For the first time in over 80 years, Archie Andrews and the Riverdale gang are heading to the big screen. Universal Pictures has confirmed a feature-length adaptation of the beloved comic series, with a creative team that suggests the project is being treated with both respect and ambition.
The film will be produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, whose track record with risky adaptations includes The Lego Movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and 21 Jump Street. Their involvement signals that Universal wants a movie that honors Archie’s wholesome, occasionally corny legacy while updating it for modern audiences. The duo is known for taking familiar material and finding a balance between reverence and reinvention, making them well-suited to handle Archie’s mix of Americana, comedy, and youthful melodrama.
On the writing side, Universal has tapped Tom King, the Eisner-winning comic book writer behind acclaimed runs on Batman, Green Lantern, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow—the latter of which is inspiring an upcoming DC film. King is also an outspoken Archie fan, having penned the one-shot The Decision last year, which playfully riffed on the character’s infamous love triangle with Betty and Veronica. His deep knowledge of Archie lore gives him credibility to craft a screenplay that feels authentic to fans while leaving room for new interpretations.
The Archie franchise has had plenty of exposure over the decades—most recently in CW’s Riverdale and Netflix’s Indian adaptation The Archies—but never a Hollywood film. Its longevity stems from the elasticity of its storytelling: Archie and his friends have starred in everything from lighthearted teen comedies to horror crossovers with The Punisher and The Predator. That range could give Lord, Miller, and King room to experiment while keeping the essence of Archie intact.
What the movie will actually look like remains uncertain. It could lean into a nostalgic teen comedy centered on Archie’s love life, embrace the heightened drama of Riverdale, or adopt a satirical tone in the vein of The Brady Bunch Movie. What seems clear is that Universal views Archie as more than just a one-off project. With decades of stories and a sprawling cast of characters—including Josie and the Pussycats—the property has the potential to evolve into a long-running franchise if the first film resonates.
For a character who’s been in print since 1941 but never made it to theaters, Archie now has a creative team capable of giving him the cinematic treatment he’s long been denied. If Lord, Miller, and King can balance humor, heart, and the nostalgic charm that has kept Archie popular for generations, Universal may finally unlock Riverdale’s full potential on the big screen.
