Chilling Adventures of Sabrina boss says musical performances are now 'a hallmark of the show'
That Chilling Adventures of Sabrina music video “Straight to Hell” is more than just a fun trailer for part 3 — it’s also an indication of how the show is changing after 20 episodes.
Netflix’s gothic teen drama is taking a page out of Riverdale’s book and going musical in the new season. Thanks to Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka) and Roz (Jaz Sinclair) joining the cheerleading team and Harvey (Ross Lynch), Theo (Lachlan Watson), and Roz forming a band, viewers can expect a bunch of highly produced musical numbers in the eight new episodes. And Chilling Adventures of Sabrina showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa reveals to EW that this isn’t just a fun departure for this season. “It’s something that has become a hallmark of the show,” he says of all the new musical performances.
So where did the decision come from to take the show in a musical direction after two seasons? “It happened organically,” Aguirre-Sacasa says. “The idea that Sabrina would be a cheerleader made us realize we could do numbers. And then I’ve always loved stories about garage bands. So what does the Fright Club do when they’re not vanquishing demons?”
Aguirre-Sacasa became inspired after watching one of his stars perform live and realizing it was possible. “Part of it came from Ross Lynch — he’s an amazing musician and an amazing singer,” he says. “I went to a concert that he did here in L.A. and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this guy’s a rock star! We have to weave that element more into the show.’”
With the success of the “Straight to Hell” music video and the musical performances filmed for part 3, Aguirre-Sacasa is excited to see fresh life breathed into the Riverdale spin-off. “It’s been so fun and so pop and so youthful,” he says. “We had that music video that Netflix released and people loved it. I loved it! At the risk of spoiling part 4, we have an epic battle of the bands episode [coming], which I love.”
Fans will have to wait a while longer to see that episode, but Chilling Adventures of Sabrina part 3 hits Netflix on Friday, Jan. 24.
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