Cole Sprouse confirmed during Riverdale’s Comic Con panel that Jughead’s mom and little sister will make their debut in season three. But who will be cast?
Since season one, Riverdale fans have been eagerly waiting for Jughead’s mom Gladys and little sister Jellybean “JB” Jones to make the trek from Toledo, Ohio to “the town with pep.” According to Comic Book Resources, Cole Sprouse confirmed at San Diego Comic Con that fans will finally get their wish in episode eight or nine of the show’s upcoming third season.
No casting announcements have been made yet, so I decided to get the ball rolling. I’d first like to offer a bit of context for my Jellybean suggestions. Jughead cited his sister as being ten years old back in season one. Given that only about a year has gone by since the pilot, per Riverdale‘s timeline, Jellybean will presumably be eleven or twelve when she makes her debut.
That being said, shows often age up characters, especially if they’ve previously only been mentioned offscreen or haven’t appeared often. If Riverdale goes that route, I’m guessing Jellybean could potentially be upwards of 14.
With all that in mind, I picked actresses who I think could reasonably play 11-14. Honestly, though, Sprouse is a 25-year-old playing a 16-year-old, so I think whoever plays Jellybean can be given some leeway in that regard, too.
The following are my top three choices to play Jellybean and my top three to play Gladys.
3. Lola Flanery
Thirteen-year-old Lola Flanery is definitely a star on the rise. In 2017, she played Reese Witherspoon’s daughter in the romantic comedy Home Again. Her television credits include Mary Kills People and Shadowhunters, among others. She joined Freeform’s beloved supernatural series for a memorable arc in its second and third seasons as Seelie Queen.
Photo Credit: The 100
Flanery can currently be seen killing it as Madi on the hit CW show The 100. The actress joined the show for its fifth season as the loving, protective and headstrong 12-year-old adoptive daughter of the main character Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor).
Flanery brings an impressive level of maturity to her badass role, which is crucial because of The 100‘s dark subject matter and tone. That maturity would be a plus on Riverdale for the same reasons.
I’m fairly certain Flanery will be returning for season six of The 100, so I don’t know how available she’ll be. Here’s to hoping she can return to pre-apocalyptic Earth for a bit.
2. Mckenna Grace
At twelve years of age, Mckenna Grace already has 46 acting credits. Over the past two years, especially, she’s had big breaks. In 2016, she joined ABC’s Designated Survivor as Penny Kirkman, the daughter of the president (Kiefer Sutherland).
Grace made Penny an endearing and compelling scene-stealer, which is a big deal since pretty much all her scene were with Sutherland. Additionally, as Penny grieved the death of her mother (Natasha McElhone) in season two, Grace was profoundly moving because she didn’t overact at all, which is quite a rare talent.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – NOVEMBER 05: (L-R) Honorees Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Margot Robbie, Mckenna Grace, Caitlin Carver, and Julianne Nicholson, recipients of the Hollywood Ensemble Award for ‘I, Tonya,’ pose in the press room during the 21st Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 5, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Grace has made her mark on the big screen, too. In 2017, she starred in Gifted as Mary, the titular child prodigy, alongside Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer, and Jenny Slate.
Last winter, Grace played young Tonya Harding in the biopic of her life and won Ensemble of the Year with her co-stars at the Hollywood Film Awards.
Allison Janney won an Oscar for her portrayal of Tonya’s abusive mother LaVona, so Grace being able to hold her own in her scenes with Janney is quite an accomplishment.
Grace isn’t slowing down anytime soon. She will be making her Marvel debut next spring as young Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel. Maybe she can make a Riverdale debut in the meantime.
Though I chose candidates for Jellybean who could play a range of ages, I would remiss not to note that Grace would be an especially good choice if they want to keep Jellybean around 11. In addition to only being 12, Grace is also on the smaller side.
Take it from a girl who’s been short her whole life, I can tell when kids are below-average height for their age. So, on top of being a phenomenal actress, Grace could definitely have an edge in that sense.
1. Dafne Keen
Speaking of joining Marvel, thirteen-year-old Dafne Keen made her own superhero debut in 2017’s Logan, and she was breathtakingly brilliant. In the R-rated, incredibly dark and violent film, she played Laura, the biological daughter of Hugh Jackman’s jaded Wolverine, aka Logan.
Like Stranger Things‘ Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Laura grew up being traumatically experimented on in a lab. Through various circumstances, Laura ends up in the custody of a very resentful Wolverine, who had no idea his DNA had been used to create a mutant child.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 07: Actors Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen accept Best Duo for ‘Logan’ onstage during the 2017 MTV Movie And TV Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on May 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Jackman’s performance was so brutal (in a good way) that I had difficulty watching. Wolverine got into raging screaming matches with Laura, coming within inches of her face. Keen never flinched and gave it right back.
Additionally, Keen had several violent action sequences in which she angrily slashed up people with her claws, and she killed each sequence (pun intended).
If you haven’t seen Logan, picture Laura as a young Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) with a built-in “Needle” many times over. Laura was under five feet tall and Keen made her genuinely scary.
Lastly, Keen showed off her incredible emotional range in Laura’s heartbreaking final scene with Wolverine. Logan is one of the best superhero movies of all time; and in addition to the film having an Oscar-nominated screenplay, Keen is as much a reason for its excellence as Jackman is.
Keen doesn’t have many acting credits yet, but I’m confident she has a bright future ahead of her. Hopefully, that future will include a role as Jellybean Jones.
