The CW Picks Up Riverdale and Frequency for Series Orders
Debi Moore
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It’s official — the world’s most popular teenagers are finally coming to television this fall on The CW’s “Riverdale,” a one-hour live-action drama based on the classic Archie Comics characters.
From the Press Release:
“This is a historic moment for Archie Comics – and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Archie Comics Publisher and CEO Jon Goldwater. “It’s a culmination of my time here, and I’m eager to see Greg Berlanti, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, The CW, Warner Brothers Studios, and the cast bring ‘Riverdale’ to viewers every week. My promise to fans? You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
The show will be written by Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and produced by Warner Brothers Studios and Berlanti Productions. 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.
“Riverdale” stars KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Ross Butler as Reggie Mantle, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper, and Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge.
In addition to “Riverdale,” per Deadline, the network also opted to give “Frequency” a series order instead of Kevin Williamson’s untitled “paranormal drama” as the former was seen to be more lucrative for WBTV since it, like “Riverdale,” is based on company-owned IP and will remain solely owned, not become a co-production with CBS TV Studios, which would have been the case with Williamson’s show.
In this reimagining of the New Line Cinema film, a female police detective in 2016 discovers she is able to speak via a ham radio with her estranged father (also a detective) who died in 1996. They forge a new relationship while working together on an unresolved murder case, but unintended consequences of the “butterfly effect” wreak havoc in the present day.
The show’s executive producer/writer is Jeremy Carver (“Supernatural”); executive producers are Toby Emmerich (The Notebook), John Rickard (Horrible Bosses), Dan Lin (The LEGO™ Movie, Sherlock Holmes), and Jennifer Gwartz (“Veronica Mars”). The pilot was directed by Brad Anderson (Session 9, Stonehearst Asylum, “Fringe”), and the cast includes Riley Smith (“Nashville,” “True Blood”), Mekhi Phifer (“ER,” 8 Mile), Peyton List (“The Flash, “Mad Men”), Lenny Jacobson (“Nurse Jackie”), Anthony Ruivivar (“Third Watch”), Devin Kelley (Chernobyl Diaries), and Daniel Bonjour (“The Walking Dead”).
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