Looking ahead, fans can expect an anime-inspired series set in Japan and a live-action origin story from Netflix. Details remain limited, but here’s what’s known.
Go-Go Mystery Machine – Scooby Hits Japan
Cartoon Network and Max have green-lit Go-Go Mystery Machine, an anime-styled Scooby-Doo adventure that sends Shaggy and Scooby across the Pacific. They’ll join a new team featuring Etsuko and Toshiro along with another mascot. Together, they’ll face Japanese monsters and yokai, blending folklore with the franchise’s familiar “unmask the villain” formula.
If you haven’t caught the GeGeGe no Kitaro reference, it’s because you haven’t explored this seminal work, which celebrates yokai culture at its fullest. It nods to Kitaro, a series that helped popularize yokai in Japanese media, signalling that this Scooby-Doo adventure draws on rich folklore rather than simply borrowing visual style.
The art direction leans heavily into Japanese influences, and fans online already call it “the Scooby-Doo anime we always wanted.” No premiere date is set, but industry watchers suggest late 2025, depending on production schedules.
Netflix Live-Action Origins – A Darker Mystery Inc. (most likely in 2026)
Netflix has ordered an eight-episode live-action reimagining of Scooby-Doo’s origins. The story unfolds during the gang’s last summer at Camp Ruby-Spears, where Shaggy and Daphne discover a supernatural murder. This setup subtly echoes The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, where the focus was on these two characters—a connection that gives fans an Easter-egg-style nod. They’ll either adopt or meet Scoob, and some sources indicate he will appear as a puppy. He’ll be key to a greater mystery that brings Velma and newcomer Freddy into the investigation.
With no casting news and only a few months left in 2025, filming this year seems unlikely. Expect a release in late 2026 or 2027. Showrunners Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg excel at high-concept reboots, while executive producer Greg Berlanti (Riverdale) brings experience with teen drama and moody reinterpretations. With this team, viewers can expect a darker, more character-driven take. Rumours suggest a Stranger Things-style vibe, a fitting direction now that series has wrapped.
A New Era
From Japanese ghosts to Netflix’s summer-camp mystery, Scooby-Doo continues to show his versatility. A 2026 debut looks more realistic than anything this year. Warner Bros. rarely promotes smaller launches, so a surprise direct-to-video release around Halloween isn’t impossible. Regardless, what’s in progress suggests a strong future for this classic hound.
Sources:
Screen Rant – Scooby-Doo anime project
Reddit r/Scoobydoo – Go-Go Mystery Machine discussion
EW – Netflix live-action Scooby-Doo series
Vulture – They’re Riverdale-ing Scooby-Doo
The Sun – Netflix reboot announcement