‘Riverdale’ Casts Archie, Josie for CW Pilot

K.J. Apa and Ashleigh Murray will tackle the iconic comic-book characters

Archie Comic Publications, Inc.
Archie Comic Publications, Inc.

New Zealand actor K.J. Apa has been cast to play the lead in “Riverdale,” the CW’s drama pilot adaptation of the long-running Archie comics series.

Apa will play Archie Andrews, the teen-boy protagonist and titular lead of the long-running comic-book series.

Also cast in the pilot is Ashleigh Murray, who will play Josie, Archie’s classmate at Riverdale High and the lead singer of Josie and the Pussycats.

Executive produced by Greg Berlanti, “Riverdale” is set in the present day. It is described as a surprising and subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends, exploring the surrealism of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa will write and executive produce along with Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Jon Goldwater. Warner Bros. is producing the pilot.

Already cast in the pilot are Luke Perry as Archie’s dad Fred, and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones.

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