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Disney+ Gives Green Light to Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Drama Series “Afterlife with Archie”

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Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is preparing for the afterlife…

Disney+ has given the green light to Afterlife with Archie, an hourlong drama series based on the best-selling Archie comic book series by the 52-year-old Nicaraguan American playwright, screenwriter and comic book writer and Francesco Francavilla.

Roberto Aguirre-SacasaIt’ll have a Halloween 2027 premiere on the streamer.

The order comes nine months after the project landed at Disney+ with a big script-to-series commitment.

Afterlife with Archie comes from the same auspices as the CW’s Riverdale and Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: writer Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti‘s Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television where Aguirre-Sacasa and Berlanti are under overall deals.

Penned by Aguirre-Sacasa based on the Archie Comics characters, Afterlife with Archie turns the all-American town of Riverdale into a zombie-overrun apocalypse — where the only thing scarier than the undead is trying to survive your teenage years. When a supernatural spell from a certain teen-witch backfires, unleashing an army of the possessed dead upon Riverdale, Archie and his friends must fight to stay alive, testing the friendships, romances, and loyalties that have always held them together.

Afterlife with Archie is executive produced by Aguirre-Sacasa and Jimmy Gibbons via Muckle Man; Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman via Berlanti Productions; and Jon Goldwater via Archie Comics Studios.

“Afterlife with Archie has always been about more than just zombies — it’s about the friendships, loyalty and humanity that make Riverdale worth fighting for,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “Roberto, Greg, Sarah and Jon have such a deep appreciation for these characters, and they’ve built something that’s equal parts thrilling and heartfelt. Fans are going to fall hard for this new version of the gang … and maybe scream a little too.”

This is Aguirre-Sacasa, Berlanti Prods. and Warner Bros. TV’s third live-action Archie Comics series adaptation — and the first to launch on the outlet it was originally sold to. Riverdale was initially set up at Fox before moving to theCW, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina started at the CW before relocating to Netflix. Riverdale spawned a short-lived spinoff series on the CW, Katy Keene.

Afterlife with Archie also marks Warner Bros. TV’s first series for Disney+, which has been increasingly opening up its slate to outside studios.

“The world of ‘Archie’ and Riverdale is the gift that keeps on giving,” said Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks. “To bring Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s incredible story to life with our partners at Berlanti Productions, ArchieComics and Disney+ is a thrill for all of us at WBTVG.”

Aguirre-Sacasa, a film, TV and comic book writer, had written Archie Comics’ two best-selling horror series, Afterlife With Archie and Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina, when he was named the publisher’s Chief Creative Officer in March 2014. Twelve years later, he continues in his role while also expanding his TV footprint — and the Archie TV universe which launched with the 2017 Riverdale. 

“This was the comic book that started it all. Before there was a Riverdale, before there was a Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, there was Afterlife with Archie, which I collaborated on with the best horror artist in the business, Francesco Francavilla,” Aguirre-Sacasa said. “Getting to turn Afterlife into a TV series for the amazing team at Disney+ with our incredible partners at Berlanti Productions, WB and, of course, Jon (Goldwater) and his Archie family is truly a full-circle moment — and the ultimate dream project for me. Time to say a prayer for Archie, Betty, Veronica and the whole gang, ‘cause THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING!!!!”

Berlanti Prods. and WBTV also have the upcoming Scooby-Doo! live-action series at Netflix, the HBO drama pilot How To Survive Without Me, Stillwater, based on the Skybound comic books, which has a series commitment at Amazon, as well as All American, which just launched its eighth and final season on the CW.

“We are so happy to reunite with Roberto on this exciting series that takes us back into the Riverdale world that we so love, and we are thankful to Disney+ and WBTV for giving us the opportunity to revisit some of our favorite characters in a unique and thrilling way,” Berlanti and Schechter said. “A special thank you to Jon Goldwater for letting us continue to play within the beloved ‘Archie’ universe and trusting us to bring Archie’s various stories to life.”

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Launching New Archie Comics Series “The Occult World of Sabrina”

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Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is still chilling…

Sabrina Spellman lives on, in a way, in The Occult World of Sabrina, the new Archie Comics series from the 47-year-old Nicaraguan American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

The new comic book series  will pick up where Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina left off in its series finale cliffhanger. Sabrina may have welcomed death, but someone close to her is plotting to bring her back.

The source comic book series that inspired the Kiernan Shipka-led drama will also move forward in time in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #9 with Aguirre-Sacasa at the helm, set to debut on Oct. 13.

“The scene that we shot and had to take out of the Netflix series with Zelda is the exact scene verbatim that’s in the first issue of The Occult World of Sabrina,” sats Aguirre-Sacasa. “When we start that series, it’s exactly as it ended in the Netflix series with Sabrina and Nick in the sweet hereafter and her family and friends in Greendale are trying to live in a world without Sabrina. In fact, that’s the name of the first story arc: ‘World Without Sabrina.’ We’ll see how her loved ones have been doing since Sabrina sacrificed herself. The first thing Zelda does is recruit a team of their family and friends to go into the underworld to bring Sabrina back to life.”

