If you’re a fan of Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and the rest of the gang, then Riverdale, the new Greg Berlanti series, just might… confuse you. Far from the light-hearted approach taken with various Archie Comics over the decades, this is a decidedly David Lynchian approach as it explores what life is really like in small town America. As part of the official description offers, “Riverdale may look like a quiet, sleepy town, but there are dangers in the shadows.”
See, we warned you!
It begins with a new school year commencing in the aftermath of a mysterious death, and follows the intersecting lives of the town’s various teen characters as the mystery surrounding that death grows. Besides the trailer above, the network has released a series of images from the first episode.
The eternal triangle between Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), Veronica Lodge (Camilia Mendes) and Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) will be an integral part of Riverdale.
Just to help you keep track of these things, Betty has a crush on Archie, but, naturally, waits too long to tell him as Veronica arrives in town, so Betty kills her... kidding.
Archie with his father, Fred, played by Luke Perry. Time was when Perry was the angst-ridden teen in town on the original Beverly Hills 90210.
Until recent years, there was never any real depth to the characters living in Riverdale, but the series is promising to offer up interesting character arcs between, among others, Archie, Veronica, Jughead and Betty.
Music has always been an important part of Archie whenever it's been adapted (primarily in animation), and it looks like Betty is embracing those roots.
Every teen drama need a biotch, and this show's is Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch), who, when she's not busy screwing up things between Archie and his lady friends, is a part of the mystery surrounding the death of her twin brother, Jason.
Cole Sprouse, a former Disney Channel star, plays Jughead Jones, hardly recognizable here without his trademark hamburgers or crown. C'mon, people!
From left to right are Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge, and Camilia Mendes as her daughter, Veronica. It isn't clear what their relationship is going to be like.
Remember Josie And The Pussycats In Outer Space? Not many people do (it was a 1972 animated series), but before Josie and her friends left orbit, they were a band in Riverdale. On the series, Josie, who dreams of and is working towards music stardom, is played by Ashleigh Murray.
Riverdale premieres on the CW in the US on 28 January. UK broadcaster TBA.