![\"\u2018Riverdale\u2019](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/\u2018Riverdale-Cast-Then-and-Now-936.jpg?crop=162px%2C0px%2C1815px%2C1025px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>\u2018Riverdale\u2019 Cast: Then and Now<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tRiverdale is gearing up for its seventh and final season on The CW \u2014 but fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the series first debuted. In 2017, viewers were introduced to a group of friends who came together to uncover the dark secrets that exist within their town. Based on [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s one episode where we\u2019re filming and there\u2019s what was the actual Pop\u2019s [restaurant] in the background. They just changed the name to Nonna\u2019s. People might see that as the Easter egg,\u201d she teased to Us<\/em>. \u201cWe actually have Pop Tate [Alvin Sanders<\/strong>], who was the owner of Pop\u2019s, in one of our episodes. So yeah, definitely some Easter eggs in there where it definitely feels like the metaverse of Riverdale is all coming together.\u201d<\/p>\nBefore taking on the role of Max on Wild Cards<\/em>, Morgan played Toni Topaz on Riverdale<\/em>. The hit series, which was based on Archie Comics, ran for seven seasons and was known for its out-of-the-box plotlines<\/a>. Throughout the seasons, Toni found her place in Riverdale as a Serpent, a mother and a soulmate for Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch<\/strong>)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n![\"Vanessa](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Vanessa-Morgan-Teases-More-Riverdale-Easter-Eggs-on-Upcoming-Episodes-of-The-CWs-Wild-Cards-2.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>
\n (L \u2013 R): Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom and Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz in \u201cRiverdale.\u201d<\/span> Colin Bentley\/The CW<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMorgan didn\u2019t have a lot of time to say goodbye<\/a> to Toni before she started preparing to bring a new character to life.<\/p>\n\u201cObviously saying goodbye to Toni was so sad. It felt like a death of someone that I loved so much [because I would] never get to play her on screen again. But because it was such a short window of time \u2014 I literally had three weeks before I was in prep for Wild Cards<\/em> \u2014 it almost made the transition that much simpler,\u201d Morgan explained. \u201cI didn\u2019t even really have the time to mourn. I just had to prep this other character, [which I booked] before I even wrapped on Riverdale<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Winter-TV-Preview-2023-Inside-the-Must-Watch-New-and-Returning-Shows-853.jpg?crop=1012px%2C1006px%2C988px%2C557px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Winter TV Preview 2024: Inside Must-Watch New and Returning Shows<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tWith both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes coming to an end, the winter TV schedule is overflowing with highly anticipated premieres and returns \u2014 but some shows are still delayed, and others will have shortened seasons. Fans of Abbott Elementary looking forward to more episodes of the sitcom will be in for a bit of [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Wild Cards<\/em>, which premiered earlier this month on The CW<\/a>, is a police procedural that follows a demoted water-cop named Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti<\/strong>) who is offered an opportunity at redemption if he works with<\/a> con woman Max to help solve crimes.<\/p>\n\u201cIt was fun because there\u2019s these mysteries you\u2019re solving in the episode. But it was also the comedy aspect with it, which I personally really loved,\u201d Morgan told Us<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s not like your typical procedural \u2014 it has that lightheartedness to it. It\u2019s kind of like going to an escape room. You kind of have what you need to solve [the mystery], and it is a fun journey that you get to watch on screen.\u201d<\/p>\nThe actress gushed over her character\u2019s scene-stealing presence, adding, \u201cThere is so much depth to Max. She\u2019s so funny and she\u2019s like this alter ego that I just love to play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/WCD102b_0347r_f.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>Katie Yu\/The CW<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWild Cards<\/em> hasn\u2019t yet offered viewers a full picture of Max, but her relationship with her father (Jason Priestley<\/strong>) is definitely a driving force.<\/p>\n\u201cObviously, her father is in jail, and they\u2019re super close. You can kind of guess that the main motive is to get out of there at whatever cost,\u201d Morgan noted. \u201cMax is very family-first, and the big tease there is, \u2018What are the lengths they\u2019ll go to to get out of prison and get out of trouble?\u2019 And if that involves other people maybe getting thrown in by them, that might have to be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before taking on the role of Max on Wild Cards<\/em>, Morgan played Toni Topaz on Riverdale<\/em>. The hit series, which was based on Archie Comics, ran for seven seasons and was known for its out-of-the-box plotlines<\/a>. Throughout the seasons, Toni found her place in Riverdale as a Serpent, a mother and a soulmate for Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch<\/strong>)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Morgan didn\u2019t have a lot of time to say goodbye<\/a> to Toni before she started preparing to bring a new character to life.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously saying goodbye to Toni was so sad. It felt like a death of someone that I loved so much [because I would] never get to play her on screen again. But because it was such a short window of time \u2014 I literally had three weeks before I was in prep for Wild Cards<\/em> \u2014 it almost made the transition that much simpler,\u201d Morgan explained. \u201cI didn\u2019t even really have the time to mourn. I just had to prep this other character, [which I booked] before I even wrapped on Riverdale<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tWith both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes coming to an end, the winter TV schedule is overflowing with highly anticipated premieres and returns \u2014 but some shows are still delayed, and others will have shortened seasons. Fans of Abbott Elementary looking forward to more episodes of the sitcom will be in for a bit of [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Wild Cards<\/em>, which premiered earlier this month on The CW<\/a>, is a police procedural that follows a demoted water-cop named Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti<\/strong>) who is offered an opportunity at redemption if he works with<\/a> con woman Max to help solve crimes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was fun because there\u2019s these mysteries you\u2019re solving in the episode. But it was also the comedy aspect with it, which I personally really loved,\u201d Morgan told Us<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s not like your typical procedural \u2014 it has that lightheartedness to it. It\u2019s kind of like going to an escape room. You kind of have what you need to solve [the mystery], and it is a fun journey that you get to watch on screen.\u201d<\/p>\n The actress gushed over her character\u2019s scene-stealing presence, adding, \u201cThere is so much depth to Max. She\u2019s so funny and she\u2019s like this alter ego that I just love to play.\u201d<\/p>\n Wild Cards<\/em> hasn\u2019t yet offered viewers a full picture of Max, but her relationship with her father (Jason Priestley<\/strong>) is definitely a driving force.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, her father is in jail, and they\u2019re super close. You can kind of guess that the main motive is to get out of there at whatever cost,\u201d Morgan noted. \u201cMax is very family-first, and the big tease there is, \u2018What are the lengths they\u2019ll go to to get out of prison and get out of trouble?\u2019 And if that involves other people maybe getting thrown in by them, that might have to be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n (L \u2013 R): Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom and Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz in \u201cRiverdale.\u201d<\/span> Colin Bentley\/The CW<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Winter TV Preview 2024: Inside Must-Watch New and Returning Shows<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>
![\"Most](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Riverdale-trailer.jpg?crop=174px%2C14px%2C612px%2C346px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n