The CW Network has given an early renewal to its acclaimed freshman drama, Riverdale, for the 2017-18 season, it was announced today by Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW. On a competitive Thursday night, Riverdale posts tremendous ratings gains on a delayed viewing basis, particularly with its young skewing audience, growing 78% in adults 18-34 and 85% in women 18-34 in Live+7 day ratings over Live+Same Day. In the few weeks since its premiere, the buzzy drama has quickly become one of The CW's most streamed shows on the network's digital platforms, including The CW app and CWTV.com.

Based on the characters from Archie Comics, Riverdale is from Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, in association with Berlanti Productions, with executive producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Supergirl, Glee), Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC's Legends of Tomorrow), Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC's Legends of Tomorrow) and Jon Goldwater (Archie Comics). The Riverdale cast includes KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Sarah Habel as Ms. Grundy, Ross Butler as Reggie Mantle, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper, Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge, Shannon Purser as Ethel Muggs and Robin Givens as Mayor Sierra McCoy.

As a new school year begins, the town of Riverdale is reeling from the recent, tragic death of high school golden boy Jason Blossom - and nothing feels the same. Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) is still the all-American teen, but the summer's events made him realize that he wants to pursue a career in music, not follow in his dad's footsteps, despite the sudden end of his forbidden relationship with Riverdale's young music teacher, Ms. Grundy (Sarah Habel). Which means Archie doesn't have anyone who will mentor him, certainly not singer Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray), who is only focused on her band, the soon-to-be-world-famous Pussycats. It's all weighing heavily on Archie's mind, as is his fractured friendship with budding writer and fellow classmate Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse).

Meanwhile, girl-next-door Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) is anxious to see her crush Archie after being away all summer, but she's not quite ready to reveal her true feelings to him. And Betty's nerves - which are hardly soothed by her overbearing mother Alice (Mädchen Amick) aren't the only thing holding her back. When a new student, Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), arrives in town from New York with her mother Hermione (Marisol Nichols), there's an undeniable spark between her and Archie, even though Veronica doesn't want to risk her new friendship with Betty by making a play for Archie. And then there's Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch), Riverdale's Queen Bee is happy to stir up trouble amongst Archie, Betty, and Veronica, but Cheryl is keeping secrets of her own. What, exactly, is she hiding about the mysterious death of her twin brother, Jason? Riverdale may look like a quiet, sleepy town, but there are dangers in the shadows.

The supporting cast for The CW's Riverdale includes Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, Molly Ringwald as Mary Andrews, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Lochlyn Munro as Hal Cooper, Hayley Law as Valerie Brown, Asha Bromfield as Melody Valentine, Nathalie Boltt as Penelope Blossom, Ross Butler as Reggie Mantle, Cody Kearsley as Moose Mason, Caitlin Mitchell-Markovitch as Ginger Lopez, Tiera Skovbye as Polly Cooper and Olivia Ryan Stern as Tina Patel. No episode count has been released for this new season of Riverdale, and it hasn't been announced if the show will return for Season 2 in the fall, or if it will remain a mid-season series. Riverdale continues Thursday, March 9 with the seventh episode of its inaugural season.