Netflix has released two photos from the set of the upcoming Sabrina the Teenage Witch reboot, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and it looks a lot darker than the 90s show we all know and love.
Most importantly, Salem the talking cat is nowhere to be found. How can this be?!
Salem Saberhagen, the warlock who was sentenced to spend 100 years as a cat as punishment for trying to take over the world, was the best part of the original Sabrina, without a doubt. His one-liners and overall sassiness transformed an otherwise often forgettable show into a classic, and I can’t imagine a Sabrina reboot without him.
The reboot stars Kiernan Shipka of Mad Men fame as Sabrina Spellman, and Australia’s very own Miranda Otto as her aunt Zelda. Netflix describes the show as a “dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult, and, of course, witchcraft”, that’s closer to Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist than it is to the original Sabrina, and it’s clear this is going to be nothing like the show we all grew up watching.
There is no sign of Salem on the show’s IMDB page, which I’m hoping is a grave oversight and not reflective of the show’s final lineup. Maybe producers felt that his comic relief didn’t suit the tone of the show, but what would help Sabrina as she fights against evil more than a feisty feline sidekick?
If anyone needs me, I’ll be watching YouTube compilations of Salem’s best moments in tribute to our favourite furry overlord.