3. Kim Rhodes
Calling me sentimental, but I would definitely tune in to see Cole Sprouse reunite with his Disney Channel mom. Dylan Sprouse tragically declined to play Jellybean — he had “a scheduling conflict,” according to Cole — but that doesn’t mean part of the Martin family can’t come together again onscreen.
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Since playing Carey Martin on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Rhodes has appeared on several TV shows. Most recently, she has had arcs on Colony and Criminal Minds.
I have to admit I hated her Criminal Minds character Linda Barnes because she was gunning for my girl J.J. (AJ Cook). But I only hated Barnes because Rhodes played the antagonistic character so well. I’m betting I’d enjoy Rhodes as Gladys Jones.
Supernatural fans will recognize Rhodes as Sheriff Jody Mills. Rhodes has played the role in a recurring capacity since 2010. This year, she was all set to get her own spin-off show Wayward Sisters. Unfortunately, The CW passed on the pilot back in May.
Rhodes took to Twitter to express her continued support for the show’s message.
"We have lost nothing. I cannot say, “This is more than a TV show,” and then mourn a death when there’s no TV show. We are still here. All of us. We will not lose the community nor the voice we have made. This is how the heart’s yes is louder than their no."
According to Deadline, the network’s decision not to move forward with Wayward Sisters marks the second time it has opted out of a Supernatural spinoff. Supernatural itself is returning for season 14 this fall.
Hopefully, Rhodes will also return on The CW this year to play Gladys on Riverdale. In addition to already having played Cole’s mom, Rhodes has a few other aces up her sleeve. She has major fan support… and she’s already thrown her hat in the ring!
*sniffs* my babies are all grown up and taking their first prisoners. I’m so proud. (Would I play @colesprouse ‘s mom again? In. A. Fucking. Heartbeat.) https://t.co/4Whdhty8Kg
— ΞXΓЯΞMΞ ҜIM (@kimrhodes4real) July 26, 2018
Riverdale‘s producers are certainly aware of how instrumental their passionate fanbase has been to the success of the show, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they catered to many viewers’ desire by casting Rhodes. As I said, I would definitely tune in to see a Suite Life reunion, and I wouldn’t be the only one.
2. Neve Campbell
As a disclaimer, I sadly haven’t happened to see much of Neve Campbell’s work, but her reputation precedes her. Plus, as I’ve said, I’m all for cast reunions, especially because chemistry isn’t something that can be manufactured.
Skeet Ulrich, who plays FP, and Campbell already have a well-known rapport, so why not transition it from Scream to Riverdale? Furthermore, as Beverly Hills, 90210 star Luke Perry, Twin Peek‘s Mädchen Amick and Ulrich himself have proven, Riverdale has quite a knack for recruiting 90s icons.
Could Scream‘s Sidney Prescott be similarly won over? Ulrich certainly hopes so. He cited Campbell as his pick to play Gladys in an interview with TVLine last year.
"I mean, God, I think Neve would be really interesting. I know she’s busy doing some films and stuff like that, so I don’t know if that’s a possibility. But yeah, I think she’d be very intriguing."
During her recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Campbell finally responded after a viewer called in to ask about the possibility of her joining the Riverdale cast.
"I heard about this a week ago. I had two friends tell me about it. I haven’t seen the show, and it’s funny that Skeet hasn’t called me. Like, he’s got my number!"
Campbell didn’t give a definitive answer as to whether she would seriously consider a potential offer to play Gladys, but she did say she wants to check out the show. Cohen, who made a cameo appearance on Riverdale last season, joined Ulrich in enthusiastically supporting her casting.
Campbell would in a sense be returning to her roots if she were to appear on Riverdale. Outside of the Scream franchise, the actress is best known for playing Julie Salinger on FOX’s hit teen and family drama Party of Five. It would be interesting to see Campbell revisit the genre twenty years later, especially as part of the show at its forefront.
Party of Five itself may also be returning. A reboot about a Mexican family separated by deportation is currently in development at Freeform. Earlier this month, Campbell confirmed her support for the show. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, she called it “really wonderful.”
Most recently, Campbell starred alongside Dwayne Johnson in Skyscraper, her first movie since 2015. On the small screen, she starred in seasons four and five of House of Cards as a political consultant turned campaign manager LeAnn Harvey.
1. Lauren Graham
Yes, this casting choice is partially driven by 2000s nostalgia. That being said, Graham is uniquely qualified for the role. She has played a mom in not one but two, long-running beloved series: Gilmore Girls and Parenthood.
Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten around to watching Parenthood yet. But I can say that Lorelai Gilmore is one of the best television characters of all time, and Graham is a major reason why. Backed by strong scripts, Graham engagingly brought Lorelai to life not just as Rory’s (Alexis Bledel) mom but as her own character.
Of course, the Gilmore girls’ bond was also central to the show, and it’s so memorable because it was complex. They were best friends, but they went through plenty of realistic rough patches.
Given that Gladys and Jughead haven’t seen each other for at least a few years, their relationship seems set to fairly complicated. I’m excited to see how it plays out, and I’ll be even excited if Graham is Sprouse’ screen partner.
Gladys also has a complicated history with FP. You know who else had a complicated history with the father of her child? Lorelai. I’m just saying, it all lines up perfectly! If Graham is able to play off Ulrich the way she played off David Sutcliffe, who portrayed Christopher, we’ll be in for a compelling family reunion.
Lastly, Graham’s ability to simultaneously blend comedy and tragedy so naturally is unparalleled as far I’m concerned; and that talent could definitely come in handy on Riverdale.