As Riverdale launches its sixth season, a different live-action take on Archie Comics' beloved characters is in development at Netflix as an original musical feature film set in 1960s India.
Helmed by Indian filmmaker Zoya Ahktar, the planned film will be produced by Tiger Baby and Graphic India and will premiere exclusively on Netflix. The film brings the classic band The Archies to India in the 1960s, with the project being a lifelong dream for Ahktar to introduce the characters to a new generation in her native India. To herald the announcement, longtime Archie comic book creator Dan Parent has written and illustrated official announcement artwork, lettered by Jack Morelli.
"I am super excited to have the chance to bring The Archies to life. It was a large part of my childhood and teenage years," Ahktar shared in a written statement. "The characters are iconic and globally loved, which is also why I am a little nervous. I have to make sure the film stokes the nostalgia of a generation that grew up on the comic and yet resonates with the young adults today."
The upcoming musical is the latest collaboration between Archie Comics and Netflix, following the acclaimed original series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which ran for two seasons on the premium streaming service. As Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is poised for an eagerly anticipated crossover with Riverdale this year, the planned musical will further position Archie's global outreach as it continues to expand its partnership with Netflix.
"It's a huge source of pride that the Archie Comics characters and stories resonate with fans globally, and especially in India, for more than 50 years," Archie Comics CEO and Publisher Jon Goldwater declares. "We are thrilled to partner with Netflix and trust Zoya Akhtar and her creative team to deliver a truly unique and exciting take on Archie and friends through the lens of Indian cinema. We know that these characters have global appeal and translating them into other settings and cultures is just the start of what we have planned for future multimedia adaptations."
"The characters, adventures and friendships in Archies have found fans across the world for generations. With Archie Comics, Graphic India and Tiger Baby, we have an extraordinary opportunity to recreate the world of Archie Comics, this time as a live-action musical," Netflix India Director of Films and Licensing Pratiksha Rao adds. "Zoya has an incredible and unique ability to make stories and the characters in them relatable, making them feel like they are an extension of our own self. We are thrilled to partner with her in bringing to life the world of Archies to fans and our members in India and around the world."
No additional details about The Archies, including cast or anticipated release window, has been announced at this time.