LOS ANGELES — The town of Riverdale is getting a terrifying, undead makeover. Disney+ has officially handed down a series order for Afterlife with Archie, a live-action, hourlong drama based on the acclaimed graphic novel series by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla.
The streamer aims to launch the horror series in time for Halloween 2027.
The greenlight comes roughly nine months after the project was first placed in development with a script-to-series commitment. Produced by Warner Bros. Television, the project brings together the primary creative architects behind Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina to tackle a darker, apocalyptic iteration of the iconic Archie Comics lineup.
A High School Nightmare Overrun by the Undead
Afterlife with Archie reimagines the classic, all-American town of Riverdale following a supernatural catastrophe. When a spell cast by a teenage witch backfires, it unleashes an army of the possessed dead, forcing Archie Andrews and his inner circle to fight for survival while testing their high school friendships, loyalties, and romances under extreme pressure.
For series creator and showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa—who wrote the original 2013 comic book series that launched the Archie Horror imprint—the adaptation marks a full-circle milestone.
”Before there was a Riverdale, before there was a Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, there was Afterlife with Archie,” Aguirre-Sacasa said in a statement. “Getting to turn Afterlife into a TV series for the amazing team at Disney+ with our incredible partners at Berlanti Productions, WB, and Jon Goldwater 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!”
New Cast and Production Team
While details on character designs and age ratings remain under wraps, Disney+ confirmed that the project will feature a completely new cast representing a fresh take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and Sabrina. None of the stars from The CW’s Riverdale or Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina are expected to reprise their roles as core teenagers.
”Fans are going to fall hard for this new version of the gang… and maybe scream a little too,” said Ayo Davis, President of Disney Kids & Family. “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.”
Executive producers on the series include:
- Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Jimmy Gibbons (via Muckle Man Productions)
- Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman (via Berlanti Productions)
- Jon Goldwater (via Archie Comics Studios)
The series marks Warner Bros. Television’s first major live-action project produced directly for Disney+, expanding the long-running relationship between the studio, Berlanti Productions, and Archie Comics as casting underway prepares to bring the zombie apocalypse to Riverdale in fall 2027.
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