According to Deadline, Viet Nguye and Oanh Ly are creating a new Archie Comics series for The CW based on the character Jake Chang. Since its debut on The CW in 2017, Riverdale has been a huge success. Even though the well-liked Archie Comics universe-based sitcom is coming to an end with its upcoming seventh season, it appears that the network is ready to continue telling stories in this setting.
The fact that Jake Chang hasn’t appeared in any comic books yet makes him extra intriguing. On July 26, he will appear for the first time in an Archie Comics story featuring Betty and Veronica called “Mystery of the Missing Mermaid.” Although the character has only been teased in sketches so far, the series synopsis is as follows, “Jake Chang is an Asian-American–led mystery following a 16-year-old private investigator as he navigates the racially and socioeconomically diverse worlds of his ever-gentrifying home of Chinatown, and the elite private high school he attends. The show will blend soapy teen drama with the neon noir aesthetic, all while flipping nearly every Asian stereotype—honor, martial arts, destiny, lineage, parental sacrifice—on its head.”
Nguyen will serve as the series’ director, and Ly will pen the scripts. With four seasons of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina under their belts, they have both previously contributed much to the Archie universe, so this is extremely appropriate. The dark comedy, frightening images, entertaining characters, and trademark Archie charm that fans have come to adore from this sparkling comic universe were all expertly blended in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
As a result, Jake Chang has highly promising potential. Additionally, Jon Goldwater of Archie Studios and Ly and Nguyen will serve as the series’ executive producers. Through 3AD, the series will also include producers Daniel Dae Kim and John Cheng.
Both Ly and Nguyen shared their enthusiasm for the series, adding, “We are so proud and honored to be a part of this new wave of Asian-American content created by and starring Asian-Americans.” They added, “The world of Jake Chang is vast, compelling, and a whole lot of fun. And just like our rascally teen detective, we’re going to lean into the ‘F U’ of the original ‘Fu Chang’ IP and delightfully destroy all familiar tropes and tell a unique Asian-American story.”