Netflix has officially started production on ‘Scooby-Doo: Origins’, its new live-action take on the classic Hanna-Barbera gang, and it sounds like this version is leaning hard into the spooky side of the franchise.
Rather than dropping viewers straight into a fully formed Mystery Inc., ‘Scooby-Doo: Origins’ heads back to the beginning, following the case that first pulls the group together. Set during their final summer at camp, the series sees old friends Shaggy and Daphne drawn into a haunting mystery involving a lost Great Dane puppy who may have witnessed a supernatural murder. Alongside Velma, described as a pragmatic and scientific townie, and the handsome but slightly strange new kid Freddy, they find themselves pulled into a nightmare that threatens to expose all their secrets.
It is a smart angle for the franchise. After decades of animated series, films, reboots, and assorted mystery-solving chaos, going back to the gang’s first case gives Netflix room to do something a little darker and a little more character-driven, while still keeping the familiar pieces fans know. It also sounds like the show is aiming for a younger, camp-set coming-of-age horror vibe, which could make this one feel very different from previous live-action versions.
The previously announced cast includes Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Afterlife, The Handmaid’s Tale) as Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson (Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret., Ant-Man) as Velma Dinkley, Maxwell Jenkins (Lost in Space, Reacher) as Fred Jones, with Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird, Inside Out 2) also appearing in an undisclosed role.
Behind the camera, the series comes from showrunners, writers and executive producers Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg via Midnight Radio, with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Leigh London Redman for Berlanti Productions, alongside André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Adrienne Erickson. Toby Haynes is also on board as executive producer and will direct the opening episode.
Given the people involved, there is some solid genre pedigree here too. Berlanti’s TV track record is huge, and Haynes has proven form when it comes to stylish, high-concept drama. So while the words “live-action Scooby-Doo origin story” might sound a bit wild on paper, there is clearly a serious creative team trying to make it work.
Netflix has not announced a premiere date yet, but with filming now underway in Atlanta, the mystery machine is at least finally on the road.
‘Scooby-Doo: Origins’ does not yet have a premiere date but will air on Netflix in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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