More for Riverdale Fans: New Archie Comics Movie in the Works

"Riverdale" has not been over for long, but a new film from the world of the "Archie" comics is already being planned. According to consistent media reports, the project is being developed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller for Universal Pictures.

The duo have already worked together successfully on several occasions, including "21 Jump Street" and "The Lego Movie". They were also involved as screenwriters in the popular "Spider-Verse" films. With their "Archie" film, they are now once again devoting themselves to a popular and extremely long-lived comic book world. It is still unclear at this stage whether Lord and Miller will be involved solely as producers or whether they will also direct. However, they will be supported by Tom King, who will write the screenplay. King is primarily known as a comic book author in the superhero field. His work includes "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow", which will be adapted for the new "Supergirl" film with Milly Alcock in 2026.

The new film probably has less to do directly with the popular US series "Riverdale". Rather, both are based on the comics and build on the same characters. With the new film, the creative team now hopes to win over both fans of the "Archie" franchise and new viewers. In a statement, Lord and Miller express their confidence in King's script.

"We are longtime fans of Archie, Veronica, Betty and the gang in all of their iterations. When we heard Tom King's take on the classic material, we instantly thought it made sense as an event movie for all audiences."

The "Archie" comics

The "Archie" comics are a traditional American comic series that first appeared in 1941. The focus is on Archie Andrews, a teenager from the fictional small town of Riverdale. Together with his friends Betty, Veronica, Jughead and Reggie, he experiences typical teenage adventures. The stories are characterized by humour, friendship and American high school life.

The "Riverdale" series

The world of "Archie" has experienced a revival in recent years, particularly thanks to "Riverdale". The stories surrounding Archie and Co. have been reinterpreted in seven seasons with a total of 137 episodes. The US mystery drama series was broadcast on The CW from 2017 to 2023 and also became very popular worldwide via platforms such as Netflix. The series is based on the characters from the classic "Archie" comics, but interprets them in a new way.

At the center are Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge and Jughead Jones – teenagers who live in the seemingly idyllic small town of Riverdale. But behind the façade of diner romance and everyday high school life lie dark secrets, mysterious crimes and family abysses. Right at the beginning, the town is shaken by a mysterious murder – and from then on, Riverdale will never be at peace again.

The series expands its universe with each season: conspiracies, sects, supernatural elements and time jumps are just as much a part of the repertoire as classic coming-of-age themes. At the same time, "Riverdale" always remains stylized, over-the-top and often deliberately exaggerated – a trademark that both delights and divides fans.

The main roles are played by KJ Apa (Archie), Lili Reinhart (Betty), Camila Mendes (Veronica) and Cole Sprouse (Jughead), among others. The series was developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who was also responsible for another series from the "Archie" universe: "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina".

One thing is certain: whether you view Riverdale as a teen drama, mystery thriller or pop culture phenomenon, the series has firmly established itself in the series cosmos of the 2010s and 2020s.

The next projects from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

In addition to the "Archie" film, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have other major projects coming up in the next few years. "Project Hail Mary", the film adaptation of a popular novel by "The Martian" author Andy Weir, will be released in 2026. The lead role will be played by none other than Hollywood star Ryan Gosling. He plays Ryland Grace, who wakes up with no memories on board a spaceship – the only survivor, far away from Earth, on his way to an unknown star system. The film is scheduled for release on March 20, 2026.

With "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse", one of the most popular animated series of recent years will come to an end in 2027. The story is expected to tie in directly with the cliffhanger from "Across the Spider-Verse". Miles Morales faces challenges from the Spider-Society, the Prowler and Spot. We can look forward to several decisive moments and exciting confrontations. A little patience is required: "Beyond the Spider-Verse" opens in cinemas on June 25, 2027. Find out all further information and details in our movie preview!