Archie Comics’ all-American teens are set for the silver screen.
Riverdale is being touted as a ‘surreal’ and ‘subversive’ take on the comics, with ‘darkness’ and ‘weirdness’ lying beneath the towns’ ‘wholesome façade.’ Which means there’ll probably be more to it than love triangles and Instagram, it might also tackle the darkness of Tinder and revenge porn or just have an eccentric old bloke running around in a suit of armour trying to scare everyone off.
The series is being produced by Arrow and The Flash’s Greg Berlanti and Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer Roberti Aguirre-Sacasa, who will also write the pilot.
After months of worldwide casting calls for walking talking lookalikes of 2D characters, the main cast of the Twilight lite Archie adaptation has been revealed:
Archie Andrews (KJ Apa)- In the comics, Archie is an ‘All-American’ boy; a sporty musician whose genuinely kind-hearted and a bit of a doofus. The show’s version sounds more like a jock-ish idiot, described as ‘an intense, conflicted teen, a boyish high school sophomore who got pumped up over the summer working construction and is now juggling the interest of several girls, as well as trying to balance his passion for writing and performing music….against the wishes of his father and football coach.’
Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse)- Archie’s best friend with an unhealthy obsession with junk food, and anti-fashion icon (whoopee and beanie hats are cool) will become a ‘heartthrob with philosophical bent and former best friend of Archie.’
Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart)- One of Archie’s long-term love interests, she’s the ‘girl next door’ who goes out of her way to get the attention of Riverdale’s most eligible bachelor. The shows version will be a ‘sweet, studious, eager-to-please and wholesome with a huge crush on her best friend Archie.’
Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes)- Archie’s other long term love interest and Betty’s best friend, she’s the daughter of Riverdale’s richest man. Depending on what day it is Veronica can either be be the town’s nicest resident or biggest bitch.
Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch)- The shows version is pretty faithful to the comics described as a ‘rich, entitled and never accountable. A manipulative mean girl who kills with kindness, she recently lost her twin brother in a mysterious accident.’
Josie (Ashleigh Murray)- Described as ‘a gorgeous, snooty and ambitious girl who is the lead singer of popular band Josie and the Pussycats. She has zero interest in recording any songs written by fellow teen Archie.’ The show’s version sounds like the opposite of Josie’s level-headed comic book counterpart.
Key supporting characters still to be cast include: Reggie Mantel, general prick and Archie’s rival in almost everything; and Kevin Keller; military brat and Riverdale’s only ‘out’ gay man.
Riverdale has already picked up a series order, and is expected to debut in autumn.
