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We know we were excited about the possibilities when it was announced that Archie Comics’ most magical character, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, would be getting her own live-action TV show on The CW as a sort of companion show to Riverdale. Apparently, Netflix was excited for the possibilities, too! So excited, that they swooped in to claim the show for themselves with an offer the producers couldn’t refuse.

As reported by Deadline Hollywood, Netflix has committed to a two-season, straight-to-series order for the now-untitled Sabrina show. That was an offer Warner Bros. TV couldn’t pass up. Not only does it show a huge amount of faith on Netflix’s part in the show’s potential for success, but partnering with Netflix means that Warner Bros. TV gets to keep exclusive ownership of the show, whereas The CW model means that Riverdale is a co-production with CBS TV Studios, which gives them part ownership.

Now that Netflix is throwing all their weight behind this Sabrina show, I’m even more excited, as the basic concept for the show was already more interesting to me than Riverdale ever was (don’t get me wrong. I love me some Riverdale, but…)

Will you be watching Sabrina when she comes to Netflix?

(image: Archie Comics)

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Xscape is closing out their whirlwind year with the surprise release of not one, but two new singles. Although the group initially said there were no immediate plans to put out any new music following the news of their reunion in early 2017, it looks like they've had a change of heart. The two new tracks mark the first time the group has put out fresh material since 2005, with 1998 being the last time all 4 original group members were heard on a song together. Taking to her Instagram page earlier in the week, group member Tameka "Tiny"  Cottle gave the world a first official preview of the first new single just after Thanksgiving, titled "Dream Killer." Take a listen below. Group member Tamika Scott then revealed the name of the second single, titled "Wifed Up" with a post on her Instagram page on December 1. Both singles are currently available for purchase on iTunes, as well as on all digital streaming platforms. Prior to the release of the songs, Kandi Burruss confirmed during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live that while there would be new Xscape music on the way, she would not be included on the songs. Despite Kandi's absence from the new music, the group in its' entirety just premiered the finale of their Bravo docueries, are currently on tour together through January and are also preparing for the release of an authorized biopic in 2018.

Although the adaptation of Archie Comics‘ classic series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch was expected to land on the CW as a companion series to Riverdale, the comic brand has officially announced the new Sabrina series has instead landed a 20-episode, two-season, straight-to-series order at Netflix. This means no greater Archie-verse on the CW (for now), but it at least guarantees that Sabrina fans will get two full seasons of the series, and—without censors—the show will be allowed to go to much spookier (and sexier?) places than it would have on network television.

A lot of the same creatives that helped bring Riverdale to life will also be bringing Sabrina to the small screen as well. The new show will be written by Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer and Riverdale Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, directed by Lee Toland Krieger, and produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Brothers Studios. Greg Berlanti will serve as executive producer, because his plate is apparently not full enough with fifty gazillion comic book shows already.

The new, as-yet-untitled series (which we’re betting will be called Sabrina for simplicity’s sake), will be mostly inspired from the critically acclaimed Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comic book series written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and artist Robert Hack, which gave fans an updated and modern re-imagining of Sabrina the Teenage Witch’s occult origins. This dark coming-of-age story deals with horror, the occult, and witchcraft and finds Sabrina struggling to reconcile her dual nature (being half-witch and half-mortal) while protecting her family and the world from the forces of evil.

In the introduction to Chilling Adventures’ original collected edition, Aguirre-Sacasa said this of the comics’ tone: “If Afterlife with Archie was about Lovecraft and zombies and body horror, Sabrina would be more psychological, a bit more subtle (but only a bit), a bit more sexual (as stories about witches often are). There would be less humor than Afterlife, which strives for a Sam Raimi-vibe; this would be more like Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist and The Omen and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible…. A dark, occult coming of age story.” If he can translate that to television, we are so very down.

One thing is for sure: it seems, based on the description, this version of the classic character will be a total departure from the 1996 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch comedy series starring Melissa Joan Hart. But producer Greg Berlanti loves a bit of stunt casting when called for (See: original movie Supergirl Helen Slater and former TV Superman Dean Cain as Kara Danvers’ parents on Supergirl), so don’t be surprised if Melissa Joan Hart gets some kind of role on this new series.

