On The CW series Riverdale, the new school year begins as the town is coming to grips with the tragic but mysterious death of high schooler Jason Blossom. Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa) would prefer to pursue a career in music rather than follow in his father’s footsteps, while girl-next-door Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) is deciding whether to continue to keep her crush on her best friend and neighbor a secret. Throw in new student, Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), a curious Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) and Queen Bee Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch), who is always happy to stir up trouble, and secrets are bound to surface.

During a series of 1-on-1 interviews with Collider, co-stars K.J. Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes and Cole Sprouse talked about their audition process for the show, when they fell in love with their character, their instant chemistry, bringing iconic comic book characters to life in a modern way, the show’s sexuality, whether there would ever be anything romantic between Betty and Veronica, why Betty and Veronica won’t let Archie come between their friendship, what Archie and Jughead’s friendship is like now, their family relationships, and the murder mystery. Be aware that there are some spoilers discussed.

Collider: What was your audition process like for this show?

K.J. APA: I came to L.A., and it was my first audition. I went in there and did it, and it was just like any other audition. And then, I got called about two weeks later to play the same character because they obviously hadn’t found him yet. After I did it, our casting director David Rapaport was like, “Have you been in here before?” I was like, “Yeah.” And he said, “Hold on a second,” and he left. I got called back about an hour later and did the audition again, in front of Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa], Sarah Schechter, and a couple of the other executives. And then, they called me back for a screen test, a couple weeks later. And then, I did another screen test. Then, I got cast.

LILI REINHART: In November 2015, I got the audition. I was at home. I was living in North Carolina with my parents. I was 19, at that point. I was going to move to L.A. in January. I had to self-tape with my mom, but it didn’t go anywhere. The casting director wasn’t really taken with it. It wasn’t really that good of an audition, on my part, so I was like, “Okay, you win some, you lose some.” I’m used to that. And then, I moved to L.A. and a couple days after I moved, my manager called me and said, “They still haven’t found this girl. Now that you’re in L.A., the casting director will see you in person.” So, I went in there with no expectations and approached the character with a clean slate, and it worked. Our casting director really connected with me in the room. And then, I went in again for the producers. And then, I tested for the network and the studio. Then, I got it. It was from November through February. On February 9 is when I got the phone call. I remember because it’s the day my life changed.

CAMILA MENDES: Mine was very long and labored. I met Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa] at my second callback, which was my first producer’s callback. That was pretty quick. And then, the next day, they put me on hold, but it was winter break, so I had all of winter break to prepare. I was like, “Okay, I’m going to L.A. to do the studio test, and this is going to happen.” So, the studio test happened, but that was before the pilot got greenlit. I had to go back again, after it got greenlit. The first time I studio tested, there was only one other Veronica there. Because it was just me and one other girl, I thought I was at the end. And then, I went back and there were five Veronicas. I was like, “Wait, I feel like I just took a huge step backwards. Why are they bringing all these other girls?! Were we not enough?” I freaked out. And then, I made it to the network test. It was me and this one other girl, and right as we finished, I got in the elevator and the casting director was like, “Can we talk to you?” He was like, “So, we’re letting the other girl go.” I was like, “Really?!” And he said, “Don’t get excited. They didn’t think she was a good fit, to begin with. They want to bring someone in that they feel can compete with you and that they feel is on the same level.” I was like, “Why?! Isn’t the whole idea that I won the competition?” And he said, “No, it’s just a formality. You always have to have two options for the network because they want to feel like they have two really good options. So, we’re going to look for her and test her, and then, from there, we’ll decide.”

I was so nervous. I had to go back to New York, and after a few days past, they still hadn’t found her. And then, my contract expired and a few days later, they said they still hadn’t found her. It was two weeks of the same thing, and I was losing my mind, unable to sleep. I was like, “If they wanted me, they would have cast me by now. Why are they looking elsewhere?” I was starting to accept the fact that I didn’t get it. Finally, they were like, “Look, there was a lot of disagreement over who Veronica should be.” It was a character that everyone has grown up with for so long that everyone had an attachment to the characters, but they finally came together on who she should be.

