Comic book characters Archie Andrews and his friends are going to get an Indian film version on Netflix! The very renowned and acclaimed filmmaker Zoya Akhtar is all set to direct a “coming-of-age”, a live-action musical set in 1960s India based on the teenagers of Riverdale.
The feature film adaptation of the Archie comics has always been hugely popular on the Indian subcontinent. The live-action musical is all set to be produced by Zoya Akhtar herself and Reema Kagti for Tiger Baby and Sharad Devarajan for Graphic India.
Riverdale
As per sources, plans for an Indian adaptation of Archie comics have been in motion way back since 2018.
A few years back, Zoya Akhtar’s 2019 music-themed film “Gully Boy” was played at the Berlin Film Festival and was even India’s official entry for the Oscars. She has also directed segments of Netflix’s anthology films “Ghost Stories” (2020) and “Lust Stories” (2018).
Even the first season of the Amazon series “Made in Heaven “, created by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar was nominated at the International Emmys.
Additionally, Sharad Devarajan is also known for his Indian Superhero project “Chakra: The Invincible” in collaboration with none other than Stan Lee. A live-action adaptation of Lee’s “Monkey Master”, produced by John Woo is also in the works.
Zoya Akhtar went on to say, “I am super excited to have the chance to bring ‘The Archies’ to life. It was a large part of my childhood and teenage years. The characters are iconic and globally loved, which is also why I am a little nervous. I have to make sure the film stokes the nostalgia of a generation that grew up on the comic and yet resonates with the young adults today.”
Archie Comics CEO and Publisher Jon Goldwater also went on to add his valuable input and thoughts on the same by saying: “It’s a huge source of pride that the Archie Comics characters and stories resonate with fans globally, and especially in India, for more than 50 years. We are thrilled to partner with Netflix and trust Zoya Akhtar and her creative team to deliver a truly unique and exciting take on Archie and friends through the lens of Indian cinema. We know that these characters have global appeal and translating them into other settings and cultures is just the start of what we have planned for future multimedia adaptations.”
And even Pratiksha Rao, director, films and licensing of Netflix India went on to talk about the impact of the same on Netflix India at large by saying that, “The characters, adventures, and friendships in Archies have found fans across the world for generations. With Archie Comics, Graphic India, and Tiger Baby, we have an extraordinary opportunity to recreate the world of Archie comics, this time as a live-action musical. Zoya has an incredible and unique ability to make stories and the characters in them relatable, making them feel like they are an extension of our own self. We are thrilled to partner with her in bringing to life the world of Archies to fans and our members in India and around the world.”
The musical is set to star popular icon Shahrukh Khan’s daughter as well.
Frequently asked questions
Who directed the Indian film adaptation of the Archie comics?
Zoya Akhtar directed The Archies, a live-action musical adaptation of the Archie comics set in 1960s India, announced by Netflix in November 2021.
Which companies produced The Archies?
The film was produced by Tiger Baby, the banner run by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, together with Graphic India, whose founder Sharad Devarajan served as a producer, for Netflix.
What form does The Archies take on screen?
Rather than a straight comic transplant, it was developed as a coming-of-age live-action musical relocated to 1960s India, with the Riverdale teenagers reimagined for an Indian setting.
