First reported back in April of 2024, Netflix's Scooby-Doo live action series is officially moving forward with an eight-episode order.
Still onboard as writers and showrunners are Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop, High Fidelity), with prolific screenwriter Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Riverdale) executive producing alongside Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman via Berlanti productions.
Per Variety, the show will delve into how Mystery Inc. and their beloved Great Dane first teamed up together:
“During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets.”
Who will be playing the Mystery, Inc. gang is still unknown, as cast details are under wraps.
Peter Friedlander, vice president of scripted series for Netflix, had this to say of the series:
“Mystery, Inc. is back in business! We’re excited to bring Scooby-Doo to TV as a live-action series for the first time […] The beloved franchise has had an impact on pop culture that is undeniable — it’s rich with universal themes of friendship that generations of fans have long embraced. Together with creative powerhouses Berlanti Productions and Midnight Radio, we’re committed to delighting longtime fans and opening up a world of groovy adventures for a new era of meddling kids.”
Berlanti adds:
“One of my first and favorite jobs in Hollywood was sitting with Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera while they signed animation cells […] Josh and Scott and everyone at Midnight Radio have crafted a story that captures their amazing spirits and their genius creation. We are grateful to them and everyone at Warners and Netflix for the partnership in helping bring this iteration of Scooby-Doo to life!”
Appelbaum and Rosenberg will also executive produce alongside André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner under their Midnight Radio banner.
An icon of pop culture, Scoob and the gang made their first appearance back in 1969 with the animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! from Hanna-Barbera, and have since appeared in more than a dozen shows and over 40 movies. The first live-action adaptation came in 2002, and starred Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Linda Cardellini as the Mystery Inc. gang, with Neil Fanning voicing Scoob. It was followed by a sequel in 2004, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. This new show will be the first live-action series in the history of the franchise.
Look out for more on Scooby-Doo as we get it!