At the end, they ended up only sending my tapes to the network and I was the only one that tested for Veronica, and then I got it. It was a whole process behind it that was literally killing me. I couldn’t sleep. I would wake up and cry. I just graduated college, too, so I was really anxious about working. I was like, “Either this is going to change my life and be this whole journey that I’m about to embark on, or I’m just going to go about doing my daily stuff and it’s going to feel like shit because it’s really going to be sad.” So, I was very happy it was the former. Sarah Schechter said this was the longest audition process she’s ever been through. Normally, it’s two months, but this was six months, while they were looking for all these characters. I think it’s because it was such a responsibility to make sure it’s right. You’ve gotta get the characters right, and get the ensemble right. The show isn’t about any one character. It’s about everyone together, and the town of Riverdale. Having that chemistry between everyone was really important.

COLE SPROUSE: It was funny, I was given Archie to read, at first. Before I auditioned, there was a scene that he does with Jughead, and I wasn’t too familiar with the characters, at that point. So, I read Jughead and I was thinking, “Oh, I really like Jughead.” I found out that he’s the narrator, and I found out all of these really cool things. He’ll be the narrator for every episode, throughout every season. That’s how you know I can’t get [killed]. I thought it was a really interesting character. My audition was a two-page monologue, with me just sitting there and explaining the setting of the town. I thought that was great. I came off of a Twilight Zone binge and just vomited Rod Serling all over the audition, and it happened to be in line with Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa] and Greg Berlanti, and that entire team. From there, it was suggested to me, pretty early on in the process, that they wanted me for Jughead and that I was their first choice. So, I did about five auditions afterwards, with the chain of command, and each one was me consistently removing the other people. It felt like playing Pokémon, and not really like an audition process. It was a battle royale. It was a grueling process. I read with a couple of the guys who were auditioning for Archie, but I didn’t get to read with K.J. [Apa], at all. And then, we all showed up on set and it was magic. As a cast, we get along like peas in pods. I’m sure every cast says that stupid cliché shit, but as someone who was a little bit nervous about returning to acting, I was wondering about how we were all going to get along as a cast. I’m so thankful that we do and that it works.

Lili, did you meet any of your fellow cast members during the audition process?

REINHART: I did. Camila [Mendes] and I were both at a studio test. We didn’t talk ‘cause there were a bunch of people there. There were like five Veronicas, three Bettys and five Archies. And then, when I did my network test, I saw Cole [Sprouse] there. Actually, I had seen Cole at the studio test, as well, but we didn’t interact, at all. But then, at the network test, it was me, another option for Betty, Camila, another option for Veronica, and Cole and another option for Jughead. K.J. [Apa] wasn’t there ‘cause they were still working on Archie. I was sitting close to Camila and I was like, “Wow, this girl looks like the one.” Once I got the role, I chemistry read with K.J. and another option for Archie. As they got the roles, I knew who they were talking about ‘cause I had interacted with them before.

Was there a point, along the way, that you fell in love with the character and just couldn’t see anyone else in the role?

APA: When I actually read the script, I was thinking, “I can play this character really honestly.” It got ridiculous to me. I was like, “Just cast me! I can do it!” For my final screen test, I took in my guitar and played them a song. I think that locked it in.

REINHART: Yeah, I really fell in love with Betty. When I get really passionate about something, the audition process is really strenuous and hard on me because I feel so much for the project and I become so attached to it. It’s hard. It’s stressful because you want it so badly and you’re crafting this character that you’re falling in love with. When I was testing for it, I was so stressed out. But when I went in the audition room, and when I left all of my auditions, I felt proud of what I did in there and I was happy with what I did. That’s the most important thing to me. If I go in there and say, “Okay, I did good work and I feel good about what I did,” then that’s great. When I did my final test, I left feeling at peace. I was totally happy, no matter what the outcome was. So, when I got the call, I knew it was going to be life-changing. I knew people were already passionate about this project, and the fact that I had booked one of the lead roles on a CW pilot meant so much. I started crying. I knew that my life changed, in that moment. I was with my friend, when I got the call, and when I hung up he was like, “I just watched your life change, in front of my eyes.” It really did.

MENDES: In the beginning. I heard about it from a friend who was auditioning for Veronica. I was like, “Is that the Archie comics pilot? They’re casting a Latina?” And she was like, “Yeah, they’re making her Latina.” I was like, “I’m Latina!” I was so excited! I read the breakdown and I was like, “Oh, my god, this is the kind of character I love playing. This feels like an extension of who I am. I have to play this role!” I’ve never felt so confident that I could play something before, and I’d been auditioning for roles for like a year. I was like, “I’m not going to get this. They’re not going to give this role to me.” But, it felt like it was attainable. I had that instinct. And playing her was really fun. The two scenes they had me audition with were the closet scene with Archie, which is an intimate, nice, sweet moment, and the takedown of Cheryl in the pilot. They were really juicy, fun scenes, and it felt amazing doing them. I had never felt so good about something, in my life.

