Madelaine Petsch stars as Cheryl Blossom and Ashleigh Murray is Josie McCoy, the leader of Josie and the Pussycats, in The CW’s new dramatic series, Riverdale. The series is based on the Archie comic book characters, with season one focusing on the investigation of popular high school student Jason Blossom’s murder. Teaming up to discuss the series at the San Diego Comic Con, Petsch and Murray said audiences can expect to see strong, fully developed characters and it won’t just be about who’s dating who. Riverdale is set to premiere on January 26, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT.
Madelaine Petsch and Ashleigh Murray Roundtable Interview:
What was your initial reaction to the idea of the series being more grounded and with the characters having more dramatic depth than you might expect from a show based on the Archie comic books?
Madelaine Petsch: “I personally was very happy about that. I’m not too much of a comedy kind of gal myself. When I got the script originally, I obviously analyzed it as an actor and then I read it as Cheryl and I realized that they gave her so much depth and so much purpose while in the comics they kind of make the girls ditzy in a way and kind of wishy-washy. Like, ‘Oh, I don’t know which guy I want.’ And every girl on this show is so strong and so independent. Even Betty (played by Lili Reinhart) and Veronica (played by Camila Mendes) – we’re all here as our own entities first, and then we bring the men into it later which is kind of a nice adaptation.”
Ashleigh Murray: “I grew up reading the comics and it was very happy and campy. Always, ‘We win the day!’ like nothing ever bad happens. And reading the script, it wasn’t difficult for me to wrap my head around what was happening. You know, it’s not hard for me to imagine Archie in these situations now because we’ve gone through and we’ve dealt with them, and each character is so relatable. No matter what situation you put them in, it’s easy to believe.”
What would you call Josie and the Pussycats’ musical style?
Ashleigh Murray: “Right now, she’s kind of like Kesha with a little bit of Demi. It’s definitely kind of like a girls anthem. It’s not really a sweet bubblegum kind of anthem. It’s like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to rock this.’ Like, ‘Yeah, I know you want to go home but I have one more song. Everybody is going to remember the song and nobody is going to leave if we’re willing to play an extra set.’ We’re definitely party rocking people-pleasers but also very staunch in that kind of girl power, ‘We’ve got this, don’t worry about it.’”
How much music will actually be Riverdale?
Ashleigh Murray: “A lot.”
Madelaine Petsch: “It’s going to be a heavy underlying tone.”
Ashleigh Murray: “And it’s not going to be like Glee. We are not just going to break out in song mid math class. It’s going to be a part of the show the way music is a part of Empire so by the end of the season we’re hoping to have a full EP of Josie and the Pussycats and Archie and his garage band.”
Any “Sugar Sugar” covers?
Madelaine Petsch: “There’s a secret but I’m not going to tell you what it is. That’s all I can say.”
Is Cheryl always the protagonist? Will there be a three-dimensional persona behind the villain?
Madelaine Petsch: “So, when I got the breakdown – they it break it down for you – and they’re like, ‘This is the lead villain of the show.’ I’m like, ‘Great, I always get to play the villain.’ And then when I got on set, I had this great conversation with Roberto and I was like, ‘I need more than that. I don’t want to be this one dimensional human.’ And, it kind of breaks down over the course of season one when you see her crack about the death of her brother. Whatever may have happened, it really affects her in a way and you see why she lashes out at people. You see the relationships and that crack behind the surface with her parents, and you see the way that she is treated. You understand why so much more that she’s the villain, which I think makes it so much juicer for me to play.”
Will Josie and Cheryl butt heads?
Madelaine Petsch: “I sure hope so. I will be a fun sass off, I’ll tell you that much.”
Ashleigh Murray: “It really would because we are elite in our own right. You know, I walk in this kind of bubble where nobody can touch me and everybody knows what it is. And it’s the same thing with Cheryl but it’s kind of with a different situation. You know, she comes from this regal background, money, and it’s not that I don’t come from money but I’ve kind of built this empire where there’s the same type of respect. You don’t mess with them, no matter where they are. You know that’s a Pussycat, and no matter where Cheryl is, you better step in line.”
Madelaine Petsch: “I feel like we have a respect for each other, a mutual respect maybe to not cross into each other’s territories. I hope that that comes to an end soon.”
Do you want to be the murderer everyone is searching for in season one?
Madelaine Petsch: “Yes and no. As Madelaine, I absolutely do want to be the murderer. I think it’s a much more fun role. As Cheryl, I don’t think she wants to be the murderer. But none of us know, which makes it so much more fun. I very well could be the murderer and I have no idea.”
Ashleigh Murray: “That’s what’s so exciting about all of this.”
More on Riverdale: KJ Apa Interview / Luke Perry Interview / Cole Sprouse Interview / Lili Reinhart & Camila Mendes Interview
(Interview by Sandy Kraisirideja. Article by Rebecca Murray.)
Watch the Riverdale season 1 trailer:
