant. I didn't think I was gonna lose it, but there's always that fear that it's not going to be like riding a bike. Then the second I started talking, I was like, "Oh, yeah, she's back! She's back."
But to bop over to another set and approach it in maybe a little bit more of a playful way, since it was less of a stamina game, was really thrilling and wonderful. When I was doing Sabrina, I was there every day. We were shooting for 10 months of the year. That hours were long. That's what made me get to know her so well, and I'm forever grateful for that, but to just come in for a few days and just mess around and have some fun? There was a real levity and a real joy to it that I experienced that was just so wonderful.
On Riverdale this season, we've taken a little detour into this alt-world version of the town. It's the place and characters we know, but with a twist. Would you say that applies to Sabrina as well? Is she the exact same version we met on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, or has she got a little twist, too?
It's interesting that you mention that. I think, in my head, in my mind, this is the Sabrina we know and love. Maybe in this universe, she is a bit older; maybe she's a bit different. Maybe she's a version of herself that she wouldn't be in Riverdale, but at the end of the day, it's Sabrina, and Sabrina has come to town.
What was something you were able to do with Sabrina on Riverdale, that perhaps you couldn't on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina?
While I think that, when we see Sabrina in Riverdale, she's definitely older and definitely a little more mature. I think that one of the iconic bits of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and one of the defining parts of the character Sabrina Spellman was her age, was the fact that she was equal parts very mature and taking on the weight of the world but also 16 and messing up because she was 16. So I would love to think that the next version of Sabrina we know is a bit older and is a bit wiser.
What was one of your favorite interactions between Sabrina and the Riverdale cast?
I love the dynamic between Sabrina and Cheryl. I mean, I think those characters are meant to be a duo. I think it was a long time coming and their chemistry is just fun and electric and it was so fun to play.
Tell me a little about working with Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl.
Madelaine is the best. I think that she's so brilliant in what she does and she's so kind and so lovely. I was so excited to go in and work with her and be Sabrina and Cheryl, but I was equally excited to wait for a shot to be set up to talk to her and get to know her, which just made it the most 10 out of 10 experience that one could ask for.
What was one of your favorite memories from set?
On Riverdale, I think it was getting to know Madelaine. That was so fun. I think she's just wonderful and amazing and getting to become buds was truly a wonderful takeaway.
In the episode, Sabrina makes a joke about how she knows Cheryl, saying they were rival coven softball teams. I have to ask: what do you think witch softball looks like?
You know, it's funny, because that's actually a direct reference to the fact that when CAOS and Riverdale were both filming in Vancouver at the same time, we did have a softball league. So it sort of is a little wink to what we actually were up to in like 2019, which is a little Easter egg in there, a little nugget of fun and personal.
But witch softball, to me, sort of feels like the Twilight baseball scene sequence in my head. It's ultra powerful, super charged, absolute madness, but I also kind of like the idea that maybe -- I don't know, maybe, just maybe -- you're not allowed to use powers and it's just a bunch of people playing softball. I think that's kind of funny. No witchery allowed! No spellcasting allowed. You have to play. This is mortal softball.
It's funny you brought up Twilight, because that's immediately where my mind went.
Right?! Oh my god, literally one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history! [laughs]
What are the odds we'll see you return as Sabrina on Riverdale someday?
Yeah, I think it's open. I think the odds are good. I would love to! I love Sabrina. I loved playing her and I think that, you know, up next is probably Riverdale for her.
If you could choose a path for her, what would be your dream story arc for Sabrina?
I would love to see her in the town of Riverdale, obviously, probably with some sort of witchcraft involved, because that makes sense for her.
But also just having personal relationships with all the characters, which I think is what people always love about Riverdale and still do, is that the characters are thrilling to watch and their relationships are as electric and vibrant as the storyline and as their surroundings. So if somehow Sabrina could get to Riverdale and the interpersonal situations with the characters we know and love, plus provide assistance in whatever external storylines are happening? I think that's the aim. That's the goal in my mind.
What's coming up next for you that you're excited about?
I just dropped a movie called Wildflower that I'm super excited about. Jean Smart and Jacki Weaver are in it, as well as Alex Daddario and Brad Garrett and Reid Scott. It's a wonderful, wonderful movie. I'm excited for that to come out, hopefully next year.
Then I did an HBO series called White House Plumbers that will come out next year as well that I'm super, super stoked on. One more thing, which is called Swimming With Sharks, which is a Diane Kruger and Donald Sutherland that should be coming out next year at some point as well. So a lot in the cans for 2022! I'm very thrilled about the projects that I've been involved with this year.
Riverdales airs Wednesdays at 9 pm ET/PT on The CW.