‘Katy Keene’: Kevin Keller Heads From ‘Riverdale’ to New York in These Crossover Photos [Exclusive]

It’s a big couple of weeks for Kevin Keller (Casey Cott). First, on Wednesday (April 15) he’ll take the stage as Hedwig herself in the highly anticipated Riverdale musical episode. And then just a little over one week later on April 23, Kevin will be heading from Riverdale‘s “Wicked Little Town” to the lights of the big city, for a crossover on Katy Keene — and Decider has your first, exclusive look.

Set five-ish years after Riverdale, Katy Keene finds a group of aspiring artists in New York livin’ and lovin’ and singin’ and stuff. You know, normal things, without all the murder and mayhem that comes with living in The Town With Pep. And in “Gloria,” written by Michael Grassi & Neil McNeil, and directed by Alex Pillai, Kevin heads to town to bond with his old high school bestie/sister Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray).

“It’s super fun, that show is incredible,” Cott told Decider about guest starring on Katy Keene. “It’s so similar to Riverdale and yet so completely different, so it was really fun shooting that… And Lucy and Johnny and Ashleigh and Julia, they’re all awesome.”

Those other folks would be Katy Keene (Lucy Hale), Jorge Lopez (Jonny Beauchamp) and Pepper Smith (Julia Chan), who all get to hang with Kevin during his time in NYC. According to Cott, Kevin goes to New York not just to visit his “sister” Josie (their parents got married in Season 3 of Riverdale), but also to put on a reading of a his play, with the help of the highly connected Pepper. “Pepper helps him confront something from his past while he’s there, is the way I’d phrase it,” Cott continued. “It’s a really fun episode, it’s a very topical episode, and I had a blast shooting it.”

In fact, Kevin heading to Katy Keene has been, relatively speaking for the young show, a long time coming. Pretty much since the spinoff was first announced, fans have been asking whether the musically inclined Kevin would guest star — or perhaps even move to New York permanently. So if the opportunity arose, would Cott want to make The CW transfer, from Riverdale to Katy Keene? Though he noted that the team on Katy Keene is “incredible,” his heart is with Riverdale long term.

“I definitely feel the want to stay on Riverdale,” Cott said. “Kevin is a really important piece of Riverdale, so the romantic idea of doing a show from the beginning to the end, I’d say I lean towards that.”

Perhaps a bummer to fans who want to see Kevin duet with Jorge at drag club Molly’s Crisis, or get a makeover montage at Lacy’s Department Store from Katy (and Cott did say he does “appreciate the fan speculation”). But the good news is that despite losing a kidney to an organ stealing cult last season, Kevin clearly survives the murderous climes of Riverdale for at least five years to make it to Katy Keene. And if they want him to come back at some point?

“I will be willing to go to Katy Keene any time they call,” Cott said. “I loved it, I had such a blast over there. So if they ever need Kevin to come shoot an episode, I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

Katy Keene airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.

Where to watch Katy Keene

Where to watch Riverdale