40 Things You Didn’t Know About 'Riverdale'

KJ Apa (Archie) is a Natural Brunette...

Famous for his flaming red locks, KJ Apa apparently has a brutal time getting the shocking color. To achieve and maintain the color during filming, Apa has to go to the hair salon bi-weekly for touch-ups on the shade, even to his eyebrows. He told Vulture (opens in new tab), "It was really painful the first and the second time I got it done because they do my eyebrows as well. They ended up bleaching my eyebrows, and I had two holes—they burnt into my skin." Yiiiiikes.

...and He's From New Zealand!

The 21-year-old was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and lived there until getting cast as Archie. Apa has done so much work (opens in new tab) on his American accent that fans were shocked to find out that he's actually a Kiwi.

Madelaine Petsch Is Terrified of Water

In the show's first season, fans learned Cheryl Blossom could always be found by the water. However, Petsch's scary past involving boats made for an uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing filming experience. Petsch told Glamour (opens in new tab), "Yeah, I'm afraid of open bodies of water. I was in a glass-bottomed boat that broke a long time ago, so I've always been kind of freaked out."

She'd been under the impression she'd have a stunt double in her opening scene where Cheryl is on a boat, but that turned out not be the case. Petsch had a panic attack before filming began, but "once we started shooting, I was fine."

Jughead's Hat Has Secret Significance

In his Reddit AMA (opens in new tab), Cole Sprouse revealed that even the costumes on Riverdale have hidden meanings. Basically, in the early-20th century, factory workers who wanted to keep the brims of their hats (typically fedoras) out of their eyes flipped them inside-out and trimmed the brim off. Never to be wasteful, these workers typically passed the hats onto their children, and those children wore the modified hats with pride. "The cap will always stand for a kind of nonconformist, working class symbol," Sprouse added in his AMA. Kinda like Jughead, right?

Midge Klump's Hair? Totally Fake

Emilija Baranac wore a black pixie wig during her run on Riverdale as Midge Klump. After her character was killed off in the second season of the show, Baranac went on to act in Netflix's To All the Boys I've Loved Before—wearing her real hair.

The Parents Know A Thing Or Two About Teen Stardom

Even the parents in Riverdale were teen stars! Molly Ringwald, she of 80s John Hughes movies such as The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles, plays Archie's mom, and Luke Perry of Beverly Hills, 90210 fame is Archie's dad. Jughead’s dad is played by Skeet Ulrich, from Scream and The Craft, so being spooky is kind of his thing.

Archie Might Not Be Great at Music, But KJ Apa Is a Natural

The 21-year-old has been playing the guitar since he was 13 years old. Dubbed "the guitar prodigy from down under," (opens in new tab) Apa found stardom when he won a talent competition and performed in front of thousands of people at Vector Arena in Auckland.

There's A Spinoff in the Works!

The Archie Comics television universe is expanding (opens in new tab), adding the story of Katy Keene to its world. The new show will follow amateur fashionista Katy Keene, played by Lucy Hale, and her friends as they try to make it big in the city that never sleeps.

And the Show Will Feature Ashleigh Murray As Josie McCoy

It's been confirmed that Ashleigh Murray will be leaving Riverdale to join the CW's Katy Keene, but she'll still be playing Josie McCoy—just as a twenty-something in NYC.

The Archie Comics Universe Moves Seamlessly from Page to Screen and Back Again

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is both the showrunner for Riverdale and also works as the Chief Creative Officer for Archie Comics, which includes Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Josie and the Pussycats. The Riverdale universe is allegedly jumping from the screen back to the page, with—rumor has it—Jughead himself, Cole Sprouse, in talks (opens in new tab) to pen a few issues of the comic book.

'Riverdale' Was Originally a Movie

In the original stages, showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa imagined Riverdale as a movie, and pitched the film to studios. Producers didn't bite on the concept as a film, but they loved the characrers enough for Aguirre-Sacasa to take Riverdale the television route. Maybe Josie and the Pussycats (opens in new tab) are better suited for the big screen?

Bughead Is Real!

If you were wondering why Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones' love connection on Riverdale feels so real, it's because it totally is. Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse are an IRL couple, and they've been together (opens in new tab) since early 2018. Sometimes our ships do sail.

And So is Veggie

Okay, Veronica Lodge and Reggie Mantle may not be endgame in the Riverdale world, but in the real world, things are looking really great for the couple who plays them. Camila Mendes and Charles Melton became Instagram-official (opens in new tab) back in October 2018, and it's been heart eye emojis ever since. Here's a timeline (opens in new tab) of their whole love story.

The Characters Express Themselves Through Lipstick

Makeup has a multitude of uses–to emphasize one's beauty and hide flaws. And sometimes it can be used to help the audience get a gauge on a character's personality. Veronica's darker brown and purple lip colors reflect her darker nature, while Betty sports a dainty and feminine pink lip color...unless it's Dark Betty, who loves a blood red shade. In a video behind the scenes for CoverGirl (opens in new tab), Madelaine Petsch explains the thinking behind Cheryl Blossom's signature red lip: "Red is the color of sass and fire, so when I put red lipstick on as Cheryl, it's instantly done. It's gotta be the lips."

