SDCC 2019: Riverdale

Riverdale had quite the season three. Naturally, there was murder, mayhem, and….a cult?! In the words of one of our most beloved Riverdale characters, Cheryl, it was “cuckoo bananas!”

Needless to say, we were excited to sit down with the cast and chat about everything that happened and find out a little bit about what to expect this fall when Riverdale returns for a fourth season.

Cole Sprouse – Jughead

What’s going to happen next season?: “One, [the writers] like to make sure we don’t spoil anything and, two, the writers like to see the shock on our faces at the table read so…I have no idea what’s coming!”

What about that shared sibling with Betty?: “I don’t think they care about the relationship weirdness that could be involved in that. I think, as it stands now, it looks like Betty’s way more integrated into Charles’ storyline than Jughead is. But, then again, we’re only on episode two so I don’t really know.”

What will Jughead’s investigation look like next season? “It looks like the majority of his investigation is going to be done at the prep school which kinda seems like the setting for the flash forward and [it’s] what’s going to be laying the groundwork for that flash forward is this incredibly pretentious, Gossip Girl-like Upper East Side school that he’s being whisked away to.”

What did Jughead learn about himself in season three that he will take to season four? “I think the idea was that he doesn’t take too much of his previous year to season four. I think they want him to be season one again. In fact, my understanding is that they want all the characters to be like season one again which means he’s very much that writer-outsider character.”

 

Lili Reinhart – Betty

What can you preview about Betty and her new brother in the upcoming season? “Betty definitely has a lot going on with Charles. He’s obviously working for the FBI trying to take down Edgar Evernever at The Farm, and you find out that Alice was in on it the whole time which was shocking to Betty and hard to believe. You see Betty working with Charles and the FBI–doing as much as a high schooler can for the FBI!”

Will Betty proceed with caution with Charles? “You know what’s interesting; you’d think she’d proceed with caution but in order to not repeat the storyline of not trusting Chic, I think she’s just gonna trust him!”

Thoughts on Betty’s sister, Polly, and if Polly becomes a larger character: “I feel like, no. [Laughs] Polly is just kind of this figure that comes in and out…Polly clearly has something going on. I think Polly is a little bit more like Hal than Betty is. She seems a little evil…this also brings up the question of Juniper and Dagwood. They never seem to age when you see them. [laughs]”

After everything, how does Betty trust people? “I think she knows who trust at this point. She knows that she can trust the Core Four. She really does, in the first episode, lean on Jughead. I hope to see her lean on Veronica a lot this season. I really love Betty’s friendship with that group….I think she knows she can still trust her mom on some level, but….there’s [also] a level of being betrayed so hopefully we dive into that this season.”

Will there be a return to season one’s original Archie romance? “I don’t know. I think there’s a possibility for that. I couldn’t tell you; I’m just going to guess…I think it’s a drama and there’s going to be drama in the relationship. Jughead is going off to prep school which creates physical distance…it might bring some people closer together.”

Madelaine Petsch – Cheryl

After the fallout of the season finale, will this season see Cheryl going to a darker side? “Cheryl returns to that kind of gothic-heroine state that she was in in season one, and I think folds into herself. Hopefully, what we’ve talked about, is her addressing all the mental health issues that she’s had for the last three and a half years of the show. Then she will eventually come out of her shell, but right now she’s going inside.”

What do you hope for Toni and Cheryl in season four? “I really hope they stay together. I think Toni brings a really beautiful and vulnerable side out of Cheryl that we don’t really get to see often. I hope that they go to college together.”

What was Cheryl’s craziest moment from season three for you? “I think when my mother was the Gargoyle King….maybe Nana Rose will be the next killer!”

What has been the most beneficial arc for Cheryl? “I think her coming out was a huge catharsis for her, and I think because of the coming out, the vulnerability she’s experienced for the first time and her finally being able to be her true self is the biggest arc.”

Will Jason be a part of this season? “I think he’ll always be a presence in Cheryl’s mind. I think that losing a sibling, especially a twin, is so devastating that it will always be a part of her.”

What advice would you give Cheryl? “Stay away from your family. Toxic! Move away from Riverdale, too. [laughs]”

Camila Mendes – Veronica

Will Veronica re-trust her father? “I think that’s over…you can’t predict anything on Riverdale, but I really think it’s done this time. I think Veronica stopped trusting her father a long time ago…I hope she stays strong this season. Hiram’s bad news. He’s scheming in prison and making her life hell.”

Does Veronica have any family this season while her parents are gone? “There is extended family that I know will appear in this season which I’m really excited for….There’s a family member Veronica didn’t know existed that will appear at some point.”

What about Reggie and Archie? “I know there will be, maybe not awkwardness, but there’s definitely some hurt feelings on Reggie’s end. They definitely have a confrontation in episode two about it…[but] all of that happened and Archie’s father passes away. That puts Reggie in a situation where he’s not going to hold anything over Archie.

What happens musically now that Josie has left? “Veronica takes that role in a sense. I have a pretty fun musical number in episode two. I perform at La Bonne Nuit. It’s a really fun song that everyone knows and loves…Cheryl and Toni will be a part of it, too. I’m really excited for that….We’ll get those musical moments through Veronica, I think.

Will there be a return to the original comics’ love triangle? “Our mission this season is to bring it back to the whole season one vibe where you see all the characters interacting, seeing the relationship dynamics, and seeing them be teenagers in high school…[We’re] staying true to the fact that it’s senior year and what that means. We really gotta honor and relish in this last year of high school.”

K.J. Apa – Archie

Archie’s arc this next season: “There’s a lot going on this season. I do know that, as you’ve heard, we’re going back to the first season with the Core Four doing things together. They’re going to learn a lot about each other that they didn’t know before.”

Lessons from season three going into season four: “Little bits of those stories pop up this season; I’m reminded of the bear attack every time I sit for make-up for three hours with prosthetics!”

What about Archie’s music? “We’re coming back to it this season. As we go on and start shooting, I think more storylines become more important….The Core Four start their own garage band, and it’s going to be called The Archies, or something like that.”

Working with Molly Ringwald: “With the absence of Fred [Luke Perry], it’s going to be beautiful to see Mary’s relationship with Archie…It’ll be nice to work with her too. She’s so cool; she’s great. She’s one of the kindest people I know.”

Archie’s love interests: “I think at the moment Archie and Veronica are as solid as ever right now. I think, like I said, the most I can give you is that it’s going to be the Core Four this season.”

 

Mark your calendar for Riverdale‘s season 4 premiere on October 9!