Archie Comics has been a staple of American pop culture since the early 1940s. The story follows the everyday life of high school student Archie Andrews and his friends in the small town of Riverdale. Archie has appeared in various media outlets, including comic books, a long-running radio show, and many cartoon shows.
In 2017, a newer, darker iteration of the character appeared in the CW show Riverdale. The show has been well received by fans but has been largely criticized for its non-sensical writing and mishandling of characters. If you're a Riverdale fan and want some behind the scenes scoop about the cast and the show, including an answer to the question "Can the cast actually sing?
- take a look!
Varying Degrees Of Musical Talent
Riverdale's musical episode, "Chapter 51: Big Fun" demonstrated that the cast has varying degrees of talent when it comes to music. According to the Express, KJ Apa, who plays Archie, has been playing the guitar since his early teens, and his talent has not gone unnoticed.
When it comes to singing, Casey Scott, who portrays Kevin Keller, has previous musical theater experience. Vanessa Morgan has also demonstrated her singing abilities on her YouTube channel. Camila Mendes and Lili Reinhart have also regularly expressed their proclivity for singing.
Symbolism Through Costumes
Archie's best friend, Jughead, is known for his signature beanie. And it may be more meaningful than fans realize! Actor Cole Sprouse revealed that, in the 20th century, factory workers would regularly remove or flip the brims of their hats. It came to be associated with non-conformity, as well as the working class.
Throughout the series, Jughead actively rebels against conformity in the community and makes it very clear how proud he is of his "weirdo" status. And his hat fits right in with his image!
Originally A Movie
As the franchise evolved with the times, many pitches were made for new iterations. One of the pitches made to Warner Brothers involved a film in which Archie time travels and would be played by Louis C.K!
Thankfully, Riverdale's show-runner, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, revealed that the movie they had in mind was "kind of the exact opposite of what we wanted to do". In the end, they settled on a TV show that sticks closer to the comic's roots. And there is no time travel in site!
Costumes As Character
Not only are the costumes symbolic, but the makeup is also! Cheryl Blossom, for example, sports a prominent red lipstick, complementing her fiery red hair. Madelaine Petsch adds that "Red is the color of sass and fire," which is Cheryl's whole personality!
Veronica, on the other hand, has a much darker nature, and she reveals that through dark browns and purple lipstick. And Betty, whose nature is more demure, sports a very feminine pink. However, when she is Dark Betty, she also wears red lipstick!
Malt Shop To Diner
The malt shop in the Archie comics plays a prominent role in portraying a small-town vibe. Over the years, that has evolved into a diner. However, "Pop's Chock'Lit Shoppe" has a real-life counterpart in British Columbia, Canada!
The diner in the show is a replica of "Rocko's Diner" in Mission, British Columbia, which also made an appearance in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief! The replica is so realistic that tourists have shown up looking for food and drinks!
A Very Different Archie
Cole Sprouse has truly embodied Jughead's dark and moody aura. So, it might surprise fans to know that he was originally set to portray Archie! But Sprouse revealed that he was immediately attracted to Jughead's character, particularly his outsider status and his objective perspective on all of the drama that unfolds.
Cole played Cody Martin on the beloved show The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, for many years. Jughead Jones is a left-hand turn and it's great to see him stretching his acting chops with the role.
Madeleine Petsch's Fear Of Water
Sometimes actors need to face their phobias to properly portray their characters. Madelaine Petsch, who portrays teen queen Cheryl Blossom, has been candid about her fear of water. She has mentioned that the fear stems from a boating accident when she was younger.
Cheryl, unfortunately, had many seasons involving water throughout the first season and Petsch did not have a stunt double, as she previously thought she would. Thankfully, the fear was temporary and she was able to film all of her scenes.
Vanessa Morgan Not Welcome By Fans
Actors have to regularly face vitriol from fans when portraying controversial characters. Vanessa Morgan, who portrays South Serpent bad girl, Toni Topaz, has become very familiar with this unfortunate fact. She said that she even received death threats from fans!
This is mainly due fans' worry that she would interfere with Jughead and Betty's relationship. However, Vanessa was not fazed, stating that "it's half death threats because they don't want that [actually] happening." Her poise and grace are commendable!
"The Parents" Have Teen Stardom
All of the characters in Riverdale are teen stars. And that goes for the adults, too! Many of the actors portraying the teen's parents were teen stars themselves. Molly Ringwald, who portrays Archie's mom, has been in many 80s films, including The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles.
Archie's dad, the late Luke Perry's claim to fame was Beverly Hills, 90210. And Jughead's dad is portrayed by Skeet Ulrich, who portrayed the infamous Billy Loomis in Wes Craven's Scream.
Character Couples Are Actually Endgame!
Many of the couples in the show have claimed that they're "endgame." And it turns out that quite a few of the actors took their relationships off-screen! The most popular pairing is Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart, who revealed their relationship in early 2018. However, recently, their relationship status has been very ambiguous.
The other prominent couple is Camila Mendes and Charles Melton. They revealed their relationship on Instagram and, unlike Veronica and Reggie, their relationship is still thriving!