Warning: This article contains spoilers for the finale of Riverdale season 6.
Riverdale season 7 is slated for release on The CW in 2023, and here's everything we know about the upcoming season. Based on Archie Comics, the psychological teen drama first premiered in 2017 and stars an ensemble cast of young actors, including K.J. Apa as Archie Andrews, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones. Throughout Riverdale's six seasons, many characters have been pulled into the gritty atmosphere of the town of Riverdale, which consists of solving murders, prying others from a dangerous cult, and numerous musical numbers.
Riverdale season 6 introduced a new wave of storylines for Riverdale as the characters developed superpowers. This was a crossover attempt to include Kiernan Shipka's Sabrina Spellman, a reimagining of a character introduced on her own Netflix show, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Cheryl Blossom, in particular, adopted new superpowers of pyrokinesis, where she is able to control fire with her mind.
Cheryl's pyrokinesis proves to be a stellar plot point for the series and assists in saving Riverdale's residents from near extinction. The sequences leading up to Riverdale season 6's finale seemed to lead the series off the rails for a bit, but the characters found their footing in a head-scratcher of a last scene. After Riverdale season 6 concluded on July 31st, 2022, the Riverdale characters were sent back in time in a mighty cliffhanger that sets up a whopper of a season 7. Here's everything we know about Riverdale season 7, including whether or not it will be the last for the popular CW series.
Riverdale Season 7 Will Be The Last
In March 2022, it was announced that Riverdale would be renewed for a season 7, along with fellow The CW shows The Flash, Superman & Lois, Kung Fu, and Nancy Drew. It was also clarified that season 7 would be the series' final season, which follows The CW's current strategy of canceling a slew of shows like Charmed, Dynasty, 4400, Batwoman, and DC's Legends of Tomorrow. Unlike many of those shows, Riverdale will be given a chance to conclude all of its storylines in an appropriate farewell season as one of The CW's current long-running series.
How Riverdale's Season 6 Ending Sets Up Season 7
Riverdale season 6 ended with a massive cliffhanger that sent shockwaves through a series known for its plot twists. After what appears to be a successful attempt by Cheryl to use her powers to stop Bailey's Comet, Archie awakes in 1955, not recalling anything that proceeded, and the gang seems to be enjoying their pleasant lives in a simpler time. Only Jughead remembers the events, as heard through his ever omnipresent narration. It appears that Riverdale season 7 will begin right where season 6 ended, and audiences may see the residents of Riverdale enjoying life in the 1950s, Marty McFly style.
Riverdale Season 7 Cast: Who Can Return?
As the town of Riverdale is seemingly sent back in time, it would make sense for most of the gang to reemerge in 1955. K.J. Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, and Madelaine Petsch are all expected to return for Riverdale season 7, along with Madchen Amick and Alvin Sanders. Trevor Stines as Jason Blossom may return as well as the events of the final season proceed with his resurrection and initial death that kicked off the series back in season 1.
Riverdale Season 7 Release Date
An official premiere date for Riverdale season 7 has not been announced. There is currently no indication that the season will be shortened, so Riverdale will probably end with a full season order of 22 episodes. Since filming hasn't started yet, Riverdale season 7 may begin airing midseason in 2023.