KJ Apa and Ashleigh Murray Courtesy of Red11 Management/Courtesy of Innovative Artists
KJ Apa will play Archie Andrews, while Ashleigh Murray will take on the role of Josie.
The CW’s take on Archie Comics, Riverdale, has found its leads.
Eighteen-year-old New Zealand-born KJ Apa has been cast as Archie Andrews, while Ashleigh Murray has nabbed the role of Josie in the pilot from uber-producer Greg Berlanti.
Riverdale had difficulty casting its lead, and it took a massive four-month talent search to finally find the right leading man. Also set for the cast is Luke Perry as Archie’s dad, Fred Andrews, and Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody) as Jughead Jones.
The pilot follows the main crew of Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends, as they explore the surrealistic twists of small-town life, and the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome facade. Set in the fictional town of Riverdale, N.Y., the drama will focus on the love triangle of Archie Andrews, girl-next-door Betty Cooper and rich socialite Veronica Lodge.
Archie is described as an intense, conflicted high school sophomore. After getting pumped up over the summer working construction, he is now juggling the interest of several girls and trying to balance his passion for writing and performing music against the wishes of his father and his football coach. Josie, for her part, is a snooty and ambitious girl who is the lead singer for popular band Josie and the Pussycats. She has zero interest in recording any songs written by Archie.
The pilot hails from Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions. Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Jon Goldwater and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (who is also the chief creative officer of Archie Comics) serve as executive producers, with Aguirre-Sacasa writing.
Apa is repped by WME, Luber Roklin Entertainment and Red 11 Management. Murray is with Innovative Artists.