Vanessa Rubio Upped to Series Regular on Netflix’s “Cobra Kai”

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Vanessa Rubio is stepping things up…

The 37-year-old Colombian-American actress has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming fourth season of Netflix’s Cobra Kai.

Vanessa Rubio 

Starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, the Karate Kid sequel series is one of the streamer’s most popular shows.

Rubio has portrayed Carmen Diaz since Season 1, appearing in 16 episodes. Carmen is Miguel’s (Xolo Maridueña) hard-working mother who would do anything to protect her son.

The third season recently premiered in January, hitting No. 1 worldwide on Netflix. The first three seasons of Cobra Kai are now streaming on Netflix with the fourth season production underway in Atlanta.

Cobra Kai takes place over 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (Zabka).

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg via their production company, Counterbalance Entertainment. Will Smith, James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett executive produce for Westbrook Entertainment along with Susan Ekins in association with Sony Pictures Television. Macchio and Zabka also serve as executive producers.

In addition to Cobra Kai, Rubio recently appeared in the second season of Netflix’s Bonding.

Her other previous TV credits include Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings and Master of None, WGN’s Gone and NBC’s Deception.

Her film work includes How To Be Single, The Hudson Tribes and The Girl is in Trouble.

Gina Torres to Star in ABC’s Supernatural Drama Pilot “The Brides”

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Gina Torres is vampin’ things up…

The 50-year-old Cuban American actress will lead the cast of The Brides, ABC’s supernatural drama pilot from Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina developer/executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

Gina Torres

Written by Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Maggie Kiley, The Brides, a sexy contemporary reimagining of Dracula, is a family drama with a trio of powerful female leads at its heart. With strong horror elements, The Brides is a vampire soap about empowered, immortal women and the things they do to maintain wealth, prestige, legacy — and their nontraditional family.

Torres plays Cleo Phillips. One of the three Brides of Draculaand the leader of this vampire trio, Cleo is an imperious woman with a queenly manner —understandably, as she was a queen in her former life who was turned by Dracula after the death of her husband. Now a maven of New York City real estate, Cleo is challenged professionally by a mysterious newcomer — even as her ties to her sisters are dangerously fraying.

While the focus will be on the women, the character of Dracula is featured in the show.

Torres recently played Jessica Pearson, first on USA Network’s popular original series Suits and then in the network’s Chicago-set spinoff series Pearson, which Torres headlined and executive produced. The role has earned Torres an ALMA Award, an Imagen Awardand the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Award for Outstanding Performance in a Television Series.

At ABC, Torres co-starred on the Shondalanddrama series The Catch, recurred on Revenge and toplined the 2016 pilot The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez. Angel and Firefly alumna Torres also did an arc on HBO’s Westwood.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Signs New Multi-Year Deal with Warner Bros. Television

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Roberto Aguirre-Sacasahas landed a major deal…

The 44-year-old Nicaraguan-American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer who is currently the Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics and the key creative force behind Warner Bros. Television’s growing Archie comics-based TV universe, has signed a massive new multi-year overall deal with the studio. 

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

No details are being disclosed but the pact is said to be for five years, and it’s in the high eight figures. 

Under the agreement, Aguirre-Sacasa will develop, write, and produce new series through his banner, Muckle Man Productions, while also continuing as executive producer/showrunner on WBTV series Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,as well as pilot Katy Keene, co-developed with Michael Grassi.

Shortly after he was named Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics in 2014, Aguirre-Sacasa teamed with WBTV-based Berlanti Prods. to bring the Archie characters to television. He is the developer/executive producer behind Riverdale, which has been a major hit for the CWand Netflix, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which quickly established itself as a breakout for Netflix, and the co-developer/executive producer on the Riverdale spinoff pilot Katy Keene, which has been garnering solid early buzz at the CW.

Before becoming Archie Comics COO, Aguirre-Sacasa wrote two of the company’s best-selling horror series: Afterlife With Archie and Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina. He previously worked for Marvel Comics, scripting the adventures of Spider-Man, Nightcrawler, and the Fantastic Four.

Aguirre-Sacasa’s TV series writing-producing credits include Fox’s Glee, HBO’s Looking and Big Love, as well as a stint on WBTV/Berlanti Prods.’ Supergirl.

Aguirre-Sacasa is an accomplished screenwriter and playwright. He penned the feature remakes of Carrie and The Town That Dreaded Sundown, as well as the musical adaptation of American Psycho, which had runs in London and on Broadway. 

Aguirre-Sacasa was part of the team that was brought in to overhaul Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark. This summer, Pasadena Playhouse will produce his prep school thriller, Good Boys and True, and he wrote the book to the Broadway-bound Magic Mike the musical, with Brian Yorkey (lyrics) and Tom Kitt(music).