{"id":36045,"date":"2023-08-22T18:24:46","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T16:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1877269"},"modified":"2023-08-23T00:49:57","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T22:49:57","slug":"why-wont-there-be-a-riverdale-season-8","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/why-wont-there-be-a-riverdale-season-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Why won\u2019t there be a Riverdale season 8?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The divisive drama comes to an end with the final episode of its seventh run this week. <\/p>

By Patrick Cremona\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 22 August 2023 at 16:24 PM<\/p>

\n\n

After seven seasons, divisive drama Riverdale<\/a> comes to an end this week \u2013 with the last ever episode arriving on Netflix<\/a> for UK viewers on Thursday 24th August, the day after its US premiere.<\/p>\n

The show has gone through many phases since its debut run was released to mostly positive reviews back in 2017, often embracing rather bizarre plot developments and time jumps.<\/p>\n

And while the initial enthusiasm from critics might have gradually morphed into bewilderment over the years, it has retained a cult following for the duration of its run.<\/p>\n

But now, even the show\u2019s most diehard fans will have to say their goodbyes to Archie (KJ Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes), Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and co, with season seven having been confirmed as the end of the road.<\/p>\n

So what are the reasons for the show\u2019s ending? And is there a chance for any spin-offs? Read on for everything you need to know.<\/p>

Why there won\u2019t be a Riverdale season 8?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Jughead,\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jughead, Betty and Archie in Riverdale.<\/span><\/figcaption> Warner Bros\/The CW<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A number of factors contributed to the decision not to renew Riverdale beyond the seventh run \u2013 but perhaps the most obvious reason is the sharp decline in ratings in recent seasons.<\/p>\n

In the US, there was a mammoth 45% drop-off in viewership figures between seasons five and six, which came after a steady decline from the show\u2019s peak of popularity in season 2.<\/p>\n

Rather than cancelling the show right away after that sharp fall, the CW opted to give Riverdale a seventh run that would allow it to wrap up as many loose ends as possible and reach a natural conclusion.<\/p>\n

At the time this was announced<\/a> in May 2022, then-network president Mark Pedowitz said he was \u201ca big believer in attempting to give series that have had long runs appropriate sendoffs\u201d and added that showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa was \u201cthrilled\u201d the series would get the chance to \u201cgo out the right way\u201d.<\/p>\n

He added that the creative team behind the show also \u201cfelt that seven years is the right amount\u201d.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in an interview with Digital Spy<\/a> last year, Aguirre-Sacasa explained that while the end of the show was \u201cbittersweet\u201d, the team behind it \u201cwere all anticipating it, we thought that seven would be it\u201d.<\/p>\n

Will there be any more Riverdale spin-offs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

During its run, Riverdale established itself as part of a shared universe on the CW, thanks to a crossover with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and the short-lived spin-off series Katie Keene, which ran for one season in 2020.<\/p>\n

There were also plans for a further spin-off focusing on another Archie Comics character \u2013 16-year-old private investigator Jake Chang \u2013 but The CW\u2019s new president Brad Schwartz revealed in May 2023 that the project had been shelved.<\/p>\n

As of yet there are no further projects in the pipeline, so it looks like this really is it for the Archieverse for the time being, although that\u2019s not to say it might not be continued at some point in the future.<\/p>