In 1996, Melissa Joan Hart perfectly embodied the titular star of the magical coming-of-age sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but 30 years on, a reboot could have a very different cast. The show was a massive success, and as such, it ended up running for seven seasons from 1996 until 2003.
Beyond that, the series also ended up with an animated spin-off and sequel, a reimagined revival in 2018 which took a much darker approach to the narrative, and a handful of feature films, including the 1996 movie starring Hart and Ryan Reynolds that kicked it all off.
But, if TV executives wanted to bring the series back today, and stick more closely to the light-hearted comedy roots of the 1996 series, there are only a handful of actors who could really excel at playing the parts that brought this series to life in the first place.
Ruby Stokes as Sabrina Spellman
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First up, we need a loud, boisterous, and versatile actor who can bring the humor, enthusiasm, and depth to the character of Sabrina that this role deserves. And with that in mind, there is no one better suited to playing this part than Ruby Stokes. Stokes has been steadily building out her credits since 2010, with a major turn in 2016 when she played a central role in the film Una.
Since then, Stokes has tackled a variety of performances, from the stage to the screen, and performed in period dramas, dark comedies, and captivating dramas, all of which have given her both the experience to play the role and more than qualified her to take the lead as a mischievous young witch discovering her powers.
Gillian Jacobs as Hilda Spellman
While Gillian Jacobs played the uptight and anxious Britta in Community, the role that she is currently best known for, she also has the capacity to play much more laid-back and fun-loving roles. And considering Hilda Spellman, one of Sabrina’s aunts who is also a full witch, is prone to act on impulse and take things less seriously than her sister Zelda, it would make a lot of sense to cast Jacobs as Hilda.
Hilda is the younger sister who loves to have fun and is willing to play along with Sabrina’s ideas, often getting herself in trouble with her sister along with their niece. Jacobs brings humor, vibrancy, and warmth to her roles that allows her to deliver characters who may not be the most practical, but they are certainly endearing.
Ayo Edebiri as Zelda Spellman
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Meanwhile, Zelda Spellman is frequently the voice of reason, and the most level-headed witch in the room. In order to bring this part to life, someone like Ayo Edebiri, who recently came off her turn in the incredible series, The Bear, would be an ideal choice to play the person keeping everything together while everyone else is chasing their own directions.
In many ways, this is exactly how her character, Sydney, ended her run in The Bear, having learned valuable lessons through her challenging work with the team at The Bear restaurant, before taking the reins and becoming the Head Chef and co-owner. So, in a sense, playing Zelda could help to see that type of character evolve even further in Edebiri’s capable hands.
Bill Hader as The Voice of Salem Saberhagen
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Bill Hader is an accomplished comedy actor whose deadpan delivery style has made him a fan favorite throughout his career, from his time as a regular cast member on SNL to a series of roles in TV and film over the last decade or so. Hader has also taken to voice acting in recent years with a growing list of credits for major roles in projects such as The Cat in The Hat, Inside Out, and many more.
With all of that preparation, Hader is easily the strongest candidate to tackle the sarcastic and snappy wizard who was turned into a cat as a punishment for attempting to take over the world, Salem.
Jack Martin as Harvey Kinkle
Harvey Winkle is the awkward but lovable, goofy and endearing love interest that Sabrina Spellman finds herself fawning over. While the character in the 1996 series was popular thanks to his status as an athlete, times have moved on, and there are many other qualities that earn people a stamp of popularity and approval in high school settings, which opens the door for an updated take on Harvey, played by Jack Martin.
Martin has only recently started to land credited roles on the screen with his career taking off in 2020. Since then, he has tackled a number of small parts in TV and film, before landing a central role in the 2026 comedy series, Not Suitable For Work. It’s here that Martin proved himself as the perfect cast for a part like Harvey Kinkle, and with that series getting axed after its debut season, Martin has some space on his schedule.
Maddie Ziegler as Libby Chessler
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Libby Chessler is the quintessentially popular girl in a high school setting who is the head of the cheerleading squad, and who is frequently seen belittling and mocking other girls for being weird, or as Libby liberally refers to her classmates such as Sabrina, “freaks.”
As an athlete, it makes sense to cast a performer like Maddie Ziegler who can bring the physicality to the role to convincingly play this part, while also having a cold and intense outward face that could inspire fear in others and establish her as a dominant force.
Ty Burrell as Principal Willard Kraft
On the back of his performance as Phil Dunphy in Modern Family, Ty Burrell is an outstanding actor who brings so much physicality, personality, and incredible humor to his roles. All of that would go a long way to depicting one of the most fascinating mainstays of the original show, Principal Willard Kraft.
Principal Kraft is a bit of a bumbling buffoon who has an intense crush on Sabrina’s aunt Hilda, but throughout the show’s run ends up sparking relationships with both aunts at different points. Burrell would be an incredible addition to the lineup, and one that could reasonably juggle all of the different facets of the character that becomes so integral throughout the show’s run.
Anna Cathcart as Jenny Kelley
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In season 1 of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sabrina has a best friend by the name of Jenny Kelley. Jenny is quirky, studious, and eccentric, which means she matches Sabrina’s energy as a young witch without knowing her friend’s newfound secret. Together, the pair get up to all sorts of misadventures, and they appear to have a powerful bond that brings them together.
However, the series mysteriously replaced the character from season 2 onward. Regardless, a reboot could bring Jenny Kelley back into the story with an actor like Anna Cathcart who delivered an outstanding performance in To All the Boys and XO, Kitty, making her a more central and enduring part of the narrative. Cathcart perfectly embodies the traits of this character, and would make a great contrast to the energy that Ruby Stokes could bring to Sabrina.
Iris Apatow as Valerie Birkhead
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In seasons 2 and 3, Valerie Birkhead takes Jenny’s place as Sabrina’s best friend, and the show avoids referencing Jenny ever again. Valerie then asserts herself as the new best friend, though the energy she brings to the part is much more self-conscious, shy, and awkward. And in a reboot, it would be great to have Sabrina matched up with both Jenny and Valerie to flesh out the cast and give the character more to bounce off.
So, to tackle this role, an experienced comedy actor with a talent for playing more reserved and quiet roles makes the most sense, which is why Iris Apatow is a perfect fit. Apatow has perfected the portrayal of teenage neuroticism that is central to playing the role of Valerie, and her presence opposite Ruby Stokes would be a pleasure to watch unfold.
All in all, while an updated take on Sabrina the Teenage Witch would no doubt look very different to what came before, the talent to pull off such a reboot is perfectly positioned to make an updated version of the series that captures the magic of the original.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
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