Archie has been a comic icon for decades, and soon, the comic book will finally be getting a television adaptation in the form of the CW's Riverdale.
However, that doesn't mean it will be anything like what comic readers have come to expect over the years. An official description for the upcoming show has hit the Web, and it provides a number of key details, most notably that Archie, at one point in time, had a forbidden relationship with music teacher Ms. Grundy. It also mentions the off-screen death of a longtime Archie comic character, Jason Blossom.
"As a new school year begins, the town of Riverdale is reeling from the recent, tragic death of high school golden boy Jason Blossom, and nothing feels the same. Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) is still the all-American teen, but the summer's events made him realize that he wants to pursue a career in music — not follow in his dad's footsteps — despite the sudden end of his forbidden relationship with Riverdale's young music teacher, Ms. Grundy (Sarah Habel)."
Note the word "young" when it comes to describing Ms. Grundy; this won't be the older, white-haired version of the character. Of course, it wouldn't be Archie without the love triangle between Archie, Betty and Veronica, and it looks like Riverdale will capture that aspect of the comic as well.
"It's all weighing heavily on Archie's mind — as is his fractured friendship with budding writer and fellow classmate Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse). Meanwhile, girl-next-door Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) is anxious to see her crush Archie after being away all summer, but she's not quite ready to reveal her true feelings to him. And Betty's nerves — which are hardly soothed by her overbearing mother Alice (Mädchen Amick) aren't the only thing holding her back. When a new student, Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), arrives in town from New York with her mother Hermione (Marisol Nichols), there's an undeniable spark between her and Archie, even though Veronica doesn't want to risk her new friendship with Betty by making a play for Archie."
New artwork for the show reveals a Twin Peaks vibe, which seems to be hinted at in the final line of the show's description:
"Riverdale may look like a quiet, sleepy town, but there are dangers in the shadows ..."
What exactly that will mean for Archie, Betty and Veronica is unclear, but Riverdale certainly seems like it will be quite unlike any version of Archie than has come before. The series is a midseason replacement show, presumably set to air sometime in January 2017.