Cole, because this was the first thing you were returning to acting to do, what were you looking for?

SPROUSE: I don’t know if I was looking for something. I was looking for an interesting project and a new character. Jughead is so different from Cody, who I played just before, and so different from most of the other roles I played, as a child star. I really wanted to see if I could do that, as a challenge to myself. The pilot was awesome. I thought Jughead wasn’t going to be as prevalent in the show as he became. For Episode 1, I’m in pretty little. I liked being the narrator ‘cause I didn’t know if I felt super strongly about acting again. But then, as time went on, I realized that he’s one of the main four, and I embraced that. He’s really become a super interesting, damaged kid who hides his feelings with comedy. He’s very much the Holden Caulfield. He’s a really intricate, layered, sad character, and I think he’s great.

Aside from there being tremendous pressure to cast these well-known characters, everybody’s chemistry together is equally as important. Was there a moment where you realized that was working?

APA: Yeah, as soon as we all started working together, we all got along. All of us are really, really great friends. I think we’re really lucky, in that regard, because you hear that some casts don’t get along that well, at all. But, we’re all really tight. I think we’re really lucky to be working on this show. The adults on this show are also really helpful. It’s just been an honor to work with Luke [Perry]. We’re all really blessed to have him on the show. I know I’m learning a lot from him.

 

REINHART: When we all got to Vancouver and first started hanging out, it was immediate closeness. We all immediately felt connected to one another. I live with Madelaine [Petsch], who plays Cheryl. You can’t fake the closeness that we have. We’re so lucky to have that because not a lot of people have that with their castmates. I get to work with my best friends, every single day. While we were filming the pilot, we were like, “No matter what happens with this show, we’re all going to be friends, for a really long time.”

What’s it like to be a part of bringing these iconic comic book characters to life, but in a very modern way?

APA: It’s a massive responsibility to play such an iconic character, and I see it as a responsibility because I need to protect and maintain the standard. I want to make this the best Archie that we can, for 2017.

SPROUSE: There’s a lot more depth to these characters now, and I really enjoy that. I know, inherently, that we’re going to have some people that pull against that, but I think that’s good, too. We should piss some people off, and we should make some people happy. That’s how this thing should be. I would be much more upset, if people were like, “Yeah, it’s good.” I want people to go, “No!!!” and “Yes!!!”

This show is so much more than a teen drama. Do you feel the same way?

SPROUSE: We had originally called this show a teen drama, but we had such a great response to the adult narratives that it felt inappropriate to call it that anymore. Even the word teen drama makes it sound like it’s problems that are less than adult, and because we had these adult narratives that were really resonating with our control groups, we had to remove that description from the show. The parents have great storylines, and they echo their kids’ storylines. They echo each other in shades of gravity and intensity, which is pretty neat.

K.J., you get to play with so many elements for this character. What’s it like to also have the musical aspect to him?

APA: The music is great. The music is really fun to play around with. When I have downtime, music is a big part of my life. Not so much singing, but I play the guitar. It’s good to step out of your comfort zone, every now and again, with the singing part. I know I’m lucky to be able to play around with the music, and the football stuff. It’s cool.

Along with the comic book aspects of this show, and the music and sports elements to this character, you also have the relationship between Archie and Miss Grundy. What’s that like to play?

APA: It’s funny, with the Miss Grundy relationship, the same thing happened to me with the soap opera that I was on, back home. My character was seeing his P.E. teacher, so it was weird to be doing it again. It was bizarre. I’ve definitely been there before, in the fake world.

Do you see Archie as somebody who’s just not found himself yet?

APA: Yes, and I think that’s what makes him so relatable. As I read the scripts, I’m realizing that he’s just a kid who’s trying to find his passion and trying to find what he’s good at. He makes mistakes and learns from them, through trial and error. I think we all go through that, at some stage in our lives, especially in high school where we have all these different opportunities. I had that, as well. I wanted to play rugby. My dad wanted me to play rugby. Fred wants Archie to play rugby. It caused a little bit of conflict because I couldn’t play rugby, if I was acting ‘cause I couldn’t get injured. In high school, you’re thrown into heaps of different directions and you’re not quite sure what to do. I think Archie is the perfect example of there not being a right or wrong thing. You’ve gotta follow your gut and what you’re good at, and Archie follows his gut.