Pop’s Chock’Lit Shoppe Is a Real Place

Sure, the one used in Riverdale is a replica—a replica so realistic a group of truck drivers once pulled into it looking for some food—but the look and feel of Pop’s Chock’Lit Shoppe is inspired by Rocko's Diner, an eatery in Mission, British Columbia. You'll also recognize it from Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief.

Cole Sprouse Had a Sneaky Reason For Wanting to Play Jughead

Originally asked to audition for the leading role of Archie, Cole Sprouse had his employability in mind when he asked to read for the role of Jughead. After discovering that Jughead is the series' narrator, Sprouse knew that there's no way the narrator could be killed off, and that was why he hoped to play Jughead in the end. He'd also just binge-watched The Twilght Zone, hence Jughead's Rod Serling-esque narration.

Chance Perdomo Was Also Up For the Role of Jughead

But there are no hard feelings—the British cutie later landed (opens in new tab) a lead role in Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina as Sabrina's cousin and pansexual prince Ambrose Spellman. Keeping it all in the Archie Comics universe, people.

Time Period? Pfft, Who Needs a Time Period?

Cole Sprouse confirmed that Riverdale doesn't exist in any specifically defined time period in his Reddit AMA (opens in new tab) after fans expressed confusion by the old cars and 1950s styling alongside modern technology. "Riverdale has no formal or announced time period as of now," Sprouse said. "And with the amount of money we dedicate to atmospheric fog, the setting is supposed to feel dream-like."

The Show Has Spawned Its Own Convention

Love Riverdale and want to get together with other fans of the show to obsess over Archie and the gang? There's a convention for that. The Official Riverdale Convention (opens in new tab) is a real thing, and fans will even get the opportunity to be up close and personal with Lili Reinhart, KJ Apa, and Cole Sprouse.

KJ Apa Engaged in Some Accidental Method Acting

The dramatic first season finale results in Archie injuring his hand trying to crack open a sheet of ice and save Cheryl Blossom from drowning. Real life was brutal, too: KJ Apa wound up being so immersed in the scene he actually broke his hand—and showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa predicted the entire event. Talking to Comicbook.com (opens in new tab), Aguirre-Sacasa shares the saga: "In a weird way, and I told this to KJ, the second we knew that Archie was going to be punching through ice, I literally said, 'Now guys, KJ is such a committed actor, he's so method, he's so in this character and passionate, you have to make sure he doesn't hurt this hand.' So when at the end of that day I got a phone call that KJ had maybe broken his hand, I was like 'Yup.'"

The Show Has Dark Pop Culture Inspirations

It's clear from first look that Riverdale is a teen dramedy surrounded by deep cultural references that inform the show's universe. Every episode is titled after a film, show, or a novel that inspired the series, and they make heavily pointed references to those inspirations in the show itself. The entirety of the film noir genre is a main inspiration, but also David Lynch's Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet, and teen dramas Stand By Me and Brick.

You've Definitely Seen Shannon Purser Somewhere Before

Wondering where you've seen the actress behind Ethel Muggs? Probably on Netflix's Stranger Things. Shannon Purser also starred in the streaming giant's coming-of-age comedy Sierra Burgess is a Loser. Fun fact: Her co-star in that Noah Centineo later worked with Camila Mendes in The Perfect Date, and Camila plays Veronica Lodge on Riverdale. Talk about 6 degrees of separation!

Jughead's Sexuality Is Still Up in the Air—For Now

In the later Archie Comics, Jughead came out as asexual, and Cole Sprouse had hoped that storyline would be extended to the Riverdale universe. No such luck, unfortunately. Sprouse told Glamour (opens in new tab), "I think, in this show, he's not a romantic and not asexual. I argued in the beginning, creatively, that he should be both, but in this show, he's kind of a tortured youth that ends up finding a comfort and a resonance with another person who's going through a lot of trauma. They end up forming this kind of beautiful, honest union, and I think that, to me, is a narrative that works with this universe of Jughead. But I think that kind of asexual and aromantic representation is really important."

Sprouse doesn't mind the questions, though. In his Reddit AMA (opens in new tab) he said he even welcomes them: "I continue to hope this question is asked, over and over, it will only increase visibility," Sprouse said. "Yes, I'm still a big proponent of this representation, and it needs to be done correctly."

KJ Apa Ships One Couple In Particular

Apa thinks Archie and Betty are endgame simply because they're the most famous couple, even though both characters are involved in other romances. He told Vulture (opens in new tab), "I think it's so iconic and everyone kind of wants that. If there was any relationship that I would ship for, it would be Archie and Betty, which is kind of a classic, iconic relationship." However, Camila Mendes thinks (opens in new tab) Veronica is better for Archie.

