The one-hour drama will be written by Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and produced by Warner Brothers Studios and Berlanti Productions and has been described as a subversive take on the classic Archie mythos. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schecter, Jon Goldwater, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa serve as executive producers.
The live-action series offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends, exploring small-town life and the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. The show will focus on the eternal love triangle of Archie Andrews, girl-next-door Betty Cooper, and rich socialite Veronica Lodge, and will include the entire cast of characters from the comic books—including Archie’s rival, Reggie Mantle, and his slacker best friend, Jughead Jones.
Popular gay character Kevin Keller will also play a pivotal role. In addition to the core cast, “Riverdale” will introduce other characters from Archie Comics’ expansive library, including Josie and the Pussycats.
After casting Cole Sprouse (The Sweet Life of Zack and Cody) as Jughead Jones and Lili Reinhart (Surviving Jack) as Betty Cooper in The CW’s pilot episode of the live-action “Riverdale” TV series, comes the news that the next member of the iconic Archie series is here! Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210) has been cast as the father of Archie Andrews.
In the exclusive announcement, Deadline described Luke Perry’s Fred Andrews as “easygoing” and the owner of a construction firm who is hoping his son, who worked for him all summer, will someday take over the family business.
Perry, whose series credits also include Oz, John From Cincinnati and Body Of Proof, is repped by TalentWorks and Himber Entertainment.
KJ Apa will play America’s favorite teen in The CW’s live-action “Riverdale” TV series, joining Ashleigh Murray as talented musician Josie McCoy. The news comes hot on the heels of other major casting news for the pilot, including the naming of Cole Sprouse (The Sweet Life of Zack and Cody) as Jughead Jones, Lili Reinhart (Surviving Jack) as Betty Cooper, and Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210) as Fred Andrews.
In the exclusive announcement, Deadline described Apa’s Archie 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 his football coach.”
Murray’s Josie is described as “a gorgeous, snooty and ambitious girl who is the lead singer for popular band Josie and the Pussycats. She has zero interest in recording any songs written by fellow teen Archie.”
Hot on the heels of the casting of Archie (KJ Apa), Josie (Ashleigh Murray), Fred Andrews (Luke Perry), Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) in The CW’s ‘Riverdale’ pilot, comes the news that Madelaine Petsch (The Curse of Sleeping Beauty) has been cast as the fiery redhead Cheryl Blossom!
In the exclusive announcement, Deadline described Petsch’s Cheryl as rich, entitled and never accountable. A manipulative mean girl who kills with kindness, she recently lost her twin brother in a mysterious accident.
Madelaine is repped by Global Artists Agency and Fran Blain & Associates.
