The highly anticipated television adaptation of the world famous Archie Comics – Riverdale – has found its Mary in the form of Molly Ringwald. The actress has been cast in the role of Mary Andrews, who is the mother of Archie, and will play a recurring part in the first season of the unfolding teen drama.
Developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa for Berlanti Productions and The CW, Riverdale has a contemporary setting and centres on the characters from the Archie Comics. Riverdale is the name of the small American town that connects them all. The series is billed as a “subversive take” on the stories of the comic books, and will see Mary Andrews introduced to the mix with a backstory of having fled the town – and her family – two years previously to pursue a dream, until a family crisis brings her home. Here she works to reconnect with her son, Archie, and his father, Fred – as well as her former friends and colleagues.
Archie will be played by K.J Apa (Shortland Street), while Fred Andrews will be played by Luke Perry (Oz, Jeremiah). Joining them in the wider cast will be Marisol Nichols, Cole Sprouse, Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart, Madalaine Patch, Ashleigh Murray and Casey Cott. It’s the casting of Molly Ringwald that has drawn the most attention, however, as this teen icon of 1980s cinema seems like a perfect fit for the role of Archie’s mother.
Executive producer Greg Berlanti has something of a golden touch when it comes to television adaptations of comic books – having overseen the success of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends Of Tomorrow. We’ll discover, later in 2017, whether this impressive run will continue with Riverdale on The CW.
