Zoya Akhtar’s Archies Film Has Wrapped Filming, Netflix Confirms

The Archies, the upcoming Netflix musical drama from director Zoya Akhtar (Gully Boy), has wrapped filming. Set in the 1960s, the globally acclaimed Archie Comics adaptation adds a uniquely Indian twist to it, creating a bubbling musical experience of “youth, rebellion, friendships, first loves and all things young adults”. Akhtar co-wrote the script with Ayesha Devitre (Gehraiyaan) and Reema Kagti – the latter also co-wrote Gully boy with Akhtar. Filming for The Archies began in April this year, and there is currently no release window. The film is co-produced under Akhtar’s Tiger Baby and Sharad Devarajan’s Graphics India banner.

The initial announcement of Netflix’s The Archies drew a polarizing reaction, as the characters featured in the cast showcase seemed too Western, for what it’s trying to portray – 1960s India. In a later interview, which starred Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater, Akhtar addressed those feelings, stating that the adaptation is set in the Anglo-Indian community. “It’s in a magical, fictional hill station in our country, and I mean, the town is called Riverdale, it’s fictional,” she said. For Goldwater, it would be his third Archie universe set project being transformed into a Netflix adaptation, following Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Netflix’s The Archies stars Agastya Nanda as the titular redhead Archie Andrews, Suhana Khan as the pompous Veronica Lodge, Khushi Kapoor as the kind-hearted Betty, Mihir Ahuja as the hulking, greedy Jughead. Appetite (he wears a flat cap instead of the whoopee cap character’s trademark), Dot, Yuvraj Menda, and Vedang Raina. Frequent collaborator of Akhtar, Ankur Tiwari is the musical supervisor of The Archies.

Earlier this year, Zoya and her brother, actor Farhan Akhtar (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag), reunited to produce Eternally Confused and Eager to Love, a comedy-drama starring Vihaan Samrat, which followed a young adult navigating through adulthood, under the guidance of his inner voice “Wiz”. Created, written and directed by newbie Rahul Nair, all eight episodes of the series are now streaming on Netflix.

As of now, there is no release window for Netflix’s The Archies.