Riverdale Spinoff: Ashleigh Murray’s Josie Joins Katy Keene Pilot Cast
If Riverdale‘s recently announced spinoff is ordered to series, it’ll take one of the town’s most iconic residents along with it. Ashleigh Murray (aka Josie McCoy) has been cast in the pilot for Katy Keene, which will relocate the lead Pussycat to the Big Apple in pursuit of her musical dreams, TVLine has learned.
“Katy Keene follows the lives and loves of four iconic Archie Comics characters — including fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene and singer/songwriter Josie McCoy — as they chase their twenty-something dreams in New York City. This musical dramedy chronicles the origins and struggles of four aspiring artists trying to make it on Broadway, on the runway and in the recording studio.”
Explains CW president Mark Pedowtiz, “Katy Keene actually takes place years after Riverdale High School. So, at the moment, there are no plans to do [crossovers]. And, if any of those Riverdale characters should come to Katy Keene, they will come as an older self.”
Murray has been a series regular on Riverdale since the drama premiered on The CW in Jan. 2017. Though she was introduced as the lead singer of Josie and the Pussycats, the other two members of her band — Valerie Brown (played by Hayley Law) and Melody Valentine (played by Asha Bromfield) — have since disappeared.
From Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, the Katy Keene pilot is being written by Michael Grassi and Robert Aguirre-Sacasa, both of whom will also executive-produce alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Jon Goldwater. Maggie Kiley has been tapped to direct.
Your thoughts on Josie potentially leaving Riverdale behind? Are you hoping Katy Keene is ordered to series? Whatever you’re feeling, drop it in a comment below.
They give her zero to do on Riverdale
Worthless character.
Worthless comment.
Not true josie has been a pivitol character. On iverdale for 3 full years. As well as the pussycats being the music sensation of the series even getting veronica & cheryl blossom to join then & AGAIN
Good for Ashleigh, her talents have been wasted on Riverdale.
Josie’s character is well suited to be part of the Katy Keene project. Looking forward to this series.
Awesome! She literally has been sidelined as a non-existent character on Riverdale, so this moves makes sense! Happy for the actress. Her mom is (was?) mayor on Riverdale, so I wonder if she will appear too.
Alexandra Cabot might appear too.
I was always hoping they would have made a Josie and the Pussycats spinoff show but I’m happy that Ashleigh Murray is finally getting her chance to really shine
Can Kevin and Cheryl go to New York too? Josie, Kevin and Cheryl are easily the best characters on Rivderdale and it would be great to give them a chance to shine.
Yes a character who has said probably 50 lines 45 or so episodes is clearly the best character on the show.
It’s true. They ARE the best characters!
Yes, came to say the same thing. I would totally watch a spin-off that focused on Cheryl, Josie, and Kevin. Forget this Katy Keene person, have those 3 characters be the leads. They were the main reason I suffered through season 2 of Riverdale but not enough to keep watching through season 3.
Omg so excited for this!!
Seems like a great move to me. They could do so much more with Josies character on Katy Keane and Ashleigh is a talent!
Good for her! Hopefully this show gives her more to do and the fandom isn’t as horrible as riverdale’s but then again, it’s still Cw so..
I’m excited about this bc Ashleigh is such a great talent and her character isn’t on Riverdale enough. At least she’s been a regular so she’s been paid for every episode. Next they need to bring Casey Cott to the forefront.
She really wouldn’t have to leave Riverdale as Katy will be years ahead. She could recur on Riverdale as younger Josie, if the schedule permits. Her role is kinda small and sporadic anyways.
OoooooOooooooooh great point I never thought of that. She could play both characters of herself since they are in two different timelines (present and future). Cool!
Not a shock. I barely watch Riverdale and I could gleam the Josie character wasn’t having a lot to do. Nice to see something potentially good is coming from that.
If it’s passed years after RHS, wonder how they’ll explain Josie’s absence in Season 4. Maybe she’ll return as a guest.
Are you trying to ask if there will be logic on Riverdale to explain something? They would probably mention her or something, but not really give much of an explanation. Riverdale is cuckoo for coco puffs. They gave up trying to incorporate logic or anything long ago.
But..but..whatever will become of (potential) new couple Jorchie??
Does this mean that the pointless musical numbers will stop on Riverdale? Serious, non-troll, question to TVLine: is it possible that it’s written into Ashleigh’s contract to have a song in every episode?