Posted in: CW, TV | Tagged: American Horror Story, bleeding cool, cable, katy keene, Maggie Kiley, Michael Grassi, riverdale, Robert Aguirre-Sacasa, ryan murphy, streaming, television, tv
CW's 'Katy Keene' Pilot Set "Years After Riverdale"; Maggie Kiley Directing
One week after the CW announced a pilot order for Katy Keene, the network is offering some more details on the Riverdale spinoff. Written and executive produced by "Riverdale-verse" mastermind Robert Aguirre-Sacasa and Michael Grassi, the musical dramedy's pilot will be directed by Maggie Kiley (American Horror Story: Cult, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina). Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Jon Goldwater will also executive produce; Berlanti Productions (CW's Batwoman) will serve as the studio, in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Kiley was a member of Ryan Murphy's HALF program, and the first mentee to be assigned a television episode to direct. Along with American Horror Story: Cult, she collaborated with Ryan when she directed episodes of 9-1-1 and Scream Queens. Her television credits also include Insatiable, Impulse, Nightflyers, and Riverdale. An alum of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, her filmography includes the short film Some Boys Don't Leave and feature films Brightest Star, Dial a Prayer, and Caught.
Describing the spinoff as "very different from Riverdale," Aguirre-Sacasa's Katy Keene follows the lives and loves of four iconic Archie Comics characters — including fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene — 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.
Now what's interesting about that description is how it may or may not connect with an interview Aguirre-Sacasa gave to CBR back in January 2017. During the course of the converation, Aguirre-Sacasa was asked how he would like to see the "Riverdale-verse" grow as more characters are introduced and become popular with the viewers.
Aguirre-Sacasa made reference to the character in his answer with, "Katy Keene could pop up in Riverdale, or it could be a fashion show. I think the sky is the limit, really." But it was the rest of his answer that could prove very interesting:
"Once "Riverdale" runs its course, I think that you could do Betty and Veronica and Kevin move to New York and they're roommates. It could be like "Sex and the City" with Betty, and Veronica, and Kevin. The sky is the limit, but right now the focus is on making "Riverdale" the best show it can be, and be the be-all end-all."
As if the speculation fires weren't burning hot enough, CW President Mark Pedowitz had this to say about the series at this week's Television Critics Association (TCA) session: "Katy Keene actually takes place years after Riverdale, and if any of those characters were to come to Katy Keene, they'd come as their older selves."
Hmmm…so let's see:
● The description for the pilot released reads, "…follows the lives and loves of four iconic Archie Comics characters — including fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene" so that means 3 unnamed "iconic" characters.
● Aguirre-Sacasa's 2017 interview named Betty, Veronica, and Kevin – 3 Archie characters that would meet that "iconic Archie Comics characters" description.
● Pedowitz just explained how characters from Riverdale could potentially be on Katy Keene.
So do Aguirre-Sacasa's "future" plans for Katy Keene ease concerns – or is Riverdale in for some major changes?