It’s almost time to bid farewell toRiverdale.
As the popular teen drama winds down after more than 100 episodes, it’s returning to its roots — and PEOPLE has the exclusive First Look.
KJ Apa(Archie Andrews),Lili Reinhart(Betty Cooper),Camila Mendes(Veronica Lodge),Cole Sprouse(Jughead Jones),Madelaine Petsch(Cheryl Blossom),Casey Cott(Kevin Keller),Charles Melton(Reggie Mantle),Vanessa Morgan(Toni Topaz),Erinn Westbrook(Tabitha Tate) andDrew Ray Tanner(Fangs Fogarty) are all back for the show’s twisty seventh and final season, which premieres March 29.
Michael Courtney/The CW
The final season will pick up after Archie and the gang survived a comet in the season 6 finale — but everything instantly changes as the crew finds themselves in the 1950s… and back in high school.
In the first trailer, Jughead appears to be the only one who realizes they’re all in the wrong era. “We were all sent back in time,” Jughead says. “We need to get back.”
Bettina Strauss/The CW
Jughead proves unsuccessful in his attempts to sway the group, who would much rather focus on navigating their junior year.
“Jughead, we’re juniors in high school. Life’s good,” Archie says. “Why would we want to go back? … We are not from the future!”
Justine Yeung/The CW
Things appear to be very “different” in Riverdale, with a slew of unexpected romantic pairings that include Jughead and Veronica, Betty and Kevin (who unsurprisingly has eyes for another male student), and Archie and Cheryl — who are about to make their way down the aisle.
Sexuality and darkness have been ever-present themes throughout the series, and season 7 is no exception.
In fact, the trailer teases a possible “orgy” and a bloody “terrible” situation, as well as many other “sorts of things [that] don’t happen in Riverdale.”
“Trust me,” Veronica says. “Nothing is ever going to be the same again.”
The network revealed in May 2022 thatseason 7 would beRiverdale’s last. At the time, perThe Hollywood Reporter, The CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz told reporters: “I’m a big believer in giving series that have long runs an appropriate sendoff. We want to make sure it goes out the right way.”
Teasing what’s to come in the final season, Petsch shared that the show will be “shaking things up.”
“This season is very grounded and focused around relationships,“she toldVariety. “You’re really getting what made the show so special in season 1, which was the relationships in the town. This season is more pared down with the craziness, but there are some bizarre things happening.”
Petsch also teased, “Everyone is dating everyone.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Riverdalereturns for its final season March 29 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.
source: people.com