The ‘Riverdale’ gang is complete! The final students for The CW’s dark new adaptation of the ‘Archie’ Comics line have been cast. Previously announced were K.J. Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom and Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, as well as Luke Parry as Archie’s dad Fred and Marisol Nichols as Veronica’s mother Hermione.
Mädchen Amick has been cast as Alice Cooper, Betty’s mother and the editor of the local newspaper. She is described as a “steely perfectionist” who places a great deal of pressure on her daughter. Amick was a regular cast member on ‘The Witches of East End’ and appeared on ‘American Horror Story: Hotel’ but is perhaps best remembered for ‘Twin Peaks’.
Disney star Ross Butler joins ‘Riverdale’ as Archie’s rival Reggie mantle. Butler is a regular on ‘K.C. Undercover’ and appeared in the TV movie ‘Teen Beach 2’. Butler was rumored at one point to be up for the role of Zack the Black Ranger in the live action ‘Power Rangers’ movie.
Singer Casey Cott will play openly gay student Kevin Keller, Jughead’s other best friend besides Archie. Cott tweeted this message to commemorate his first day of shooting (and his first chest waxing):
Yesterday was a day of firsts for me. First table read, first hair coloring, first chest wax. #Riverdale
— Casey Cott (@CaseyCott) March 12, 2016
In addition to Reggie and Kevin, two more Riverdale High students will further flesh out the cast. Newcomer Cody Kearsley (above) plays football jock Moose Mason, while another newcomer, Daniel Yang will play boy genius Dilton Doiley.
As a bonus, one critic has read the script and offered this preview:
“The script begins with a narrator talking about the town of Riverdale, and how it isn’t what people think. We are shown what may be familiar locations, the city hall, the cinema, Pop’s Chok’lit Shoppe Diner, but also derelict buildings with boarded up walls, graffiti and meth addicts. Because this is the real Riverdale, all of it, folks. This isn’t just Archie the TV series. It’s Betty & Veronica Mars.”
“But for all the shock value, and there is plenty of that, this is a clever, well balanced, teen thriller of a TV show. Funny, dark, expressing the confusion of characters who, rather than the sure stereotypes of the classic Archie comics, are teenagers who frankly don’t yet know who they are, so why the hell should we? It’s the beginning of a journey, as people, circumstances, bodies, lives begin to change. It’s not just a coming of age story but a coming of the ages.”
Are you intrigued to explore this more gritty, realistic version of Riverdale?
Sources: TVLine, The Wrap, NewNowNext, TV Series Finale
