AceShowbiz -

The CW turns Archie comics into a completely different kind of teen drama based on the first promo of "Riverdale". The sneak peek gives dark and sexy vibes with shots of a mysterious girl, a hunky Archie and a dead body, shown over an eerie song.

Albeit the gritty take, the show still captures the lives of high school students in the titular town with party, cheerleading and romantic scenes. Archie (K.J. Apa) also gets into trouble as he's seen involved in a brawl.

"Riverdale" begins with tragic death of high school golden boy Jason Blossom. The series follows Archie and other beloved characters from the comics as they enter their sophomore year of high school while dealing with a murder-mystery.

The cast also includes Camila Mendes as Archie's love interest Veronica Lodge, "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum Luke Perry as Archie's father Fred, Lili Reinhart as Veronica's love rival Betty, Cole Sprouse as Archie's slacker friend Jughead Jones, Ashleigh Murray as Josie of Josie and the Pussycats fame, and Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom.

"It's definitely Archie, but a little darker, a little more complex and a little weirder than you might remember from the digest you bought at the supermarket," executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa told EW at San Diego Comic Con earlier this year. He described it as "a little bit like Archie meets 'Twin Peaks'."

The new series is set to debut Thursday, January 26 at 9 P.M. on The CW.