Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Greg Berlanti reunite with members of the Riverdale creative team for the Warner Bros. Television series.
Disney+ has officially greenlit a television adaptation of Afterlife with Archie, bringing one of Archie Comics' darkest stories to the streaming service in time for Halloween 2027.
The bestselling horror comic book series was created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and artist Francesco Francavilla. Warner Bros. Television will produce the adaptation for Disney+, with Aguirre-Sacasa and Greg Berlanti reuniting after their work on Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Aguirre-Sacasa and Jimmy Gibbons will executive produce through Muckle Man Productions and its overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman will executive produce through Berlanti Productions and its overall deal with the studio. Archie Comics Studios CEO Jon Goldwater will also serve as an executive producer.
Based on the acclaimed comic series, Afterlife with Archie transforms the familiar town of Riverdale into the center of a zombie apocalypse. After a supernatural spell cast by a familiar teen witch goes terribly wrong, an army of the possessed dead descends on the town.
Archie Andrews and his friends must fight to stay alive as the crisis tests the friendships, romances, and loyalties that have always held the group together.
“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. 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,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family.
Warner Bros. Television is producing the series for Disney+, an arrangement that allows the outside studio to develop and produce the show while Disney's streaming service serves as its home.
“The world of ‘Archie’ and Riverdale is the gift that keeps on giving. To bring Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s incredible story to life with our partners at Berlanti Productions, Archie Comics and Disney+ is a thrill for all of us at WBTVG,” said Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD U.S. Networks.
Aguirre-Sacasa said the adaptation represents a full-circle moment because the comic preceded the television versions of Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
“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 and Schechter also celebrated their return to the Archie Comics universe and their reunion with Aguirre-Sacasa.
“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.”
Goldwater said the comic was always intended to make the transition to live action and described the reunion with Aguirre-Sacasa, Berlanti, and Schechter as a homecoming.
“I am absolutely thrilled to see the iconic Afterlife with Archie come to life; this is a series that has meant so much to me since the first comic issue came out years ago,” Goldwater said.
“This was a series always destined for live-action, and finally getting the chance to make that happen is like a dream come true. Not only that, getting back in the saddle to work once more with Roberto, Greg and Sarah truly feels like a homecoming. I'm so grateful to everyone at Disney+ for giving this series a chance and cannot wait for the zombie invasion to take over TV screens worldwide.”
Afterlife with Archie is expected to premiere on Disney+ in time for Halloween 2027.
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