Moderated by ET’s Leanne Aguilera, Riverdale went to San Diego Comic-Con again this year! With KJ Apa (Archie), Lili Reinhart (Betty), Camila Mendes (Veronica), Cole Sprouse (Jughead), Madelaine Petsch (Cheryl), Casey Cott (Kevin), Ashleigh Murray (Josie), Hayley Law (Valerie), Asha Bromfield (Melody), Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (creator) and Sarah Schechter (executive producer) on the stage, here’s some of the highlights and best takeaways of their panel!

A SNEAK PEEK AND A GAG REEL!

ET has got you covered with this exclusive look at the new season’s trailer and gag reel here! Wait, is that Penelope Blossom? WHAAAT!?

A NEW CHARACTER!

That’s right: Vanessa Morgan (Finding Carter) has been cast as the pink-haired bisexual ‘female Jughead’ Toni Topaz, who will act as Jughead’s ‘guide’ through the Southside! This could mean trouble for Bughead!

A LONGER SEASON!

Season 2 will have 22 episodes — which means that instead of one central mystery, there will actually be two or three! This decision made to be able to focus more time on characters who didn’t get as much screen-time last season, like Kevin Keller or Josie and the Pussycats. Speaking of…

KEVIN NEWS!

After taking a couple episode to process his post-Joaquin grief and the fall-out and heartbreak that caused, upgraded-to-main-cast Kevin will find a new boyfriend this season! Are we holding out for Moose?

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS NEWS!

While the ‘Cats will definitely have a lot more music this season (with the ‘iconic’ song in the second episode supposedly being ‘the dopest’), we will also focus a bit more on Josie’s relationship with her mom, and potentially more of her dad! As for love, Ashleigh Murray has hinted that Josie may be batting a few eyelashes at Reggie this season…

REGGIE RECAST!

Though it’s not brand-new news that Charles Melton will be replacing Ross Butler as Reggie this season, it was a bit of a shocker that the show-runners were actually looking to retire the character if they couldn’t find the right actor. Yikes!

DARK CHERYL

Just when we thought she couldn’t get any worse… Madelaine Petsch has confirmed Cheryl will be much darker and meaner this season, but will take control of her life more! Looks like it, from that eery trailer! Also, no love in the cards for Cheryl, because ‘when your father’s a wig-wearing monster, it’s hard to find a love interest.’

TROUBLE IN PARADISE?

Not only will Bughead be ‘tested’ and ‘strained’ from Jughead’s distance in the Southside this season, he will also have to choose between Riverdale or the Serpents — which will have repercussions either way! Varchie will have some troubles of their own too, with Veronica’s ex coming to town from New York and showing the Dark Veronica is waaaaay worse than Dark Betty!

FAMILY MATTERS

With Mark Consuelos’ ‘calm and collected’ Hiram in town, and Veronica now aware of her parents’ secrets, we’re told there is a definitely a ‘layered’ father/daughter bond this season! Given their tumultuous relationship in the comics, we can’t wait to see the ‘interesting dynamic’ between Mr. Lodge and Archie, either! More importantly: we may just get to see Jellybean and Gladys Jones in the second half of this season, if the studio can find the right actors!

FRED’S FATE

While last season ended on a cliffhanger, we will definitely learn of Fred’s fate by the end of the first episode, and find out his shooter fairly early on! Is everyone else biting their fingernails too?

GIRL POWER

Given that the show prides itself on not just pitting ladies against ladies, we can expect a lot more girl power this season, with the empowering fifth episode involving all the ladies ‘banding together’!



SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH?

They ended the panel before they gave a definitive answer, but they definitely teased the possibility of a ‘prominent supernatural character from the comics’ showing up in the latter half of the season! Who could that be?

Keep on eye on The Game of Nerds for all your Riverdale news, and keep checking back for all your SDCC coverage!

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