Minor SPOILERS for Riverdale premiere!
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While the premiere of Riverdale has one of the most anticipated debuts of the TV season, some have been aprehensive of the show’s take on the world of Archie Comics. Even as the recent relaunch of the Archie Comics slate in 2015 helped bring the characters into a new era, fans have been wondering for months if Riverdale would achieve the same.
Ashleigh Murray, who plays Josie McCoy on the show, reassures fans that the characters in Riverdale still evoke much of their classic comic counterparts, while giving them a worthwhile update.
“We’re taking an iconic world and bringing it up to speed in a way that there’s nothing like on TV.” Murray explained to ComicBook.com during a set visit in November. “Even just the casting alone is a beautiful thing to watch. The fact that we have diversity not for diversity’s sake, but for the fact that it actually mimics real life.”
Murray believes that that, in combination with the “real issues” addressed in the show, is going to give Riverdale a unique appeal to audiences than other Archie media. “Everybody is going to be able to relate to this on a real level, outside of the fact that these are comic book characters.”
Much of this connection to the show comes from Murray’s familiarity with the source material, as she herself has been an avid Archie Comics reader since she was a kid.
“I grew up reading Archie Comics. I used to stand in the grocery line and read as much as I could, because my aunt just was not going to pay for them. And I was like ‘I don’t need the chips. You can put the juice back. Just please let me get this new issue!’”
According to Murray, this knowledge gave her a surprising ability to connect to Riverdale‘s interpretation of the character. “I thought ‘Oh my god. I am absolutely Josie. I’ve been Josie since I was twelve! I can do this!’” Long before she got the role, Murray has even been sporting a pair of Josie’s signature cat ears in her everyday life, as a way to motivate her through a busy day.
This connection to Josie’s fashion sense – and the significance behind it – helped Murray when preparing to audition for Riverdale.
“I broke [Josie] down to a tee before I even read the sides.” Murray reveals. “And one of the things that I said about her was that she always wears heels. If she’s ever in a flat, it’s gotta be really cute. And she always wears lip gloss. And I read the sides and the last line that I say in my scene is ‘Read my glossy lips.’ And I knew this was it, I’ve got it.”
Aside from Josie’s wardrobe, Murray feels a deep connection to her modern portrayal of the character. “The way Josie is written, she’s far more headstrong.” Murray explains. “And she’s far more coherent about her choices. She’s not quite as all over the place as she usually is in the comics. She definitely is a lot more strong minded and is willing to succeed, and isn’t going to allow even a boy or anything else to stop her.”
“I really like that image.” Murray says, of portraying her character in a feminist light. “I like supplying that type of girl power that you don’t see very often. Smart girls who are willing to succeed, and able to succeed without a male influence.”
Riverdale airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
MORE: Sabrina the Teenage Witch Could Come to Riverdale / Madelaine Petsch Explains Riverdale’s Cheryl Blossom / Riverdale’s Ashleigh Murray and Madelaine Petsch On the Importance Of Strong Women Who Aren’t Part of a Couple / Riverdale’s Ashleigh Murray: Josie Sees Archie As A Threat / New Riverdale Photo Spotlights Famous Love Triangle / Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist Visits Riverdale, Hangs Out With Archie and Jughead / Ashleigh Murray Shows Off Riverdale’s Josie and the Pussycats on Twitter
