Archie Comics' CW 'Riverdale' Casts Lili Reinhart As Betty & Cole Sprouse As Jughead
Days after The CW announced they'd be moving forward with a live-action pilot based on Archie, a modern-day take on the classic characters from the comic, the first Riverdale cast announcements are coming! Surviving Jack actress Lily Reinhart will be playing Betty Cooper on the show, while Cole Sprouse (one half of Disney Channel's Zack & Cody) will give life to Jughead Jones!
According to Deadline, the two young actors are the first two people to join the cast of the upcoming pilot. The characters are slightly different takes from the comic book originals. The new Betty has gotten tired of "being the perfect daughter, student, sister, etc.," while Jughead is described as the "former best friend of Archie Andrews," as they've recently had a rift that broke them apart.
Riverdale, a series that will be set in modern-day times and will switch up the classic story for a different approach. In a twist that sounds more Pleasantville than Archie, the new show, a one-hour drama, will focus on "small-town life and the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome façade," as was announced through the Archie website.
The CCO of Archie Comics, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, was the one who wrote Riverdale's pilot, and he'll be acting as executive producer as well, alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and the CEO of Archie Comics, Jon Goldwater.
The show is the first bit of a big year for Archie, as 2016 marks the 75th anniversary of America's Favorite Teenager, who debuted in 1941. The new live-action venture will have the entire Archie cast (including popular gay character Kevin Keller, whose role has been described as "pivotal") but, if it's picked to series format, it will also feature other characters from Archie Comics, including those from Jossie and he Pussycats.
Further casting announcements are expected in the coming weeks. The pilot will begin shooting next spring.