Riverdale EP on Casting Nostalgia Actors as the Show's Parents
Spoilers for tonight's episode of Riverdale below!Ever since its premiere, Riverdale has been [...]
Spoilers for tonight's episode of Riverdale below!
Ever since its premiere, Riverdale has been embraced by its fans for a myriad of reasons. One significant reason, it's safe to say, is the sense of nostalgia. From the show's production design and costumes to the very nature of its source material, the show certainly capitalizes on the feeling of timelessness.
This has extended, as fans have found out, to the casting within the show itself. The show has been populated with actors from popular 80s and 90s properties, including Beverly Hills, 90210 star Luke Perry, Twin Peaks star Madchen Amick, cult film star Skeet Ulrich, and - as of tonight's episode - 80s icon Molly Ringwald.
With a cast that significantly well-known, some fans would be bound to wonder if the casting of those actors is deliberate. But according to one of the show's executive producers, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, it's more of an added bonus than anything else.
"We're so blessed by all of the actors in this show." Aguirre-Sacasa explained during a recent set visit. "And everyone who's up here, was cast because they felt like the perfect embodiment of this characters in the show. So it's nice that Luke did a really popular show that I liked and that a lot of our writers liked. It's great that Skeet played these roles in iconic movies that I loved. But really it's about what they brought to the table for the roles of Fred and FP. And the relationships that they're creating with their sons. So it's a nice thing, and it's nice that people feel warmly towards the characters of Archie and stuff."
With regards to the show's newest cast member, Aguirre-Sacasa hoped that Ringwald's arrival onto the show would only heighten that sense of familiarity.
"And it is nice, when Mary appears, and it's Molly Ringwald. I think people are like 'Oh good. It's Molly Ringwald, and I like that!' So that does give us a shorthand, but it all has to work on every level, for me at least."
When Fred (Luke Perry) decides to finalize the divorce with Archie's mother Mary (guest star Molly Ringwald), Archie (KJ Apa) hides his true feelings. Archie tries to win Valerie (guest star Hayley Law) back with a romantic evening, however, Betty (Lili Reinhart) hijacks his plans when she decides to throw Jughead (Cole Sprouse) a surprise birthday party. Once Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) learns of the party, she decides to make it interesting and things quickly get out of control. Meanwhile, Veronica (Camila Mendes) contemplates whether she should participate in the deposition to help get her Dad released. Madchen Amick and Marishol Nichols also star.
Dawn Wilkinson directed the episode written by Britta Lundin & Brian E. Paterson.
Riverdale stars KJ Apa as Archie, Cole Sprouse as Jughead, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camilla Mendes as Veronica Lodge, and Luke Perry as Archie's father Fred Andrews, among others. The series' showrunner is Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Archie Entertainment's Chief Creative Officer and the writer of Afterlife With Archie, the publisher's wildly popular zombie series.
MORE: Riverdale Live Recap with Spoilers: Chapter Eight: The Outsiders / Cole Sprouse Talks "Bughead" / Molly Ringwald Comes to Riverdale in "The Lost Weekend" Synopsis / KJ Apa Explains Archie's Relationship With His Mom Played By Molly Ringwald
Riverdale airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
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