'Motherland: Fort Salem': Release date, plot, cast, and all you need to know about the witchy military drama

The drama is set in an alternate world where witches are real and struck a deal with the government to escape persecution
PUBLISHED FEB 18, 2020
'Motherland: Fort Salem' (Freeform)
'Motherland: Fort Salem' (Freeform)

What if witches were real and what if the witches of 17th-century Salem made a deal with the government to escape persecution?

That is the premise of Freeform's upcoming show, 'Motherland: Fort Salem' which will hit our screens soon. However, the drama will not be like any other witchy drama. Instead, it will focus on an alternate future where witches form the military of the United States government.

Release date

'Motherland: Fort Salem' will air on Wednesday nights at 9/8c on Freeform. The show will premiere on March 18. The first season will consist of 10 episodes.

Plot

'Motherland: Fort Salem' is set in a world where witches are not only real but they also form the military. In the 17th century, the witches struck a deal with the United States government to end their persecution -- they agreed to fight for the country.

The show is set in an alternate, present-day America and follows three young women from basic training in combat magic into terrifying and thrilling early deployment. In the show, the traditional roles of gender and power are flipped -- with the women on the front lines fighting a looming terrorist threat, called the Spree. It's a woman's world on 'Motherland: Fort Salem'.

Cast

Taylor Hickson

Taylor Hickson attends the 'Deadly Class' press line during WonderCon 2019 at Anaheim Convention Center on March 30, 2019, in Anaheim, California (Getty Images)

Taylor Hickson is a Canadian actress best known for her roles in 'Deadly Class' and 'Aftermath'. She plays the role of Raelle Collar, a reluctant recruit whose mother was killed on the line of duty.

Jessica Sutton

Jessica Sutton of Motherland: Fort Salem speaks during the Freeform segment of the 2020 Winter TCA Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 17, 2020, in Pasadena, California (Getty Images).

Jessica Sutton is an actress best known for her role in 'The Kissing Booth'. She plays the role of Tally Craven, a kind, strong-willed and curious witch who enlisted over her mother's objections.

Ashley Nicole Williams

Ashley Nicole Williams (Getty Images)

Ashley Nicole Williams is an actress best known for her role in 'Shepard'. She plays the role of Abigail Bellweather, an alpha from a long line of successful military witches.

Amalia Holm

Amalia Holm (Getty Images).

Amalia Holm is a Swedish actress best known for her roles in 'The Girl in the Spider's Web' and 'Alena'. She plays the role of Scylla, a playful yet dark and mischievous recruit who's not what she appears to be.

The show also stars Demetria McKinney as Anacostia, a drill sergeant, Kai Bradbury as Gerit, Lyne Renee as General Sarah Alder, and Sarah Yarkin as Libba Swythe.

Creator

Eliot Laurence

Eliot Laurence, Demetria McKinney, Amalia Holm, Taylor Hickson, Ashley Nicole Williams, Jessica Sutton, Lyne Renee and Kevin Messick of 'Motherland: Fort Salem' speak during the Freeform segment of the 2020 Winter TCA Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 17, 2020, in California (Getty Images)

'Motherland: Fort Salem' is created by Eliot Laurence who also worked on 'Claws' and 'Welcome to Me'.

Trailers



 



 

If you like this, you'll love

'Charmed'

'Witches of East End'

'Salem'

'A Discovery of Witches'

'Switch'

RELATED TOPICS DEADLY CLASS NEW MOVIE RELEASES

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

A Reddit user recently shared a Google Earth image showing the words "Come Back" written on a pavement
2 hours ago
'Pluribus' reunited Gilligan with his long-time collaborators, music supervisor Thomas Golubić and music composer Dave Porter
2 hours ago
Viewers are left wondering whether 'Heated Rivalry' will follow the books closely or embrace the subtle changes hinted at by the cast.
4 hours ago
‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 2 dropped on December 10, 2025, and Rick Riordan has already teased something incredible for Season 3
7 hours ago
In the latest 'Pluribus' episode, titled 'The Gap', Rhea Seehorn's Carol grapples with her longing for human interaction
7 hours ago
After years in development, ‘Skinny Dip’ lands at Prime Video with Amanda Seyfried in the lead role of Joey Perrone
8 hours ago
The six-episode thriller series starring Thompson and Bernthal releases on January 8, 2026
21 hours ago
Idris Elba reprises his role as the negotiator, this time in a different mode of transport
23 hours ago
Anson Mount shared an album on social media that put Spock and Pike in focus
1 day ago
'Pushing Daisies' premiered on ABC in 2007 and ran for two seasons before being cancelled in 2008
1 day ago