riverdale pilot

The surrealism of a comic-book small town.

CW pilot Riverdale starts filming today at and around Burnaby Mountain Secondary School.

Showrunner Greg Berlanti and Archie Comics chief creative officer Robert Aguirre-Sacasa are subverting Riverdale’s wholesome image from the comics. In their live-action version, Archie and Jughead are estranged and Betty and Veronica are in cahoots and not rivals for Archie’s affection. Wait what?

@lilireinhart @kjapa @iamamurray @colesprouse @madelame #Riverdale

A photo posted by MRrapaport (@davidrapaport) on 

Set in present day, Betty Cooper (Lil Reinhart) starts off sweet with a crush on Archie (KJ Apa) as in  the comics but chucks it all after turning to new BFF Veronica (Camila Mendes) for advice.

Mendes) for advice. And Jughead (The Suite Life of Zach & Cody’s Cole Sprouse) is the thinking woman’s heartthrob — a Bae — estranged from his former BFF Archie Andrews (Apa). Ashleigh Murray is Josie of Josie & the Pussycats. Madelaine Petsch is Cheryl Blossom. Mädchen Amick is Betty’s Mom Alice Cooper. And 90210 heartthrob Luke Perry is Archie’s Dad Fred Andrews — who might look a little different than the comics. Sign: SHADOW.

And Jughead (The Suite Life of Zach & Cody’s Cole Sprouse) is the thinking woman’s heartthrob — a Bae — estranged from his former BFF Archie Andrews (Apa).

Ashleigh Murray is Josie of Josie & the Pussycats.

riverdale josie e

Madelaine Petsch is Cheryl Blossom.

And 90210 heartthrob Luke Perry is Archie’s Dad Fred Andrews — who might look a little different than the comics.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa wrote the pilot and is producing with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter along with Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater for Warner Bros TV and Berlanti Productions..

CW’s Riverdale pilot is expected to film in metro Vancouver from March 14th to March 31st (dates subject to change), according to the DGC-BC Production List.