AceShowbiz -

The population of The CW's "Riverdale" is slowly growing. After finding its Archie Andrews, the live-action take on Archie Comics now casts newcomer Camila Mendes in a main role of Veronica Lodge.

Veronica is described as an intelligent, confident and silver-tongued high school sophomore. In the pilot, she returns to Riverdale from New York, eager to reinvent herself after a scandal involving her father.

KJ Apa, an 18-year-old New Zealand-born actor, has been tapped to play Archie. "Beverly Hills, 90210" will star Luke Perry as Archie's father Fred. Lili Reinhart is cast as Veronica's love rival Betty, and Cole Sprouse plays Archie's slacker friend Jughead Jones. Ashleigh Murray is cast as Josie of Josie and the Pussycats fame, while Madelaine Petsch will play Cheryl Blossom.

The show will explore the surrealistic twists of small-town life, in addition to the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome facade. It would also be a "bold, subversive take" on the love triangle among Archie, Betty and Veronica.

Filming on "Riverdale" pilot is expected to take place in March in Vancouver. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa writes the pilot. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Jon Goldwater and Aguirre-Sacasa serve as executive producers.