When the studio revealed on Instagram how the canine looks, fans of the long running franchise will either yelp or go aww. That alone has sparked plenty of debate.
The biggest reason the creative team is not simply bringing the animated version into live action is because it’s been done. For the first time in the franchise’s history, Scooby-Doo will be portrayed by a real Great Dane rather than animation or CGI. Shaggy, for what it’s worth, is also not too far removed from his cartoon counterpart. While it’s difficult to top Matthew Lillard’s beloved portrayal from the early 2000s films, that’s a tough act for anyone to follow.
The latest casting announcement added a sizeable supporting ensemble. Some names will be familiar to viewers, while others are relative newcomers. The extended cast includes:
- Rusty Schwimmer (The Pitt, The Righteous Gemstones)
- Peter Macon (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Orville)
- Maxwell Simkins (Shifting Gears, Sleepover)
- Jona Xiao (The Pitt, Eyes of Wakanda)
- Dani Deetté (The Runarounds, FBI: Most Wanted)
- Elysée Sanvillé (72 Hours)
- Alex Isles (Normal with a Capital N)
- Avery Kristen Pohl (Never Have I Ever)
- Pamela Mitchell (1883, Perry Mason)
- Ross Kimball (Jury Duty, Masterminds)
- Sara Gilbert (The Conners)
- Wynn Everett (Chad Powers, She Dances)
- Sauriyan Sapkota (The Midnight Club)
- Bruce McGill (Lioness, Reacher)
- Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks, Of Mice and Men)
Their roles remain undisclosed. As for Mystery Incorporated itself, these actors will headline the series:
Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake
Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers
Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley
Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones
Paul Walter Hauser also appears in an undisclosed role.
Fan speculation regarding Hauser’s part is running wild. Because he has been separated out from the other casting news reports, everyone wants to know what contribution this former wrestler turned actor will make. One theory suggests he may be Scooby’s original owner. Others believe he could be a camp counsellor, local eccentric, or even a key suspect tied to the central mystery. Some have even floated the possibility that he could provide Scooby’s voice, though replacing Frank Welker is simply a bad idea.
As for whether Scooby himself will speak, I’m not entirely convinced that he should. In a live-action setting, it may be more believable to explain how he eventually develops the ability to communicate. Scooby has always felt more like a cartoon character than a realistic dog, and previous attempts to reinvent him have produced mixed results. A Pup Named Scooby-Doo and Scoob! found varying degrees of success, but neither fundamentally changed who the character was. Moving him into CGI is one thing. Reimagining his entire personality is another.
According to Netflix, here’s what we know about the story:
“A modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog. 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.”