No firm date has been given for the show’s premiere, but it is expected to drop sometime in 2018.

Are you as excited as we are for a darker version of everyone’s favorite teenage witch? Be sure to let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Need More Sabrina?

• Take a look at the first few script pages!
• Here’s why Melissa Joan Hart prefers a Clarissa reboot to Sabrina!
• And finally, check out 7 Archie Comics that’ll seriously spook ya.

Images: Archie Comics

I am not surprised. As more and more people are revealing their truths, it does not come as a shock to me that Russell Simmons is among the list of enforcers. He exudes the power-loving capitalist, and at the time of his ultimate hubris, I’m sure he felt inclined and entitled to many a thing, and in his eyes apparently, things could be women.

Simmons’ apology is sound, it checks all of the boxes, it remembers to state that he is leaving to work on himself and correct his ways. The problem is, with this and so many of the apologies, is they all seem to say, “I’m sorry you took that situation the way that you did”, then they step down or leave a show. Simmons stated that “While her memory of that evening is very different from mine…” Your memory is not relevant. The article Lumet wrote in The Hollywood Reporter is terrifying – like a horror movie kidnapping and a girl doing what she felt like she had to do as she felt her life at stake. Whatever Simmons remembers has nothing to do with how this woman truly felt by the circumstances Simmons created, thankfully Simmons acknowledged this.

This country has been through an immense trauma from its inception, murder, rape, torture, enslavement. Ancestral trauma is real and presents itself in many forms. For some it compels them to act in a violent fashion, present trauma people have experienced can have this effect.

Specifically, the historical trauma in this country around Black men is real. This pain is in our blood, our bones, but I believe humanity still exists in us. That’s why we still have feelings of what is right and what is wrong, we intuitively can feel when we might be making uncomfortable circumstances and check ourselves. I mean read the effin’ room. But these actions seemed predatory, forceful, and painful.

Sex is a truly beautiful and powerful thing in the world, making it also the most dangerous. As a species who has sexual organs, not just for procreation – we have the capability to provide ultimate pleasure to each other – be vulnerable and have an exchange that opens our minds to give and receive this magnificently. This is meant to be an equal power and when equal – this experience can surpass any form of pleasure that any violator could truly behold.

Power makes you feel like you can control anything, like the first homunculus in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – you believe if you can swallow up the power of God and can manipulate any situation without consequences – no the existence of consequence is ignored.

Take note – take it well. There should be no miscommunication or confusion in sexual acts. There is no Fifty Shades of Grey, the colors should be clear and concise cuz consent is consent – not “well, I thought,” or I remember, or it seemed like. Forcing someone to do anything, exposing yourself without any warrant or ask is ridiculous and I can’t see any confusion there. You made choices.

This isn’t the first time either, there are very specific accounts stating Simmons and Ratner worked together to violate a young model in the past. When this was revealed the ‘allegations’ were denied and the full opposite was said – I would never. It seems every prominent figure in the media above the age of fifty is getting thrown into early retirement by the things they thought were ok back in the day or that they thought no one could touch them for.

The question then, is how do we handle this information? Should we discredit the strides Russell Simmons has done for Def Jam and the future of music, comedy, and so much more for POC communities? To me – no. Those things happened – he may be a despicable person and he has paved a way for phenomenal people, and people who inspire better people, strive to create for better people. I feel like we always wanna hit’em where it hurts, their money – but when that money trickles down to the advancement of better people, what now? Money is a universal dirty paper – so what is next?

I appreciate the sentiment that Simmons’ apology included, however honest he is I will leave to your impression, “As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don’t want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded. The companies will now be run by a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives who are moving the culture and consciousness forward” – CNN Media

I hope the women speaking their truths are getting what they need, whether it be closure, release, peace, justice – whatever it may be. And I truly ask that the people taking over in these places move the culture and consciousness to a place where our traumas are recognized and our humanity and respect foundational.

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The post “While Her Memory of that Evening is very Different from Mine…”: Russell Simmons Stepping Down From His Companies appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.