Cole, this show has a definite element of sexuality to it. Will we see any of that with Jughead?

SPROUSE: Oh, yeah, you will. Our show, compared to some of the other shows, like Gossip Girl, is not nearly as sexual, but it’s there. Jughead was announced as asexual in the comics, the same day I got the part. In this current season, that’s not explored. But, sexuality plays a big role in this because sexuality plays an ever-present role in both adult and teen relations. It’s present between Betty and Veronica, Archie, Kevin, Reggie, and Jughead. Because it’s such a fundamental part of how we interact with the world around us, it has to be a part of a show like this. This is a show about kids’ lives and adults’ lives. If sexuality is not a part of that, then you’re ignoring one of the crucial elements to our existence. It’s deeply intertwined. It’s not just the cherry on top, or a little salt and pepper. It’s very much part of the dish, and it’s one of the reasons things are getting complicated.

What does Archie see in both Betty and Veronica? What is it in those two women that draws him to them?

APA: Archie and Betty are best friends, maybe even more so than he is with Jughead. There’s a big history behind them. They’ve been neighbors for as long as they can remember. They’ve been in the same class together. They’ve been best friends for a long time, just not on that kind of intimate level that Betty was searching for in the pilot. Archie loves Betty, and Betty loves Archie. Who knows what could have happened, if he wasn’t approached by the dark-haired Veronica. But they are so different, and he’s attracted to both of them. That triangle is always going to be a part of the show, just like it is in the comics. There’s something there that’s not just going to dissipate or disappear. He will make a decision. You’ll see him go one way with it, while still having an attachment to the other side.

Where is the Archie and Jughead friendship at, right now?

APA: It’s definitely something that people aren’t going to be used to. People are used to them being best mates. In the comics, they’re friends just because. They’re so different, and they’re friends just because they’re friends, but for no apparent reason. But in the pilot, you see us have our first moment together, and you immediately see that something has happened. I think that really gives us somewhere to go with it. From an acting point of view, there’s somewhere to go with it. The conflict makes it more interesting. I think it’s a lot more interesting than us just being best mates. And we are still best mates. A best mate is someone who tells you, “You shouldn’t be doing that.” That is more the brotherly relationship that we have. We’re more family than we are mates.

SPROUSE: In the beginning, we’re just old friends that didn’t really work out anymore. But over time, and especially with the world shaking and cracking around them, Archie and Jughead realize that, even if they’re at odds with one another, they have to be friends because they’re the only ones they can really trust. Archie ends up helping Jughead quite a bit, in the later episodes, and Jughead ends up helping Archie, in return. If things go wrong, they’ve got each other’s backs. My closest friends are the ones who tell me that I’m being dumb or that I’m being wrong. That’s a more important role for Archie and Jughead, in this. He’s like, “Hey, Archie, you messed up, man. You’ve gotta take a step back. I’m not gonna be okay with you doing the wrong thing again.” And that’s real. That’s how it really works.

Cole, how much are we going to learn about Jughead?

SPROUSE: A lot. From the end of Episode 4 on, you get to know Jughead. In this, Jughead is like the old friend you had that you might have lost contact with, but within that period that you lost contact, shit just went wrong. He’s a puppet who’s being held by strings and he’s really trying to hold himself above it. He has a really strong moral fiber, lets very few people in, and has a profound nostalgia and respect for a once golden version of himself, his life and the town. I think he just wants to be loved, very, very bad. You also get to explore him and his father’s relationship, which is super cool. Skeet Ulrich is the man. It’s great.

K.J., what’s it like to have Luke Perry playing your dad?

APA: Honestly, it’s amazing! I never want to take it for granted. I’m learning a lot from him, in just my own personal life. He gives me advice on set, to save a shot or to help a camera guy out. He’s a legend.

What can you say about the relationship between Archie and Fred Andrews?

APA: They don’t see eye to eye, but who really does see eye to eye with their dad, at this age, especially for a young man. You’re never best mates with your dad, growing up. I feel like Fred maybe wants security for Archie. He wants him to follow the business, so that he’s okay. He wants him to make money when he’s older. Just dropping everything and following music is a foreign concept to him. It’s not that he doesn’t believe in Archie. He’s just worried about the consequences of what could happen, and failing to do that. But as it progresses, he begins to understand more about Archie’s decision to follow his passion, which is music.

