Riverdale Casts Jughead Jones and Betty
Last month, it was confirmed that The CW had ordered a pilot for Riverdale, a subversive take on the classic Archie Comics characters, and now TheWrap brings word that cast is starting to fill out!
Lili Reinhart (“Surviving Jack,” The Kings of Summer) will play the role of Betty Cooper, described for the series as follows: “Sweet, studious and eager-to-please. The wholesome Betty has a huge crush on her longtime best friend, Archie. Tired of being the perfect daughter, student, sister, etc., she turns to her new friend, Veronica, for life advice — much to the consternation of her emotionally brittle mother.”
Cole Sprouse (“The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”) will star as Jughead Jones, who will apparently have a unique take on the character. He is described as: “An emo heartthrob with a philosophical bent, Jughead is the former best friend of Archie Andrews; he is still smarting from the rift that took place between the two.”
The one-hour drama will be written by Archie Comics Chief Creative Officer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and produced by Warner Brothers Studios and Berlanti Productions. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schecter, Jon Goldwater, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa serve as executive producers.
The live-action series offers a subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends, exploring small-town life and the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. The show will focus on the eternal love triangle of Archie Andrews, girl-next-door Betty Cooper, and rich socialite Veronica Lodge, and will include the entire cast of characters from the comic books—including Archie’s rival, Reggie Mantle, and his slacker best friend, Jughead Jones.
In addition to the core cast, Riverdale will introduce other characters from Archie Comics’ expansive library, including Josie and the Pussycats.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
