Riverdale: Kicking Back with the CW's Hottest New Stars

The cast was photographed exclusively for EW on Aug. 27 in Vancouver.

Archie will be struggling with the aftermath of his father, Fred (Luke Perry), being shot in the season 1 finale. The red head becomes hell-bent on revenge, a la Bruce Wayne or Peter Parker, a storyline that’s also given Apa the most challenging work of his young career. “To be fair, I read that first episode of the second season and I was thinking I don’t know if I’m good enough to do this,” says the New Zealand native. “I’m a new actor. I’m new to this kind of material and I was cushioning myself. I really have learned a lot this season and I think I’ve shot some of the best stuff I’ve ever done.”

Riverdale's narrator will be attending South Side High School and be caught between his old and new life, includin potentially joining the Serpents. "He undergoes a kind of radical vulnerability and change. His morality is going to be really tested. It’s one of htose things where Jughead is the perspective character. We see the world through his lens. He’s the soul of Riverdale. So in my own way and for the audience, whatever happens to Jughead can be seen as the world in total."

Daddy's home! The big news for Veronica is that her father, Hiram (Mark Consuelos), has finally gotten out of prison and has returned to Riverdale. "She wants to be respected as a member of the family and neither Hiram nor Hermione [Marisol Nichols] are allowing to be part of that. They have a plan for Riverdale and they keep it very secret."

If you thought season 1 was rough for Betty Cooper, then you ain't seen nothing yet. Betty not only finds her relationship with Jughead tested but she also becomes a pivotal part of this season's new mystery. "Not only is Betty dealing with the separation between her and her boyfriend but being in the middle of something she completely did not ask for," says Reinhart. "She’s so young. Your heart goes out to Betty in season two. She gets put in the middle of a sh-- storm."

Season two of Riverdale = More Josie. The lead singer of the Pussycats will become a full-fledged member of the gang this year and she could potentially be looking to pull a Beynonce. Teases Murray, "There is talk of possibly Josie exploring the option of going a solo route. It’s gonna cause some issues if that does come up."

Last seen burning down her family home, Cheryl will literally be rising from the ashes in season 2. Says Petsch, "I think a lot of people read her trying to burn the house down as her breaking but it was her pulling herself together and telling her mom she’s not going to take any more crap and she’s in charge now. She’s hell hath no fury like Cheryl scorned."

Cott, like Murray, is a series regular now so look for Kevin to do more than just add a funny quip amongst the drama. "Betty kinda left Kevin hanging a little last season," says Cott. "I think he’s lonely and it’s time maybe he says something." Uh oh. Look for the series to delve further into Kevin's relationship with his father, Sheriff Keller, as well.

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