The CW Just Ordered Pilots for Spinoffs of ‘Riverdale’ and ‘Jane the Virgin’
Two of your favorite shows may be expanding their universes. According to Deadline, the CW has ordered pilots for spinoffs of both Riverdale and Jane the Virgin.
The Riverdale spinoff is described as a “musical dramedy” called Katy Keene. The show will follow four Archie Comics characters, including young fashionista Katy Keene, as they chase their artistic dreams and work, live, and love in New York City. Riverdale has already dipped a toe into the musical genre with its season 2 episode based on Carrie: The Musical, and it will do so again with its upcoming season 3 musical tribute to the ’80s cult classic Heathers.
The hit teen soap is also no stranger to spinoffs: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, starring Kiernan Shipka and based on Archie Comics’ beloved teen witch character, launched on Netflix last fall, and a second season will premiere in April 2019.
As for the Jane the Virgin spinoff, Deadline reports that it will be a “soapy, telenovela-inspired anthology” series called Jane the Novela. Each season will be based on a fictional novel written by Gina Rodriguez’ lead character, Jane Villanueva, who is also said to be the narrator of the stories.
The first story is set at a Napa Valley Vineyard, where it’s said that “secrets (and family members) don’t stay buried for long.”
In addition to the spinoffs, the CW ordered pilots for two series based on characters from your childhood. One is an untitled Nancy Drew drama that follows the iconic amateur detective in the summer after she graduates high school. The dynamic duo of Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage — the people behind shows such as The O.C., Gossip Girl, and more — are handling this one, so it already sounds promising.
Also in the works: an adaptation of the 1987 horror-comedy movie Lost Boys, from Rob Thomas (who is currently busy with his Veronica Mars reboot) and Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy producer-writer Heather Mitchell.
Which new CW show are you most looking forward to? Let us know @BritandCo!
(photos via Art Streiber/The CW + Michael Desmond/The CW)