Lucy Hale is The CW's Katy Keene

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Lucy Hale is returning to The CW in a huge way. 

The Life Sentence and Pretty Little Liars star has copped the lead role of Katy Keene in the in-the-works Riverdale spinoff. 

Lucy Hale Photo Op

According to the official logline, the series “follows the lives and loves of four iconic Archie Comics characters — including fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene — as they chase their twenty-something dreams in New York City. "

"This musical dramedy chronicles the origins and struggles of four aspiring artists trying to make it on Broadway, on the runway and in the recording studio.”

Related: Riverdale Spinoff Among Pilot Orders at The CW

Katy is described as “bold, big hearted and independent, Katy Keene is a twenty-something New Yorker who aspires to be a fashion designer."

"When she’s not working as a personal shopper at a luxury department store, she’s navigating friendship and dating in the big city.”

Lucy Hale Photo

Hale is no stranger to the small screen, but she is best known for her role as Aria Montgomery on Freeform's Pretty Little Liars. 

Hale appeared on all seven seasons of the series, but will not be a part of the show's forthcoming spinoff, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists which launches later this month. 

Hale returned to The CW last year with one-and-done Life Sentence which failed to hit the network's demo sweet spot. 

As previously reported, Riverdale's Ashleigh Murray is also part of the cast of the spinoff. She will be playing an older and wiser version of Josie McCoy. 

Ashleigh Murray Attends POPSUGAR Event

If the project gets the green light from The CW, then Murray would be departing Riverdale. One of the biggest issues Riverdale has is serving all the characters. 

Related: Ashleigh Murray Joins Riverdale Spinoff

Murray is woefully underutilized, so hopefully, this new show would give her character more time to shine. 

Given that Katy Keene is set several years after Riverdale, there will be no backdoor pilot, so the series will have to impress CW execs to land a slot on the 2019-20 TV schedule. 

What are your thoughts on this casting news?

Hit the comments below.

Remember you can watch Pretty Little Liars online and Riverdale online right here via TV Fanatic. 

Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.

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Riverdale Quotes

Alice: These diaries are your past, and your past is crushing you. Edgar says that...
Betty: What, Mom? What does some guru who’s running a heaven’s gate commune for pregnant runaways and wives of serial killers have to say about my diaries?
Alice: We know that you look down on the Farm, Betty. But, Edgar has done nothing but help me. He’s encouraged me to embrace everything that I was ashamed of and become the best version of myself.

Veronica: What's happening out there? Do we know? Is it about me?
Jughead: I have a strong inkling, and no. Also, I'd let it go.
Veronica: Yes, but you're you and I'm me. You do you, girl. I'll be back.
[She leaves]
Kevin: What was it like before she got here? I honestly cannot remember.