The upcoming series Yaga, adapted from Kat Sandler's play of the same name, draws from the rich tapestry of Slavic folklore centered on the figure of Baba Yaga. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, showrunner and executive producer Kat Sandler, alongside cast members Clark Backo and Noah Reid, discussed the transition from stage to screen and the enduring appeal of the iconic witch.
Sandler highlighted the advantages of adapting the story for film, noting the ability to incorporate a greater density of visual storytelling. "The fun thing about transitioning something from theater to film is you get to put so many more Easter eggs visually in it," Sandler explained. "You get to direct the eye with the camera to highlight lots of little tiny pieces and really build the mystery, build the sex, build the horniness by just being able to zero in on it a lot more, rather than just seeing one big picture of it."
She expressed no interest in revisiting the original play, emphasizing that the series represents a distinct evolution of the material. "No, no. The play exists in its own thing, and it has now moved into something completely different with these wonderful, fabulous people," she stated.
Sandler's fascination with Baba Yaga stems from the character's complex nature. "She's always just been this incredible figure of wisdom and rage," Sandler said. "She's such a big figure in Eastern European folklore, and she has this kind of very ambiguous moral code that was really resonant for me as someone looking to adapt things about female anti-heroes." Inspired by characters like Dexter and Hannibal, Sandler sought to explore a female anti-hero with similar levels of vicious entertainment. "Can we do this but with a woman?' and still find it viciously entertaining and so fun and so sexy and really be along for the ride with her, enjoying her being the OG bad girl of fairytales."
Clark Backo, portraying Detective Carson, described her character as the grounded, practical force within the narrative. "She believes deeply in the importance of her job as a cop to serve and protect," Backo said. "And I think she especially underlines protecting women, and understands the vulnerability in being a woman in this world – obviously because she is one herself – but also because its very apparent all around us that we live in a patriarchal society that does not lend well to the safety of women."
Despite its dark, mystery-thriller classification, the series also incorporates significant elements of humor and comedy. Noah Reid described the show as a blend of genres: "I feel like this show really is a '90s detective movie wrapped in a pulpy rom-com with a dark, mythological thriller in it." He particularly enjoys the dynamic shifts within the series, noting "the switch of gears that way, from moments that feel like they are romantically-driven to comedy-driven to thriller/horror-driven."
Backo elaborated on Sandler's skill in weaving these disparate tones together. "I think the way that she (Sandler) blends all these genres together, especially using humor and comedy to be able to dive into extremely complicated, fragile, and complex themes – I think it just invites everybody to be able to pause and really think about, what does justice really look like?" The series aims to keep its themes ambiguous, allowing viewers to contemplate moral complexities. "What she (Sandler) does so well, is keep it ambiguous, right until the end. And you kind of have to sit with yourself and decide 'what would you do?' in these peoples' positions," Backo added.