In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Riverdale’s creator promised to pay tribute to Luke Perry after the actor’s unexpected death. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa also revealed how the cast and crew are handling the untimely death and how the show will move on after the loss.
Perry, who played Archie’s father Fred Andrews, suffered a massive stroke and passed away on March 4. In the interview, Aguirre-Sacasa opened up about how everyone on Riverdale is handling everything.
“Honestly, we are, I think, all still in shock and are all still processing and grieving,” Aguirre-Sacasa told ET. After Perry’s death, Riverdale’s production was reportedly shut down, and the cast and crew also received counseling services. “We know that we have to address it in some way, but we’re giving ourselves a little bit of time and space before we figure out the best way to honor him,” he continued.
According to Bustle, there are still no concrete plans on how the show will continue without Perry. But Aguirre-Sacasa told ET that they plan to honor the actor and that the show wouldn’t be the same without him.
The creator of #Riverdale is speaking out for the first time since the heartbreaking death of Luke Perry.
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) March 18, 2019
“Luke was, is, and will always be a big part of Riverdale,” he said. “We’re kind of a family and when a loss like this happens, you carry it always. It changes and it hopefully becomes a little less painful as time goes by, but you’re changed.”
The creator also said he and the crew are “glad” to air Perry’s remaining episodes, but they are more determined to honor his legacy.
“His spirit, which was so generous and wise and vivacious, we hope will infuse every episode,” Aguirre-Sacasa said. “So in my mind, every episode for the rest of time on Riverdale will have a bit of Luke in it.”
Aguirre Sacasa shared a similar sentiment via Twitter on March 6, saying, “Going through pictures on my way to set. From the early days. With Luke in the middle.” He continued, “Out heart, always. Tonight’s episode of #Riverdale finds Fred doing what he does best-helping Archie. It is dedicated to Luke, as all episodes will be for the rest of our run.” At the end of the episode, the show shared a memoriam card for Perry on the screen. Since, the show has aired three more episodes.