Riverdale
The cast of Riverdale in character: Camila Mendes as Veronica, KJ Apa as Archie and Lili Reinhart as Betty Instagram/lilireinhart

The CW’s adaptation of Archie comics will depart from the comic book’s original innocent and pleasant feel. “Riverdale” will be much darker and twisted than the original source.

The series will be set in the present day and will follow Archie (K.J. Apa) and his teenage crew as they deal with typical teenage problems. It may also include other things others that fans might not expect, including a murder mystery.

Executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa describes the upcoming series as “definitely Archie, but a little darker, a little more complex, and a little weirder than you might remember from the digest you bought at the supermarket” while talking to EW during the San Diego Comic Con 2016. He adds that it’s a little bit like a cross of the classic Archie and the thriller series “Twin Peaks.”

Aguirre-Sacasa revealed that the series will still ignite the nostalgia out of everyone who has ever read an Archie comic book, but will add a newer serialized mystery element. The show will also give the audience an immersive interpretation of the source in a way very similar to “Gossip Girl.” This would include a scene wherein Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) pucker up and kiss and another taboo slumber party where many of the kids will be kissing.

The team behind the production promises that fans of the comics will not be too shocked by this new spin because the original source always had its own way of taking the plot and their characters to peculiar heights. Cole Sprouse, who plays Jughead, also adds that “the audience is already primed for a new, twisted, film noir, kind of creepy, scary Archie” while doing the characters of the show their own faithful and classic renditions.

Archie Comics began in 1941, with the original series running until June 2015. This was immediately followed by a reboot from Mark Waird and Fiona Staples, which was released in July 2015. A new “Betty and Veronica” series was also launched and is still ongoing.

The upcoming series will feature a group of attractive young people including K.J. Apa, Camile Mendes, Lili Reinhart, Ashleigh Murray, and Cole Sprouse. It was developed by its executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and the genius behind “Arrow” and “The Flash” Greg Berlanti.

“Riverdale” will debut on The CW on October 3, 2016. Its Australian air date is yet to be announced.

RELATED STORIES