“Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies Movie Sets December Release Date on Netflix”
Netflix has officially announced the release date for “The Archies,” a coming-of-age musical directed by Zoya Akhtar. Scheduled to premiere on December 7, the film takes inspiration from the beloved Archie Comics characters and gives them an Anglo-Indian twist. The cast gathered at Mumbai’s Western Express Highway to unveil the release date beside a billboard featuring a countdown timer. Filming concluded in December of the previous year, with Akhtar credited as the co-writer alongside Ayesha Devitre (Gehraiyaan) and Reema Kagti (Made in Heaven).
Akhtar reimagines the fictional town of Riverdale through an Anglo-Indian lens, placing it in a hill station during the swinging 1960s. The film follows Archie and friends as they navigate friendship, heartbreak, rebellion, school protests, dance parties, and more. While a teaser at the Netflix Tudum event showcased rock ‘n’ roll elements, some local audiences expressed concern about the Western influence on the adaptation. Akhtar addressed these concerns by emphasizing the fictional nature of the story, underscoring its focus on the Anglo-Indian community. “The Archies” marks the fourth live-action project derived from the comics, joining “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” “Katy Keene,” and the recently concluded “Riverdale.”
In “The Archies,” Agastya Nanda takes on the role of the charming Archie Andrews, caught in a romantic dilemma between Betty and Veronica. Due to the Anglo-Indian spin, characters may have different names compared to the original comic series. Khushi Kapoor portrays the kind-hearted Betty, while Suhana Khan embodies the rich and pompous Veronica Lodge. The cast also includes Vedang Raina as the self-obsessed Reggie Mantle, Aditi ‘Dot’ Saigal as the up-and-coming hair stylist Ethel Muggs, and Mihir Ahuja as the appetite-driven Jughead Jones, sporting a unique flat cap instead of his iconic crown-shaped cap from the comics.
Zoya Akhtar is co-producing “The Archies” under her Tiger Baby Films banner, in collaboration with Sharad Devarajan’s Graphics India. Recently, Akhtar released the second season of “Made in Heaven” on Amazon Prime Video, focusing on a female perspective and addressing themes of abuse, mistrust, and divorce. All seven episodes of “Made in Heaven” Season 2 are available for streaming on the platform.
“The Archies” movie is set to premiere on Netflix on December 7.
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