Universal Pictures is bringing Archie to the big screen with a new live-action movie, and DC’s Tom King is set to write the script.
Tom King Adapting Archie
Tom King, best known in comics for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and as an executive producer and writer on HBO/DC Studios’ upcoming Lanterns series, will handle the screenplay. His Supergirl comic has already been adapted into a film directed by Craig Gillespie, scheduled for release next summer.
Producers Behind Spider-Verse On Board
The project comes from producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the team behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 21 Jump Street, and The Lego Movie. Former 20th Century Studios head Emma Watts, who initially brought the project to Lord and Miller, is producing alongside Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater and Lord Miller president Aditya Sood.
Universal’s Britt Hennemuth and Christine Sun are overseeing development.
Archie Comics Legacy
Archie Comics has a long history, dating back to Pep Comics No. 22 in 1941. The franchise follows Archie Andrews and his friends Veronica, Betty, and Jughead through small-town high school antics.
The CW series Riverdale offered a darker take on the property and ran from 2017 to 2023 with 137 episodes, but the studio sees more potential for new audiences on the big screen.
Archie Comics has sold over three billion comics worldwide across dozens of languages, with 100 million copies sold in India alone over the past 50 years. Beyond comics, the brand has global recognition thanks to the hit single “Sugar, Sugar,” which sold over 20 million copies.
Lord and Miller’s Statement
In a joint statement, Lord and Miller said:
“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.”
No Story Details Yet
Plot details for the Archie movie are being kept secret, but the film is expected to reintroduce the characters with a modern, large-scale adaptation.
