Disney+ is officially set to take us back to Riverdale! Nearly a year after reports surfaced that an Afterlife with Archie television series was in development, the project has now received an official series greenlight. Disney+ has announced that the zombie horror adaptation, based on Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla’s bestselling Archie Comics series, will premiere in time for Halloween 2027.
The project comes from Warner Bros. Television, with Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and Greg Berlanti (You, The Flash, The Flight Attendant) serving as executive producers.
What is Afterlife with Archie about?
Unlike the classic wholesome adventures of Archie Andrews and the Riverdale gang, Afterlife with Archie imagines the beloved characters trapped in a full-scale zombie apocalypse. According to the official synopsis:
When a supernatural spell from a certain teen witch backfires, unleashing an army of the possessed dead upon Riverdale, Archie and his friends must fight to stay alive, testing the friendships, romances, and loyalties that have always held them together.
The comic, first published in 2013, quickly became one of Archie Comics’ most popular modern titles. It also marked one of the publisher’s first major books aimed squarely at older readers.
Back in 2025, reports indicated that Disney+ had landed the rights to the series after a competitive bidding process involving multiple streaming services. At the time, the project received a script-to-series commitment, with Aguirre-Sacasa attached as executive producer alongside Jimmy Gibbons, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, and Archie Comics Studios CEO Jon Goldwater.
Today’s announcement confirms that the project is officially moving forward into full series production.
Executive producers on the series include Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Jimmy Gibbons ; Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman ; and Jon Goldwater for Archie Comics Studios
Disney promises a thrilling new Riverdale
Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis said the series captures much more than zombie horror.
“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.”
Warner Bros. Television Group chairman and CEO Channing Dungey added:
“The world of Afterlife with 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.”
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa calls it a “full-circle moment”
For Aguirre-Sacasa, adapting Afterlife with Archieis especially meaningful because the comic laid the foundation for many of his later Archie projects.
“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. 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!!!!”
Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter also celebrated returning to Riverdale, saying:
“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. 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.”
“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. 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.”
With Riverdale ending its seven-season run in 2023, Afterlife with Archie looks set to become the next major live-action chapter in the Archie universe, this time embracing full-fledged horror instead of teen melodrama.
Are you excited to see Afterlife with Archie make the jump to television? Let us know in the comments.
