Back in 2014, Archie Comics’ Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa set up Riverdale at Fox, a modern day series that reportedly featured “a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends.” Riverdale moved to The CW earlier this year, which ordered a pilot for the potential series. And now that the casting breakdowns have started to emerge, we’re getting an indication of what Aguirre-Sacasa meant by “bold” and “subversive.”

Are you ready for an emo-heartthrob, hearing impaired Jughead? An Adderall-loving Betty? Or a pumped up Archie? TVLine released Riverdale’s early character descriptions, and they definitely paint a different picture of the classic Archie characters. Even the long-standing friendship between Archie and Jughead is seemingly shattered in this series.

• ARCHIE ANDREWS | A high school sophomore, the redhead is still boyishly handsome but “pumped and looking good after working construction for his dad during the summer.” Archie is grappling with heavy issues and juggling the interest of several girls while discovering his passion for writing and performing music against his father and his football coach’s better wishes. Oh, and he’s harboring more than one dark, terrible secret.
• BETTY COOPER | The blonde and pretty sophomore is described as having “some self-esteem issues and affinity for Adderall.” Eager-to-please, wholesome and studious, Betty has a super-crush on her longtime best bud, Archie. But tired of being the “perfect” everything, she turns to her new friend, Veronica, for life advice. Betty has an emotionally brittle mom, a goth-like sister and a coveted spot on the cheerleading squad — though with certain conditions….
• VERONICA LODGE | Producers are aiming to ideally cast a Latina as this “silver-tongued” stunner, who has just returned to Riverdale from New York following a scandal which resulted in her father going to prison. Extremely intelligent, self-confident and immediately popular, Veronica is eager to reinvent herself — from Mean Girl to caring friend.
• JUGHEAD JONES | A hearing-impaired actor is being sought to play Jughead as an “emo-heartthrob.” The lanky lad is Archie’s former best friend, seeing as the two still are smarting from a rift that took place between them. Angry, but with a philosophical bent, Jughead “refuses to take the olive branch being offered by Archie, the hurt goes that deep.”

The Riverdale TV series will reportedly explore “the surreality of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.” Other classic Archie characters including Reggie Mantle and Kevin Keller will also appear in the series. Even Josie and the Pussycats are slated to be a part of Riverdale, but there’s no word if Sabrina the Teenage Witch will also join the series.

Riverdale will likely be in contention for a slot on The CW’s Fall 2016 TV schedule.

What do you think about Riverdale’s new take on The Archies? Grab a milkshake and share your thoughts below!

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HT: TVLine

Image Credit: Archie Comic/Veronica Fish