Lili, what can we expect to see from the relationship Betty has with her mother?

REINHART: Working with Madchen [Amick] is amazing. I love having scenes with her. Her and I are very similar, in a personal way. We share a lot of the same opinions and we get along really well. I think that helps with the mother-daughter relationship. Even though technically Betty and Alice don’t get along, you can see that there’s a connection. Alice is terrified of Betty becoming a loose canon and going off the rails. Alice was a troubled child and did a lot of bad things, and she does not want that to happen for her daughters. Betty is dealing with some mental health issues, like anxiety and self-harm, and Alice is trying to not even acknowledge that situation and just keeps hounding her with, “You have to be perfect! You have to be this perfect girl!” Betty is under a lot of pressure from Alice to perform a certain way, and that can break someone. That causes a distrust between Betty and Alice. Throughout the season, Betty learns to stand up to her mom and not deal with her mom’s bullshit, but Alice is still very manipulative and very, very controlling. Betty has to navigate that, throughout the show, and hide things from her mom. She can’t really trust her own mother, which is sad.

Camila, what does Veronica think of Riverdale?

MENDES: She’s the new girl. She comes from a very different background than all of these people. That being said, I don’t think she’s trying to be anything that she’s not. She’s still the same New York girl that she was, but a softer, nicer version. She’s not trying to hide who she is. She’s very comfortable being herself. She shows up and is really eager to sink her teeth into this town and find her place in it.

Does she find a good balance between who she was before and who she’d rather be?

MENDES: I wouldn’t even say it’s a balance. It’s a constant push-and-pull. I don’t think anyone ever finds that perfect area. Veronica always responds to situations with intensity and she really feels things, 100%. She doesn’t hold back. There are no restrictions with her.

What draws Veronica to Betty, especially since she’s probably not somebody she would have been friends with before coming to Riverdale?

MENDES: I think she sees insight, intelligence and determination in Betty. There are so many things to admire Betty for. What angers Veronica about it is that she’s like, “Betty, you could run shit, but instead, you’re letting people run you. I know you’re stronger than that. I can see that in you already.” Veronica is the only person that can make that kind of judgement because she’s the only new person who can come into this world and see it for what it is. When she sees Betty, she’s like, “No, there’s something wrong about this. You shouldn’t be this person, right now. You should be stronger.” I think Veronica wants to be a better person and she wants to be a more giving and selfless person. Betty isn’t a project, but it’s a nice point of pursuit for Veronica.

Are you surprised at how quickly people started rooting for Betty and Veronica to get together?

MENDES: I’m actually not very surprised. I feel like there’s a lot of erotic fan fiction out there, that people have done for Archie Comics. It’s expected, but we’re friends. There’s that one moment in the pilot, but that’s about it.

REINHART: For some reason, it’s a fan fiction fantasy that people want Betty and Veronica to be romantically involved, but that wouldn’t work in our version of the show. The reality of it is that there’s no romance between those two characters, as much as people would love that to happen and I would have no problem with that. It’s just that that’s not our universe. I get it. Betty and Veronica kissed in the first episode, and I think that’s what sparked a lot of the excitement, but in Season 1, they are not romantically involved. In Episode 2, Veronica says, “I feel like we’re just destined to be best friends.” That’s what it is. When you meet your best friend, in real life, or you meet your soulmate, you just know it and you feel it. You can be completely different in every aspect, but two people can be pulled together, and I think that’s the case with Betty and Veronica. Once they got to know each other, Betty saw Veronica’s vulnerable side, and Veronica saw just how sweet and forgiving Betty is. It’s a match made in heaven, but not in a romantic way.

What’s it like to get to play and explore the Betty-Veronica friendship?

MENDES: It’s amazing! It’s the heart of the show. They need each other. They balance each other out. They’re the yin and yang of friendships. We had two weeks of getting to know each other before we started shooting, and we hit it off immediately. This cast genuinely gets along so well. It almost feels like we’re our own little Riverdale gang. We all hang out, constantly. We all parallel our own characters. We really relate to them. Our dynamics end up playing out similarly, in real life, as well. It’s crazy! We’re a family already. Also, because most of us are pretty new to the industry and this is a very new experience for all of us, except for maybe Cole [Sprouse] and K.J. [Apa], we all have each other’s backs and we’re all exploring this new journey together. It’s really nice.

