I don’t think we’re in Riverdale anymore — or are we? What once was familiar is now home to something dark and nefarious in a new trailer forRiverdale, The CW’s TV adaptation of the typically spunkyArchiecomic books.KJ Apadebuts as Archie Andrews, but it’s on solemn terms as the high school golden boy, Jason Blossom, has been found murdered.
The mystery to this tragic circumstance begins in the new footage, as Archie has a forbidden romance with the school’s young music teacher Ms. Gundry (Sarah Habel). In a CW series where high school kids look like teachers and teachers look like high school kids, sure, why not? Elsewhere, his buddy and aspiring writer Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) is becoming unhinged over Jason’s death, while someone is manipulating Archie into keeping a crucial secret.
Watch the trailer below:
Riverdalealso starsLuke Perryas Archie’s dad;Ashleigh Murrayas Josie, from the titular Josie and the Pussycats;Lili ReinhartandCamila Mendesas two sides of Archie’s love triangle, Betty and Veronica;Madelaine Petschas Riverdale’s Queen Bee, Cheryl;Marisol Nicholsas Veronica’s mom, Hermione; andMädchen Amickas Betty’s mom, Alice.
The CW shows have been successful in their own right, but it’ll be interesting to see howArchiefans respond toRiverdale. Even the color palette in the trailer doesn’t have that brighty, cartoony palette that’s signature to the comics.
As far as first impressions go, the series seems to share only the names of characters and places with the source material, while everything else packs more of aGossip GirlmeetsScreamvibe — as in there’s a murder mystery in a misty small town that’ll likely be solved by seasons’ end, while teens wearing posh outfits play in the shadows.
Riverdalepremieres Thursday, January 26, at 9 p.m. on The CW.
