'Riverdale' Spinoff 'Katy Keene' Casts Ashleigh Murray to Star
By Jennifer Fabiano
Fans always knew that there was no stage large enough in Riverdale for the fabulous Josie McCoy, and now they’ll get to see her move to the big city to chase her dreams. Ashleigh Murray, who plays the spunky Josie we all know and love in Riverdale, will reprise her role in the spinoff pilot for Katy Keene.
The spinoff will feature a Josie who graduated from Riverdale High and is moving on from all the drama, at least all the drama that came with living in the small town. In Katy Keene, Josie is more determined than ever to make it big in the music industry, and she’s not the only one that has big aspirations.
Josie and Katy Keene, an aspiring fashion icon, are two of the four Archie Comics characters that the pilot will follow as they pursue their dream jobs in New York City. If Katy Keene is picked up as a series, Ashleigh will reportedly no longer be playing Josie on Riverdale.
CW president Mark Pedowitz announced last week that there are no plans to have a crossover episode in order to introduce the Archie universe Katy Keene character.
“Katy Keene takes places years after Riverdale High School,” Pedowitz said. “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.”
On social media, Ashleigh has been celebrating the new project.
In an Instagram Story announcing the news, Ashleigh wrote, "I can't hear anything because I'm screaming too loud."
As much as we'd hate to see Josie leave Riverdale, we'd really love to see her flourish in the big city.