Riverdale season 7: Release date and latest news
Riverdale season 6 has now come to an end, but are Archie and the gang coming back for season 7?
Riverdale has had quite the run since it debuted back in 2017. From faked deaths to cults and superpowers to alternate universes, its characters have witnessed it all.
Season 6 saw some particularly monumental events occur in the lives of Archie, Veronica and the gang, acknowledged by creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa in an interview with TV Line: "We kind of thought: What if Stephen King and M Night Shyamalan were in the writers' room this season?"
The finale certainly brought all the shocks and thrills we've come to expect, but is the show coming back for more?
Read on for everything you need to know about Riverdale season 7.
Has Riverdale been renewed for season 7?
It has, but unfortunately the news is bittersweet. While the show was renewed for a seventh season back in March 2022, in May last year it was confirmed that this would be the show's last outing.
When he announced the show was ending, Mark Pedowitz, network president at The CW, said: "I am a big believer in attempting to give series that have had long runs an appropriate sendoff.
"We had a long conversation with Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa] yesterday, who is thrilled by this news, and we will treat the show in the manner it deserves…. We want to make sure it goes out the right way. I think they, too, felt that seven years is the right amount. As a fan myself, I do want to do what is right for the show."
So, while fans are likely excited that they get to go on one last ride with the characters, it's still going to be emotional knowing how soon things are coming to an end.
When will Riverdale season 7 be released?
Riverdale's return date for the seventh season has now been confirmed, which means Archie and the gang will return for one last round on Wednesday 29th March, premiering on The CW in the US.
UK fans will have to wait a day, as per usual, so British Riverdale fans can catch up on all the action from Thursday 30th March on Netflix.
Riverdale cast: who will be back for season 7?
Fans can expect to see the usual gang return for the seventh and final season, which means all of the following cast members will be back:
- KJ Apa as Archibald 'Archie' Andrews
- Lili Reinhart as Elizabeth 'Betty' Cooper
- Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge
- Cole Sprouse as Forsythe Pendleton 'Jughead' Jones III
- Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom
- Casey Cott as Kevin Keller
- Charles Melton as Reginald 'Reggie' Mantle
- Vanessa Morgan as Antoinette 'Toni' Topaz
- Drew Ray Tanner as Fangs Fogarty
- Madchen Amick as Alice Smith
- Erin Westbrook as Tabitha Tate
Riverdale's a bigger town than you might think, though, which means there's plenty of room for some new faces even this late in the game.
In December 2022, Deadline revealed that two new cast members have been signed on as major recurring players. Nicholas Barasch will play Julian Blossom, a bully who "always gets his way... and often butts heads with his twin sister, but is also an antagonist to all of our teen characters, most especially Archie".
He'll be joined by Karl Walcott as army brat Clay Walker who is "studious, well-read, and well-traveled", Deadline reports. "He is very open-minded in his art and his sexuality. As he does in the comic books, Clay will have an impactful friendship with fellow queer character Kevin Keller," adds the description.
Meanwhile, Kiernan Shipka, who recently reprised her role as Sabrina from the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for a crossover, has also teased that she could return for another guest role in season 7.
She told Collider: "Yeah, she has to come back. I think they're gonna need her help again. Like for entertainment's sake, I would say [they should] lean into the chaos – no pun intended – as much as they can and work hard and have faith that it's all gonna work out, but at the end of the day, just truly probably call Sabrina again. I think they're gonna need her, to be quite honest."
Is there a trailer for Riverdale season 7?
There is! The final season trailer arrived on Thursday 2nd March 2023, revealing our first proper look at Riverdale's new setting.
The year is now 1955, and the gang are all juniors again. No one realises something is amiss except Jughead, who tries his best to convince everyone that they're actually from the future. The dynamics are all askew with Archie and Cheryl now married while Betty and Kevin are in a relationship together as well.
There's also a larger threat that looms over everyone too, but the specifics remain vague. Just trust Veronica when she says: "Nothing is ever going to be the same again."
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Riverdale seasons 1-6 are available to watch now on Netflix, with season 7 premiering tomorrow (Thursday 30th March). Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight.
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