The Unbelievable Post-Riverdale Lives: 7 Cast Members’ Shocking New Projects And 2025 Net Worth Updates

The CW’s polarizing, pop-culture phenomenon *Riverdale* may have finally concluded its seven-season run, but the careers of its core cast are just beginning. With the final season wrapping up the bizarre, time-traveling, musical-infused saga in 2023, the actors have immediately transitioned into a slate of fresh, high-profile, and critically acclaimed projects, fundamentally changing their public perception from teen drama stars to serious Hollywood players. This article, updated in December 2025, dives deep into the latest career moves, personal life bombshells, and net worth updates that prove the "Archie Comics" crew is thriving.

The post-series landscape has seen a clear shift: some are leveraging their fame into new production roles, while others are chasing critical acclaim in indie and prestige films. From a major Golden Globe nomination to a surprise engagement and a return to the CW in a new capacity, the former residents of Riverdale are making headlines for all-new reasons, leaving behind the chaotic plotlines for real-world success and drama.

The Core Four and Beyond: Complete Biography and Profile List

The main cast of *Riverdale* has successfully navigated the transition from a long-running series, each securing roles that showcase their range and ambition. Here is a quick profile of the most prominent actors, detailing their origins and breakout roles.

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• KJ Apa (Archie Andrews)
  • Born: June 17, 1997, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Riverdale Role: Archie Andrews, the titular heartthrob.
  • Career Highlight: His breakout role was on the New Zealand soap opera *Shortland Street* before being cast in the worldwide search for Archie.
• Lili Reinhart (Betty Cooper)
  • Born: September 13, 1996, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
  • Riverdale Role: Betty Cooper, the girl-next-door turned investigative journalist.
  • Career Highlight: Known for her role as Betty, she also gained recognition for her performance in the film *Hustlers* (2019) and has since moved into production.
• Camila Mendes (Veronica Lodge)
  • Born: June 29, 1994, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
  • Riverdale Role: Veronica Lodge, the wealthy, sophisticated New Yorker.
  • Career Highlight: *Riverdale* was her breakout role immediately after graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She has since starred in films like *Do Revenge* and *Upgraded*.
• Cole Sprouse (Jughead Jones)
  • Born: August 4, 1992, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
  • Riverdale Role: Jughead Jones, the sardonic writer and narrator.
  • Career Highlight: Famous since childhood for *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody* and *Friends*, *Riverdale* marked his return to major acting roles after a hiatus for college.
• Charles Melton (Reggie Mantle)
  • Born: January 4, 1991, Juneau, Alaska, United States
  • Riverdale Role: Reggie Mantle, the resident jock (replacing Ross Butler in Season 2).
  • Career Highlight: Began his career as a fashion model. His performance in *May December* (2023) earned him widespread critical acclaim and major award nominations, marking a huge shift in his career trajectory.
• Madelaine Petsch (Cheryl Blossom)
  • Born: August 18, 1994, Port Orchard, Washington, United States
  • Riverdale Role: Cheryl Blossom, the HBIC of Riverdale High.
  • Career Highlight: Known for her acting and her highly successful YouTube channel, which has millions of subscribers.

The Post-Archie Era: Major New Projects and Critical Success (2024-2025)

The most compelling narrative emerging from the *Riverdale* alumni is their immediate and decisive pivot to diverse, high-quality projects. The goal is clearly to shake off the "teen drama" label, and for many, it's working.

Charles Melton: The Awards Darling

Perhaps the biggest success story is Charles Melton, who played Reggie Mantle. His performance in the 2023 drama film *May December*, alongside Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, became the talk of the 2024 awards season.

• Melton’s nuanced portrayal earned him a prestigious Gotham Award for Best Supporting Performance and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.
• This critical recognition has firmly established him as a serious dramatic actor, a massive leap from his role as the high school jock.

Camila Mendes: Engagements and Blockbusters

Camila Mendes (Veronica Lodge) has been busy in both her professional and personal life. In 2024, she starred in the romantic comedy *Upgraded* on Prime Video, which was a significant post-*Riverdale* lead role.

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• In a major career announcement, Mendes was cast as the iconic character Teela in the upcoming live-action film adaptation of Masters of the Universe, a significant step into the world of blockbuster fantasy.
• Personally, Mendes confirmed her engagement to musician and director Rudy Mancuso in late 2024/early 2025, having met while working on the film *Música*.

Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse: Producing and Genre Hopping

The actors behind "Bughead" have diversified their careers, with Lili Reinhart (Betty Cooper) moving behind the camera as a producer and Cole Sprouse (Jughead Jones) embracing new film genres.

• Lili Reinhart is producing and starring in the 2025 Mubi series Hal & Harper, a comedy-drama about co-dependent siblings, which she has called the "perfect project" for her post-Riverdale.
• Cole Sprouse has a packed film slate for 2024 and 2025, including the horror-comedy Lisa Frankenstein (2024), the drama I Wish You All the Best (2025), and the thriller The Rivals of Amziah King (2025).
• KJ Apa (Archie Andrews) is set to star in the Prime Video romance film The Map That Leads to You, continuing his work in the drama and romance genres.

The Cast’s Candid Confessions: On-Set Drama and Salary Rumors

While the actors are moving on, the legacy of *Riverdale*—and the drama surrounding its production—still follows them, often providing the most compelling LSI content for fans.

The "Bughead" and "Varchie" Relationship Dynamics

The off-screen relationships of the cast were often as talked about as the show's plot. Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse dated on-and-off, splitting in 2020. Similarly, Camila Mendes and Charles Melton also had a real-life relationship, which Mendes reflected on in 2024. These real-world pairings of the "Core Four" fueled fan speculation and media coverage for years.

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The Messy Script and Salary Speak

Post-series, several actors have been candid about the bizarre and often chaotic nature of the show. Cole Sprouse famously implied that the acting on the show was sometimes "bad" and admitted he hated certain lines, like the "I’m a weirdo" speech, which the cast and crew have since joked about.

• There were also rumors of significant on-set drama and "messy scripts" that the cast had to navigate.
• Lili Reinhart previously had to shut down rumors about her salary, specifically a claim that she made $300,000 per episode, though the core cast's net worth is substantial due to the show's long run.
• For context, Cole Sprouse’s net worth is estimated at approximately $8 million in 2024, a figure bolstered by his early career success on the Disney Channel.

The Other Stars: Vanessa Morgan and Casey Cott

Even the supporting cast is finding new homes on The CW and beyond.

• Vanessa Morgan, who played Toni Topaz, has already returned to The CW in a lead role on the new series Wild Cards, a procedural drama about a cop and a con woman.
• Casey Cott (Kevin Keller) continues to pursue stage and screen work, having been a consistent presence on *Riverdale* from its earliest days.

The journey of the *Riverdale* cast is a masterclass in post-series career management. By strategically selecting projects that showcase dramatic range (Melton), leading new franchises (Mendes), and moving into production (Reinhart), they are successfully shedding their CW personas. The latest updates from 2024 and 2025 confirm that the actors are not just moving on from *Riverdale*—they are moving up.