After season 4 was foreshortened by the coronavirus pandemic, Riverdale season 5 is set to wrap up the story of prom and graduation, followed by a big time jump of several years. The CW's edgy take on the core Archie Comics gang started with a murder mystery and has since escalated to feature a serial killer, an organ-farming cult, a deadly version of Dungeons & Dragons and a teenage tickle video ring - all before its main characters have even left high school.
Production on Riverdale season 4 was shut down in mid-March after it was confirmed that a crew member had come into contact with a coronavirus patient. The decision was made to make episode 19, "Killing Mr. Honey," the season finale, since the last three episodes could not be filmed due to the shutdown.
This unprecedented situation left things uncertain with regards to when Riverdale season 5 will begin filming, and when new episodes will release. Here's everything we know so far about season 5's premiere date, and how the story will continue.
Riverdale Has Been Renewed For Season 5
Riverdale was renewed along with 13 other shows on The CW in January 2020. Though ratings have fallen since season 3, Riverdale remains one of The CW's most popular shows, and its wild storylines have earned it a certain amount of notoriety even among those who don't watch. The series has also inspired a spinoff show, Katy Keene, which was also renewed in January.
Riverdale Season 5 Will Premiere in January 2021
Riverdale season 5 is now set to premiere in January 2021, and will air on Wednesdays at 8pm ET. New seasons of Riverdale typically premiere in the second week of October and reach their finale in mid-May. However, Riverdale season 5's production is expected to be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Filming usually begins in mid-summer, several months ahead of the October premiere. Riverdale is filmed in Vancouver, and the Canadian government is still deciding how long the current restrictions will remain in place, so The CW has pushed its entire fall schedule forward to January.
Riverdale Season 5 Story Details
Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has said that the first three episodes of Riverdale season 5 will wrap up season 4's story, including the mystery of the sinister video tapes. There will then be a time jump (rumored to be about five years), taking the story forward to a time when those characters going off to college have graduated and circumstance has brought everyone back to Riverdale. Archie will be going to the U.S. Naval Academy, while Betty goes off to Yale, Jughead goes to the University of Iowa, and Veronica goes to Barnard College in New York (opening up the possibility of a Katy Keene crossover).
Skeet Ulrich and Marisol Nichols (who play F.P. Jones and Hermione Lodge, respectively) were reported to be leaving after Riverdale season 4, though it's possible that they'll now return for the first three episodes of season 5 to help wrap the story up. It's also possible that one of those characters could end up being killed off, with their death serving as the mystery that draws Archie and the gang back. For now, though, Aguirre-Sacasa is remaining tight-lipped about what their futures hold.