A feature adaptation of the Archie comic books is in the works at Universal Pictures, with Spider-Verse franchise producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller at the helm.
Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) will pen the script for the untitled Archie movie, with plot details for the film remaining under wraps.
“We are longtime fans of Archie, Veronica, Betty and the gang in all of their iterations. When we heard Tom King’s take on the classic material, we instantly thought it made sense as an event movie for all audiences — both lifelong fans and a whole new generation. We’re so excited to bring these beloved characters to the big screen,” said Lord and Miller in a statement on Wednesday.
Emma Watts will produce the project after bringing it to Lord and Miller, the duo behind the Spider-Man: Spider-Verse movies and earlier 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie. Archie Comics CEO and publisher Jon Goldwater will also produce, while Universal Pictures’ Britt Hennemuth and Christine Sun will oversee the film project for the studio.
Archie Comics, over an 85-year history, has sold over three billion comics worldwide and retains a massive social media presence. The Archie gang debuted in 1941’s Pep Comics No. 22, and many of the publisher’s stories harken back to the idea of small-town Americana.
While historically Archie has not had sales that rival comic book giants Marvel and DC Comics, the property enjoys strong brand recognition thanks to decades of its comics being sold at grocery store checkout lines.
Lord Miller is represented by UTA and JSSK. Watts is represented by CAA.Archie Comics is represented by CAA. King is represented by UTA.