Archie Comics Teases Major Tie-In Between the Riverdale Comics & TV Show

Archie Comics’s Riverdale series, an ongoing monthly set in the world of The CW’s TV show (which was, in turn, based on Archie Comics in the first place), has long been teased as being canon to its TV parter — and now it appears audiences might have their first major clue as to how that works.

In a behind-the-scenes photo posted to social media an then reshared by Archie Comics, Charles Melton — who will replace Ross Butler as Reggie Mantle in season 2 — stands with an arm around Ashleigh Murray, who plays Josie McCoy on the series.

“Will Josie and Reggie (now played by Charles Melton) be a power couple in Season 2? Or are they simply up to no good?” Asked an e-mail Archie sent out to its mailing list.

That’s an especially relevant question in light of the solicitation for August’s Riverdale #5:

Set in the same universe as the hit CW series, this issue gives us a peek into what makes Riverdale High hot-shots Reggie Mantle and Josie McCoy tick. Reggie’s used to getting what he wants, and sets his romantic sights on the lead singer of the Pussycats. But when Josie turns him down, just how far will Reggie go to convince her he’s worth an audition?

Up to this point, the ties between the comics and the TV show have flowed one way: the comics have been responsive to the events of the TV show. That makes sense to an extent, as the first season of the show was a murder mystery and the publisher likely did not want to intrude on that, either by planting clues that could spoil the show or by writing something that might accidentally undermine it.

If it turns out that the photo of Murray and Melton is indicative of anything beyond behind-the-scenes closeness, it would indicate a move in the other direction: the Riverdale comic book is, if not influencing the events of the show, at least predicting it in some way, and story elements are being introduced on the page before making the move to the screen.

MORE RIVERDALE NEWS: Riverdale Season 2 Details Might Mean Trouble For Kevin Keller / Riverdale Actor Reveals Season 1 Finale Had A Different Ending / Cheryl Will Be “Even Meaner” In Season 2 / Betty Will Fight To Keep Bughead Together In Season 2

The first season of RIVERDALE found our characters reeling from the tragic death of high school golden boy Jason Blossom. For many who had seen their home as perfect, safe, and innocent, the investigation into Jason’s murder peeled back the layers of their hometown to reveal a place bubbling over with secrets, mysteries, and scandals. Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), for instance, grew from a sweet, all-American kid into a young man acutely aware of the darker side of life—he broke his best friend’s heart, had a forbidden relationship with his music teacher, and grappled with whether he wanted to follow in his dad’s salt-of-the-earth footsteps. On the positive side, Archie repaired his friendship with Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), found some success as a musician—thanks in part to Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray) and her band, the Pussycats—and found a new romantic interest in femme fatale Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes). New to town, Veronica spent the season trying to atone for her “bad girl” past, all the while wrestling with her beloved father’s criminal legacy—and contending with a mother, Hermione (Marisol Nichols), who might not be as innocent as she claimed. Veronica became fast-friends with Archie’s girl-next-door neighbor, Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), who did some growing up of her own this season. After Archie’s rejection, Betty threw herself into running the school paper, “The Blue and Gold,” where she discovered a better romantic match in sardonic outsider Jughead. Together, they tracked down Betty’s sister Polly (guest star Tiera Skovbye), who had been sent away by their overbearing mother Alice (Mädchen Amick). Under the guise of writing for the school paper, Betty and Jughead investigated Jason Blossom’s death—which led to them discover that Jughead’s father—FP Jones (guest star Skeet Ulrich)—was involved with covering up Jason’s murder. Meanwhile, Jason’s twin sister Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) ruled the school as Riverdale High’s venomous, merciless Red Queen—until she learned the true identity of Jason’s killer. As the town breathed a collective sigh of relief that Jason’s killer had been found out, another terrible crime occurred, in a space that had been considered one of the town’s safest, most innocent places. If Jason Blossom’s murder revealed the slimy underbelly beneath Riverdale‘s surface, as we enter Season Two, the shooting of Fred Andrews threatens to plunge the entire town into utter darkness.

Based on the characters from Archie Comics, RIVERDALE is from Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, in association with Berlanti Productions, with executive producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Supergirl, Glee), Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) and Jon Goldwater (Archie Comics).