'A tribute to our fallen friend': How 'Riverdale' plans to honor Luke Perry

Hannah Yasharoff
Updated

Luke Perry and his "Riverdale" character, Fred Andrews, will finally get a proper sendoff.

The first episode of Season 4 of the CW teen drama will be a tribute to Perry, who died in March after a "massive stroke." He was 52.

"Riverdale" creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa revealed Wednesday on Twitter that the episode, which he wrote, would be titled "In Memoriam."

"Probably the most important episode of #Riverdale we'll do this year, if not ever," Aguirre-Sacasa captioned a photo of the script. "A tribute to our fallen friend. Thankful for this opportunity to honor Luke & Fred."

Perry's final appearance on the show came over a month after his death. The first episode that aired after his death was dedicated to Perry, though the storyline had not yet acknowledged the fate of Fred Andrews.

More: After mourning the death of Luke Perry, how will 'Riverdale' move on?

Perry, a '90s heartthrob thanks to the teen drama "Beverly Hills, 90210," became a star with a new generation when he signed onto the 2017 comic-based CW series "Riverdale," in which he played Fred Andrews, a candidate for mayor and father to Archie (K.J. Apa).

“I like playing the dad because I like being a dad,” Perry told The Hollywood Reporter in a 2017 interview. And though fans compared “Riverdale” to “90210,” Perry told the outlet he didn’t quite see it. "It's the story of a ruggedly handsome young man who has to pick between a dark-haired girl and a blond-haired girl, right? That's where the similarity ends.”

"Riverdale" executive producers Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Jon Goldwater released a joint statement with Warner Bros. Television and CW after Perry's death.

“We are deeply saddened to learn today about the passing of Luke Perry. A beloved member of the 'Riverdale,' Warner Bros. and CW family, Luke was everything you would hope he would be: an incredibly caring, consummate professional with a giant heart, and a true friend to all," the statement read. "A father figure and mentor to the show’s young cast, Luke was incredibly generous, and he infused the set with love and kindness. Our thoughts are with Luke’s family during this most difficult time.”

Contributing: Leora Arnowitz, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'A tribute to our fallen friend': How 'Riverdale' plans to honor Luke Perry