Katy Keene: Ashleigh Murray to star in pilot of NYC-set Riverdale spinoff
Ashleigh Murray is set to star in the pilot of Riverdale spinoff, Katy Keene, which follows four 20-something Archie characters navigating the Big Apple.
It’s pilot season at The CW, and a big name has just signed on to star in the Riverdale spinoff, Katy Keene, according to Deadline. Ashleigh Murray, who currently plays teenage singer-songwriter Josie McCoy on the flagship series, will star as a 20-something Josie working toward her big break in the NYC-set spinoff pilot.
Katy Keene, hailing from Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, is a musical dramedy penned by Robert Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale series developer) and Michael Grassi (Riverdale writer and producer). They will executive produce alongside Riverdale‘s Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Jon Goldwater.
Murray may be the only casting holdover, though, at least for now. Neither a crossover episode nor a backdoor pilot is in the works, according to CW President Mark Pedowitz:
"“Katy Keene takes places years after Riverdale High School. There are no plans to do anything [regarding a crossover]. Any of the Riverdale characters who come to Katy Keene will be older. Robert [Aguirre-Sacasa] is getting the pilot right.”"
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Murray’s Josie will star alongside three other “iconic” Archie Comics characters, including the titular fashionista, trying to make their dreams a reality in New York City. If the pilot is ordered to series, Murray will leave Riverdale, which would probably be for the best.
Though Josie has been a series regular and fan favorite since the hit show premiered, she has been chronically underutilized, especially this season. As the cast has continued to expand, Aguirre-Sacasa has seemed to be largely at a loss for how to incorporate Josie into the storylines.
While The CW will surely be counting on Riverdale viewers (especially Josie stans) to tune in if the pilot gets picked up, that may not be the only demographic the network is targeting. With its critically acclaimed musical dramedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend currently airing its final season, The CW may be aiming for Katy Keene to fill the void.
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Would you watch Katy Keene if it got picked up? Do you want to see Josie living the dream in NYC? Let us know in the comments section below.