The CW already boasts one comic book-inspired franchise in its DC comic shows like “Arrow” and “Supergirl,” but “Archie” could provide the network with a whole new universe to explore. “Riverdale,” inspired by the “Archie” comic books has already seen so much buzz that people want to know if there could be spin-offs to create a new TV universe.
Welcome to ‘Riverdale'
“Riverdale” has been described as “Gossip Girl” meets “Twin Peaks” by those who have seen early screenings of the pilot, and even CW President Mark Pedowitz has termed it a cross between “Twin Peaks” and “The O.C.,” which is high praise indeed.
The series will open in much the same way “Twin Peaks” did - with the death of a teenager in the small town. Archie (KJ Apa) and friends will be at the center of the investigation in the small town where you can “get away with it all.” The previews for the series have promised a darker take on the peppy comic book stories, which does fall in line with the more modern horror takes that have been on comic book store shelves.
Archie, Betty (Lili Reinhart), and Veronica (Camila Mendes) are the famous love triangle at the center of the comics, but they aren’t the only famous residents of the page.
Josie and the Pussycats
Josie (Ashleigh Murray) will already be a member of the main cast when “Riverdale” premieres on the CW.
You might remember this band, even if you aren’t familiar with the comics, from the Rachael Leigh Cook movie that came out years ago.
Here, Josie is a teenager who is musically inclined, and her mother has a position of power in the small town. Could she and her band get their own spinoff series? Only time will tell.
At the recent Television and Critics Association press tour, Pedowitz was asked whether audiences could see more “Archie” characters populating CW timeslots for their own shows and he told the audience to ask him “in about five to six weeks.” That time gives the network a chance to see how well the show lands an audience and which characters that audience clicks with most.
Sabrina the teenage witch
Josie isn’t the only character who has already had a shot at a headline, though. Sabrina Spellman made popular originally in “Archie” comics, tales from the town of Greendale, just one stop over from Riverdale.
Sabrina might forever be associated with Melissa Joan Hart, who played the teen witch for nearly a decade in movies and television as she transitioned from children’s programming to more grown-up roles.
In addition to Pedowitz’s comments about the possibility of more “Archie” shows on the way, Entertainment Weekly revealed the scoop that Sabrina could be making a stop by “Riverdale” in the show’s first season. Executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa told the outlet that the priority is getting “Riverdale” up and running first but that he would “tease that Sabrina has potential with a capital P.”
She might have some competition for her own series though as CW has a “Charmed” remake on the way as well, which also features a group of witches at the center of the story.
Catch “Riverdale” when it premieres on January 26 on the CW. We probably will find out more about what CW has in store for Archie and friends when they announce their new series pickups in the spring.
