The minds behind theSpider-Versemovies are bringing another classic comics series to the big screen.Phil LordandChristopher Millerhave signed on to produce a feature film based onArchie Comics, the teen humor series that’s been steadily chugging along since 1941. There’s no word yet whether the film will be live-action or animated: Lord and Miller have produced both, with their latest, the live-action science fiction epicProject Hail Mary, set to hit theaters next year.
According to reports, the film’s script is being written byTom King, a veteran comic book scribe whoseSupergirl: The Woman of Tomorrowseries will be adapted into next year’sSupergirlfilm. He’s also penning the upcomingLanternsseries for HBO. Said Lord and Miller in a statement: “We are longtime fans of Archie, Veronica, Betty, and the gang in all of their iterations. When we heard Tom King’s take on the classic material, we instantly thought it made sense as an event movie for all audiences — both lifelong fans and a whole new generation. We’re so excited to bring these beloved characters to the big screen.” Plot details for the film are being kept under wraps for now.
What Is Archie Comics?
Founded in 1939 as MLJ Comics, the publisher would eventually name itself after its signature character. Archie Andrews, an American “every-teen” patterned afterMickey Rooney’s Andy Hardy character, was introduced in 1941’sPep Comics#22 byJohn L. GoldwaterandBob Montana. Archie, his be-crowned best pal, Jughead Jones, and his dueling love interests Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge, plus all their assorted friends, relatives, and enemies, have become comic book icons over the intervening decades and have been adapted for the screen a number of times. Most recently, the teen humor characters found themselves in aTwin Peaks-like world of sex, violence, and surrealism in The CW’s long-running soapRiverdale.The Archies, a more conventional take on the characters, albeit one transplanted to 1960s India, premiered on Netflix in 2023. The publisher has also adapted a number of other characters for the screen, includingSabrina the Teenage WitchandJosie and the Pussycats.
TheArchiefilm will be produced byEmma Watts, Archie Comics CEO and publisherJon Goldwater(the son of company founder John), andAditya Sood, president of Lord Miller. It is a Universal Pictures production.
AnArchiefilm isin development. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