Is it important to you that Archie not come between their friendship?

REINHART: Yes! It was important to us that Archie did not come between these girls. He does for a second, but the main goal of our show – and Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa] talked about it beforehand – is that Archie is not going to stand between a friendship between these two girls who are destined to be best friends. They are classic frenemies, but on our show, they’re just friends. They just love and care about each other. Betty has a different love interest in the show. She comes to terms pretty fast with the fact that Archie doesn’t see her in a romantic way. She gets it and can’t be mad at him for not feeling a certain way about her. And she can’t get mad at Veronica for wanting to be with Archie ‘cause she gets how great of a guy he is. Veronica wasn’t intentionally trying to hurt Betty.

MENDES: Of course! That stuff happens in life, where a guy will get between friends, but we got over it very quickly. We’re not going to linger on that relationship forever, or pine after Archie forever. There’s some confusion over Archie, but it’s solved in Episode 2, and we move on. That ability to move on makes it a positive friendship, rather than lingering on the negative. And it’s going to come back up. They wanted to delay the love triangle a bit. That is one of the iconic relationships in Archie Comics, so once we go there, we have to go there. We wanted to set up some backstory and a little bit of the storyline prior to that, so that we can establish the world and the characters, and then get into the love triangle later.

Camila, what is the appeal of Archie for Veronica?

MENDES: Archie is undeniably attractive, and not just physically. He’s like Peter Pan, in a way. He’s a boy who’s always indecisive and clueless, and trying to find his passion and place in the world. Because he wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s very lost, a lot of the female characters want to help him. They love that about him. He’s not trying to be anything that he’s not. He’s very much himself, just like Fred Andrews is. That’s why you love that family. They just are so effortlessly themselves.

Lili, does Betty know just how much Archie is going through?

REINHART: Betty is very aware of how much shit Archie is going through. She takes everything with a grain of salt, or she tries to. Sometimes she has a hard time accepting his actions with Miss Grundy. He’s a confused teenage boy. He doesn’t know what he wants, romantically or for his future. He’s just lost. She has sympathy for him, but she’s trying to protect him. At the end of the day, she doesn’t want him to get hurt or wrapped up in something dangerous. I think her opinion of him, as a person, doesn’t change, but her opinion of him, as a romantic figure in her life, changes. She grew up with him as a best friend, and when you grow up with a guy as a best friend when you’re a girl, it’s hard not to see yourselves becoming romantically involved. You’re like, “We’ve been best friends. Why don’t we just be together?” That’s what she thought. Maybe she wasn’t really in love with him. Maybe she just thought she was because it felt like the right thing to do. It wasn’t easy, but it was easier than you would think for her to get over the fact that they shouldn’t be together, romantically. She just had an idea in her head of the perfect couple that was Betty and Archie, but in reality, it wasn’t there and it wouldn’t have been as good.

When you do a show like this, that has a murder mystery element to it, do you find yourself trying to solve the mystery?

APA: Honestly, every time you read a script, your opinion changes. It messes with your mind. You’re trying to find out who it is, but then the next script comes out and you’re like, “No, it can’t be that because now this has happened.” I’ve got no clue. I’d like it to be Jughead, but I don’t think it’s going to be him. I think it’s going to be a big surprise. I think I’ll be really surprised by it. I can’t wait to find out.

REINHART: I don’t know who did it, and every time I think I know someone who did it, the next script comes out and it changes. We’ll find out soon and I’ll finally know. We all have guesses, but our minds have changed a million times.

MENDES: Oh, my gosh, we all sit there in our trailers, trying to figure it out. And every time we land on something, we’re like, “No, but it couldn’t be that person! Would they really do that to that character and sacrifice that character?!” I’m really excited to see how they do it. I want to see if I’m going to be surprised, or if I’m going to be like, “I knew it!”

SPROUSE: Yeah, and they don’t tell us anything about who to suspect. And we’re filming many different endings to Episode 12, as an attempt to confound everyone even further. We are all deeply invested in discovering who is going to be the actual chosen killer. We’re all very invested, at this point. We’ve spent so much of our lives filming this now that I’m like, “Tell me!” I, personally, want it to be Jughead. That would be great! Then, the narration becomes this meta discussion, where the audience is more involved than the kids and parents in the show, which is super interesting and weird. It would feel like you’re being let in on a dirty secret, or something.

Riverdale airs on Thursday nights on The CW.