Vanessa Morgan originally announced she was expecting a baby boy on Instagram back in July of this year. Now, the Riverdale star has confirmed her pregnancy will be written into the show’s fifth season. Fans have been trying to guess what the news could mean for Toni Topaz when the drama returns to The CW and Netflix next year.
Riverdale fans have been given an unexpected taste of season five as Vanessa Morgan confirmed her pregnancy will be written into the series.
Morgan originally made the announcement on Instagram in July, a few days before her husband Major League Baseball player Michael Kopech filed for divorce.
Portraying Toni Topaz since season two, Morgan is set to have a major role in the upcoming instalment, which was initially put on hold following the outbreak of coronavirus.
She confirmed the news with another post on Instagram at the start of her maternity leave.
READ MORE: Riverdale spoilers: Is Toni pregnant in Riverdale season 5?
The upcoming season is speculated to separate its cast of characters somewhat after Archie and Betty’s (Lili Reinhart) brief affair threatened to break up Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Jughead (Cole Sprouse).
It is also unclear whether Toni and Cheryl will be having a baby together, or if the fan favourite couple have gone their separate ways and found new partners.
Whatever the case, fans can expect Toni Topaz to feature heavily in future episodes after Vanessa Morgan spoke up about Riverdale’s pay disparity for Black and minority cast members earlier this year.
Producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa issued a public apology amid the actress’s criticisms, and seems to be sticking to his word for season five.
He posted on Twitter: “We hear Vanessa. We love Vanessa. She’s right. We’re sorry and we make the same promise to you that we did to her.
“We will do better to honour her and the character she plays. As well as all of our actors and characters of colour.”
Her comments were made in the wake of a surge in Black Lives Matter protests after the death of George Floyd, and Aguirre-Sacasa confirmed the cast all made donations to the movement.
Meanwhile, fans only have a short while to wait before the fifth season of Riverdale finally gets underway later next month.
Riverdale season 5 premieres Wednesday, January 20 on The CW and the following Thursday on Netflix.