Betty Cooper, season 3
[Photo via YouTube]

This ‘13 Reasons Why’ actress was almost cast as Betty from ‘Riverdale’

Of course Lili Reinhart is the perfect Betty. We wouldn’t trade her for anything. But did you know that a 13 Reasons Why actress almost snagged the role?

Riverdale actress Camila Mendes recently told Entertainment Weekly about the audition process, mentioning other actors who auditioned for the role. Mendes also spoke about other aspects of auditioning for the role of Veronica, including having doubts about what kind of actress Riverdale was looking for.

Read more: 20 times this ‘Riverdale’ actress was a special effects makeup master

“They’re probably going to go with some white girl,” Mendes told EW. Her parents even told her that, “They were looking for someone who looks like Krysten Ritter.”

Those doubts didn’t stop Mendes from jumping at her chance to audition in November 2015. That’s where she met 13 Reasons Why actress Katherine Langford, who was auditioning for the role of Betty.

Langford plays Hannah Baker in the popular Netflix series and starred as Leah Burke in Love, Simon. But before any of that, she auditioned for Riverdale and even hung out with Mendes after the audition.

Mendes went out for falafel after the auditions with Langford and “with a guy who was auditioning for Archie.” Can you imagine how different the series would be if Langford had gotten the role?

This isn’t the first time that the two popular shows have shared interest in actors. Ross Butler currently stars in 13 Reasons Why as Zach Dempsey. However, he was previously was cast as Reggie Mantle in Riverdale’s first season, taking on both roles simultaneously.

Earlier this year, Butler made the decision to leave Riverdale to expand his role on 13 Reasons Why.  

“Before Season 2 was confirmed for 13 [Reasons Why], I had to make the decision of whether I wanted to focus on one character or split two characters and have a smaller role on both shows,” Butler told Vulture earlier this year.

“Reggie’s a great character, but it’s a different tone,” Butler says. “I connected with Zach on a much more real level where I didn’t have to create so much of a character for him.”

Riverdale returns with Season 3 Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. on CW. 13 Reasons Why has also been renewed for a third season, but details on a return date aren’t available at this time.