Those waiting for The CW to round out the cast of the Riverdale pilot episode need no longer hold their breath. Not only has Archie Andrews himself finally been cast, but a few other important pieces have joined the puzzle.
As for Archie, Deadline reports that he will be played by 18-year-old New Zealand native KJ Apa and is described 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.”
Speaking of characters who have a passion for writing music, Ashleigh Murray has filled the role of Josie, “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.”
Now, we all know that no story involving Archie would be complete without the inclusion of Veronica Lodge, and the same site also recently reported that Camila Mendes will play the character, who’s described as “a silver-tongued high school sophomore who returns to Riverdale from New York, eager to reinvent herself after a scandal involving her father.”
Other recent additions to the cast include Madelaine Petsch as series’ villain Cheryl Blossom and Luke Perry as Archie’s dad, Fred Andrews.
All of the folks mentioned will join the already cast Cole Spouse (Jughead Jones) and Lili Reinhart (Betty Cooper), with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Jon Goldwater, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (who penned the pilot episode) serving as executive producers.
Should Riverdale receive a series order, expect it to air sometime during the 2016-17 television season.