Interesting news from Riverdale today – hot on the heels of announcing screenwriter/playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Glee, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Carrie, American Psycho [the musical]) as their new Chief Creative Officer, we get the news that Lena Dunham of Girls fame will actually be writing a four-part Archie Comics story as his first official move with the company.
Lest you think that sounds crazy, Dunham explains that she loves Riverdale. “I was an avid Archie collector as a child — conventions, first editions that l kept in plastic sleeves, the whole shebang. It has so much cultural significance but also so much personal significance, and to get to play with these beloved characters is a wild creative opportunity.”
If you’re expecting something sanitized, it’s also worth noting that Archie Comics are currently doing a true horror zombie story out of their usual wheelhouse with Afterlife With Archie, which is getting a lot of buzz. There’s every possibility this could be as edgy and hilarious as Girls is.
“When we found out Lena was a fan, the first thing I did was call Roberto,” said Archie Comics Publisher and CEO Jon Goldwater. “And he said, instantly, ‘Let’s try to make this happen!’ And here we are. It’s been a magical confluence of events, and it further cemented why Roberto is the ideal person for the CCO role, and why this is the next logical step in Archie’s evolution as a real pop culture company — a place where the strongest, most unique voices can come and contribute to Archie’s world. The best part is — we’re just getting started.”
“Everyone at Archie is thrilled Lena’s coming aboard to write this story, and I can tell you, it’s going to be fantastic,” said Aguirre-Sacasa. “Lena’s take on the Archie gang is funny and real and contemporary. It’s a stunning fit, and I know fans will be excited to read it. I am!”
Dunham’s Archie story won’t be out until 2015, given her busy schedule, but that’s a pretty stunning announcement. What do you think of it?
