Riverdale season 4: Everything we learned from Comic Con 2019
22 July 2019, 15:11
Shannen Doherty, a flashback episode, a Halloween episode, a time jump... Here's all the info from the Riverdale panel at SDCC 2019 - including the season 3 bloopers.
It's about that time! Production on Riverdale season 4 is now in full swing and the details about what's ahead for Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Cheryl, Toni and the rest of the characters are starting to trickle in.
This past weekend (July 20-21), the cast (KJ Apa, Cole Sprouse, Madelaine Petsch, Lili Reinhart and Camila Mendes) and show runner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa headed to San Diego Comic Con to update everyone on what we can expect from the fourth season of the show.
From details about the emotional first episode that honours both Luke Perry and his character Fred Andrews, to talk of a Halloween episode, another musical episode and another flashback episode (yes, really!), season 4 sounds like it's shaping up to be a lot different from what we've seen so far.
READ MORE: Here's how Riverdale season 4 will be based on I Know What You Did Last Summer
Two new casting announcements were also revealed at Comic Con with Perry's former Beverly Hills 90210 co-star and friend Shannen Doherty appearing in episode 1 and a new principal, played by Dawson's Creek alum Kerr Smith, introduced in episode 2. We were also treated to some season 3 bloopers. How nice.
Here's everything we learned about Riverdale season 4 from Comic Con 2019:
There will be another flashback episode.
It is a known fact that Riverdale's first parent flashback episode was one of the best episodes the show has ever done. According to Lili Reinhart, there will likely be another one in season 4 which explores a different era. As for the era? Madelaine Petsch wants it to be when the kids were babies. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa says it will be in the 1930s-1940s... which means we'll probably explore the grandparents and root of the feud between the Blossoms and the Coopers.
There will also be another musical episode and a Halloween episode.
The Halloween episode (4x04) will air on Wednesday 30th October and yes, there will be costumes. Aguirre-Sacasa revealed that they are working on clearing some DC characters as costumes for Cheryl and Toni. (Poison Ivy and... Catwoman? Perhaps?)
As for the musical (which will likely be around episode 16 or 17), Madelaine and Camila want Sweeney Todd but it has not been decided yet. Apparently, Grease 2 was once on the table... (via TV Line)
Shannen Doherty will be joining the cast for the first episode.
Luke Perry's close friend and Beverly Hills 90210 co-star Shannen Doherty will play a "pivotal, super-emotional role" in episode 1. The episode will serve as a tribute episode to both Luke and Fred Andrews, where Doherty's character "helps Archie process what happened to his father," Aguirre-Sacasa told ET Online.
Ashleigh Murray will return as Josie for the first episode of the season.
Despite leaving Riverdale in season 3 to go on tour with her father, Josie will return for the Luke Perry tribute episode. Murray has already been spotted on set with on-screen mum Robin Givens, who plays Sierra McCoy. Murray, of course, has officially left Riverdale to star on spin-off show Katy Keene, which takes place around 5 years in the future.
Archie's storyline will be impacted by Fred's death.
When asked about how Fred's (and Luke's) legacy will be addressed in the first episode, KJ Apa said "I think that's a part of his storyline in season 4 is honouring his father's legacy. There'll be bits and pieces throughout the whole season where we can dip and out of that." (via ET Online)
Betty is working with the FBI.
For the first few episodes, Betty will be working closely with her half-brother Charles in order to track down and locate the Farm. Jughead won't be as involved as Betty. Lili also said (many times!!!) that Charles' existence and parentage won't affect Bughead too much.
Episode 3 will see the Farm storyline come to a close.
According to Aguirre-Sacasa, episode 3 will be a huge action packed episode and will follow Betty's last ditch attempt to save her mother, sister and friends from the Farm. (via Whedonopolis Videos)
Veronica has a free house now, and Hiram is still causing trouble from jail.
On the panel, Camila Mendes revealed that Hiram is sending paparazzi after his daughter and making her life miserable. An extended family member will also arrive in Riverdale this season.
Yes, Jason's dead body is still in Cheryl's basement.
Madelaine revealed several times that Jason (yes, dead Jason... who she 'rescued' from The Farm) is still in her house and she's been "bonding" with him all summer. Cheryl also had him taxidermy'd (?!) which is...worrying. Choni as a couple are still going strong but Toni doesn't know about Jason yet... so that's likely to cause a bit of a rough patch when she finds out. (via EW)
Cheryl is also at her very lowest.
During the panel, Madelaine said that Cheryl is at an all time low but she is taking care of the twins. She also hopes that Cheryl's mental health will be explored properly this season. (via sandwichjohnfilms)
Jughead will go to prep school and will only be in Riverdale on the weekends.
During the panel, Cole Sprouse reveals that Jughead wins a scholarship which takes him to a "Gossip Girl" style prep school. He will only be in Riverdale on the weekends, which will of course make Bughead's relationship a little difficult but they're still "strong" according to Lili and Cole. And yes, he will be wearing a uniform.
There will be more senior year school activities going on this year.
The cast said multiple times that season 4 will focus on senior year and everything that comes with it. There will be more football games, more of the Vixens, more Mad Dog and the core four will even start a garage band together called The Archies. Jughead will be on drums, apparently. (via ET Online) (There will also be a Battle of the Bands episode, according to what was said on the panel...)
Kerr Smith will be playing the new principal.
Dawson's Creek alum Kerr Smith will be joining the cast as Riverdale High's new principal Mr Honey. In case you forgot, Principal Weatherbee joined The Farm in season 3 and appears to have ascended with them. According to his character description, Mr Honey is "a bit of a hard-ass who takes a harder line with the students this year, especially with the seniors."
He will appear in episode 2.
There will be a short time jump of around 3 months.
The season starts in the summer, just before they're about to start their senior year. (via Hollywood News Source)
Mad Dog's real name will be revealed.
And apparently, it's "sensational". (via EW)
There will be MORE Chad Michael Murray.
Despite the Farm storyline "coming to a close" in episode 3, Madelaine said that she was told to let us all know that there will be more Chad Michael Murray this season. So...go off, we guess. (via EW)
Alice and FP will get an on-screen kiss this season.
According to Aguirre-Sacasa, Alice and FP will fiiiiiiiiiinally get together in season 4 and kiss ON-SCREEN this time. (Now can you please release the deleted scene from season 3?! PLEASE?)
Lili Reinhart is also down for Alice and FP to rekindle their high school romance.
She thinks it's really cute. And so do I. Lili also said that she guesses the Charles thing is fine when it comes to Betty and Jughead because they're not related by blood. (via Hollywood News Source)
Kevin will also see the return of an old flame.
MOOSE? BUT WHAT ABOUT FANGS? (via Chris E. Hayner/Twitter)
We will learn more about Toni's backstory.
Finally! IT'S! 👏 ABOUT! 👏 TIME!
Veronica and Reggie's relationship will be addressed.
Camila said that Veggie, who got together and broke up in season 3, will have a chat and address their relationship. This happens in episode 2. Varchie, on the other hand, are "going strong" and are "pretty solid". (via ET Online)
There will likely be a Katy Keene crossover.
Despite the time jump difference between Riverdale and Katy Keene (Katy Keene is set at least 5 years in the future), Aguirre-Sacasa said that he's working on a crossover. That means we'll be able to see Josie again, back at home in Riverdale. But if you were hoping for a Sabrina crossover? That's not on the cards just yet.