​​Madelaine Petsch Almost Played a Different Character

We all know and love Cheryl Blossom, an actual queen–but Madelaine Petsch almost missed out on the role. She was originally called in to audition for Betty, but upon arrival, found out she was being asked to read for a secret role, who eventually turned out to be Cheryl. We're all thankful for that.

No One Knows What Jason Blossom Sounds Like

Despite appearing in almost every single episode of the first season and being the catalyst for the series itself, Jason Blossom (Trevor Stines) does not speak. Whatsoever. Not even in flashbacks. It's very eerie.

The Show Could Feature the (Un)dead

Fans have a theory (opens in new tab) the show is going to start featuring zombies. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who is the showrunner of Riverdale, Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics, and creator of zombie-themed comic series Afterlife With Archie, has yet to rule out the notion. He even originally pitching the series as a more supernatural show before deciding the teen murder-mystery genre was a better fit. Considering Aguirre-Sacasa also created The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which takes place in Greendale (on the other side of the Sweetwater River from Riverdale, according to Aguirre-Sacasa), we may see this fan theory become more of a reality than expected. Don't you just love being right?

Mark Consuelos Was an Early Contender for the Role of Hiram Lodge

The hunky actor's charisma immediately caught (opens in new tab) the Riverdale casting director's eye. Consuelos has been acting for more than two decades, playing major roles in shows like All My Children and the Amazon web series Alpha House.

And His Real-Life Wife Played His On-Screen Mistress

According to Kelly Ripa, Consuelos was actually behind his wife's casting for the role of Mrs. Mulwray, Hiram Lodge's sidechick. "I said, 'Oh my gosh, honey, they’re going to be so sick of Consueloses on the set of Riverdale'" Ripa told EW (opens in new tab).

Kelly Ripa Is Very Familiar With the Show’s Cast

Though she joined Riverdale in its third season, Ripa was already very close with several of the show's cast members, particularly with Cole Sprouse (opens in new tab). “There’s a lot of history there, and it really is very much like a family,” she said of Riverdale's cast.

Riverdale Is in Rockland County, New York

Though the show is filmed in Vancouver B.C., one Reddit (opens in new tab) fan has figured out that Riverdale is supposed to be geographically located in the state of New York.

The Cast Has Their Own Theories About the Plot

In the series' first season, the cast was just as blind as the audience as to who killed Jason, and they had as many theories as we did. Cole Sprouse hoped (opens in new tab) it was Jughead, KJ Apa believed it was as well. Madelaine Petsch thought (opens in new tab) it was Cheryl. (They were all wrong.)

KJ Apa and Charles Melton Have an IRL Bromance

Though their characters in Riverdale are always trying to one-up each other, Apa and Melton are actually very close in real life. The friends hang out often and have a lot of things in common, like their shared obsession (opens in new tab) with working out.

The Show Is Filled With Hidden Numerical Meanings

The number 75 shows up over and over again on Riverdale. On a show about a mystery, everything is a clue—why wouldn't the number 75 be? The town is constantly in celebration of its 75th anniversary, but that number wasn't pulled out of a hat. The first season's production also fell in the same year that Archie Comics was commemorating the 75th anniversary of Archibald “Archie” Andrews' first appearance in the 22nd issue of Pep comics in 1941. Riverdale being known as the town of Pep make a lot more sense now, right?

Katherine Langford Was Once in Talks to Play Betty.

Lili Reinhart had a bit of competition when auditioning for the role of Betty Cooper—Katherine Langford  (opens in new tab)was also up for the role before getting her gig as the star of Netflix's 13 Reasons Why.

Multiple People Killed Jason

Several different endings to the penultimate episode of the first season were filmed, so there are multiple murderers of Jason Blossom in the archive somewhere. Why? Because the production staff was fearful of the story getting out.

There's Zero Chance of a 'Suite Life' Reunion on 'Riverdale'

Cole Sprouse's twin Dylan is definitely not appearing on the show, so you might as well stop asking him about it. "I think it would just be silly. It would be super, super weird and totally not appropriate," Sprouse explained to Glamour (opens in new tab). "I wouldn’t want it, Dylan would never do it, and I think it would break the fourth wall too much."

But Anything Is Possible

If Dylan ever changes his mind, he could appear on Riverdale as Souphead Jones (opens in new tab), Jughead's identical cousin (not a real thing) who looks, talks, and acts exactly like him! The only difference? Souphead is obsessed with soup, not hamburgers.

Riverdale Isn't Just Riverdale

According to Buzzfeed, the opening shots of the town of Riverdale in the show's opening credits are also the opening shots of Pretty Little Liars' Rosewood, Gilmore Girls' Stars Hollow, and Hart of Dixie's Bluebell. The photo used is a stock photo shot and has been used since the 1980s.

Camila Mendes and Cole Sprouse Went to College Together.

The Riverdale stars studied acting at New York University at the same time, but they weren't as friendly as the are now. "[Sprouse] was a weirdo!" Mendes admitted to Office Magazine (opens in new tab). "He had really long hair down to his butt cheeks."