‘Riverdale’ Star Vanessa Morgan To Return To The CW In ‘Wild Cards’ As Network Continues To Reestablish Originals

Vanessa Morgan is jumping from the recently-ended Riverdale and into a new series within The CW’s upcoming original dramas slate.

The Riverdale actor is now the star of the upcoming CW drama Wild Cards. Coming to the network in 2024, Wild Cards is a comedic-edged procedural featuring the partnership of a seasoned police officer and a con woman. According to the official description:

WILD CARDS, in partnership with CBC, is a crime-solving procedural with a comedic twist that follows the unlikely duo of a gruff, sardonic cop and a spirited, clever con woman. Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti, “Reign,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “From Scratch”), a demoted detective, has unfortunately spent the last year on the maritime unit, while Max (Vanessa Morgan, “Riverdale”) has been living a transient life elaborately scamming everyone she meets. But when Max gets arrested and ends up helping Ellis solve a local crime, the two are offered the opportunity to redeem themselves, with Ellis going back to detective and Max staying out of jail. The catch? They have to work together, with each using their unique skills to solve crimes. For Ellis, that means hard-boiled shoe leather police work; for Max, it means accents, schemes and generally befriending everyone in sight, while driving Ellis absolutely nuts. The two will have to learn what it means to trust another person and maybe actually become partners.

Wild Cards is produced by Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures for the CBC with executive producers including creator Michael Konyves, pilot director James Genn, Shawn Piller, Lloyd Segan and writers Alexandra Zarowny, James Thorpe, Noelle Carbone and Morwyn Brebner. Blink49 Studios’ Charles Cooper and Virginia Rankin with Executive Vice President of Global Scripted Carolyn Newman and Manager of Scripted Television Alix Steerman overseeing.

Along with Wild Cards coming to The CW, another drama, Sight Unseen, will also premiere on the network in 2024. Sight Unseen stars Dolly Lewis and Agam Darshi in a series about a detective (Lewis) who is forced to quit after nearly killing her partner and being diagnosed as clinically blind. Now armed with an assistance app, she connects with a professional seeing-eye guide who helps her solve crimes. The series is inspired by one of the series’ co-creator’s experiences with sight loss. Jarod Joseph, Daniel Gillies, Alice Christina-Corrigan and Tony Giroux also star. The series is produced in partnership with CTV along with Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures in association with Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions, led by series co-showrunners Karen and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy.

The creative and production teams for both series have incorporated “equity, diversity and inclusion principles as a top priority both in front of and behind the camera,” according to The CW. The network’s head of scripted programming, Liz Wise Lyall, said in a statement how both shows are positioned to attract a wide range of viewers.

“Wild Cards and Sight Unseen are two unique, binge-worthy shows that reflect The CW’s commitment to compelling, top-tier storytelling that will appeal to our loyal fans and attract a wide range of new viewers,” said Wise Lyall. “We are thrilled to collaborate with our partners at Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures, Piller/Segan [Wild Cards] and Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions [Sight Unseen] to bring these dynamic series to life and highlight just how expansive The CW brand can be.”

Wild Cards and Sight Unseen are The CW’s third and fourth original new series orders (sans international acquisitions) since being acquired by Nexstar. In May during upfronts, the network ordered Joan starring Sophie Turner and sequel series, The Librarians: The Next Chapter.