KJ Apa complains that working in Riverdale is like being ‘in prison’

KJ Apa had some harsh words about his CW Riverdale series in a new interview in which he said that working on the series was like being ‘in prison’.

The 23-year-old New Zealand actor opened for Interview Magazine in a conversation with his Songbird co-star Demi Moore, which was published earlier this week.

He spoke to the 58-year-old Ghost star about the seemingly oppressive rules on the Riverdale set, which is inspired by the classic comic book series Archie.

The two stars on the screen opened the interview with a discussion about the film Songbird, which takes place in 2024, when the new coronavirus turns into Covid-23, a more contagious and deadly strain that forces most of the world’s population to stay in home perpetually.

According to Apa, the film was an invigorating change of pace in relation to its teen crime series.

“I felt so free coming from a program that I feel stuck most of the time,” he said. “There are so many restrictions on what I can and cannot do.”

He continued: ‘With that [Songbird] character, it was like, “Wow, this is how to really express myself in a natural way.” I was not covered in makeup or hair products. I had long hair and a beard. I just felt free. ‘

Apa is best known for his Riverdale look, in which his character Archie Andrews has red-orange hair and usually sports a clean-shaven face.

He departed significantly from that Songbird look, where his character has a thick beard and he wore his natural brown hair in a disheveled pandemic hairstyle.

Lest he be accused of being ungrateful for his ostentatious career role, the TV star was quick to add that he was “very grateful for the program and its success”, but also complained about the “pressure” that comes with playing a beloved character.

‘There has been a lot of pressure to play Archie. I am very grateful for the show and its success, but at the same time, there is a lot of baggage that comes with this success, ‘he told Moore. “I feel like the only people I can talk to about my problems are my co-stars, the people who can really relate to me.”

He highlighted Cole Sprouse, who plays Jughead Jones, as a useful presence because of his experience in the film and television industry, since his work as a child with his twin brother Dylan Sprouse.

He also complained about being judged for his personal attitudes by fans who can’t always separate him from his character.

‘There are times when I’m like,’ Wow, they really have no idea that we are real people. They cannot separate us from our characters, ”he said.

– You don’t have that in other professions. You don’t dissect a builder’s life and start judging the decisions he makes in your life with his wife and children.

‘As an actor, I will be judged for everything: my political opinions, my opinions about drugs, my opinions about the people I want to be with. Everything. It’s something I had to accept, ‘he added.

Apa and Moore found common ground during the conversation, realizing that the two started in the soap operas, with the Riverdale star working on Shortland Street, while Moore appeared at General Hospital.

She revealed that she was inspired by Paris, Texan actress Nastassja Kinski, who was her friend and neighbor at the time.

Apa is not the only one to complain about Riverdale’s restrictive atmosphere, as his co-star Lili Reinhart already said he felt like a ‘prisoner’ when he returned to film the fifth season in Vancouver amid the pandemic.

‘I really feel like a prisoner, going back to work, because I can’t leave Canada. This is not good, ‘she said in a profile for Nylon.

‘You can’t go home on Thanksgiving, you can’t visit your family. No one can come to visit you unless you are in quarantine for two weeks. It looks f *** ed. ‘