Let another high-profile casting search begin: Netflix has given an eight-episode series order to a live-action reimagining of Warner Bros.’ classic Scooby-Doo cartoon that will track down the origins of the famous mystery-solving teen gang and their beloved dog. The project, from Midnight Radio, Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, landed for development at the streamer in a competitive situation last spring with a premium, script-to-series commitment.
Written by Midnight Radio’s Josh Appelbaum & Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop) based on characters created by Hanna-Barbera, the yet untitled Scooby-Doo series crafts an origin story of how the Mystery Inc. group got together and first teamed up to crack the haunting case that started it all.
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Appelbaum and Rosenberg serve as showrunners on the series, which the duo, André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner executive produce via Midnight Radio. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Leigh London Redman executive produce for Berlanti Productions via the company’s Warner Bros. Television deal. WBTV is the studio.
“Mystery, Inc. is back in business! We’re excited to bring Scooby-Doo to TV as a live-action series for the first time,” said Peter Friedlander, VP, Scripted Series, Netflix. “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.”
The pickup assures Berlanti Prods’ continuous presence on Netflix as the company’s drama You is coming to an end next month. The project also has a personal meaning for Berlanti who has tackled a number of other classic Warner Bros. IP, including DC lore.
“One of my first and favorite jobs in Hollywood was sitting with Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera while they signed animation cells,” he said. “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!”
In addition to You, Warner Bros. TV has new comedy series Running Point at Netflix. After a strong launch, the Kate Hudson starrer quickly scored a Season 2 renewal.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with our longstanding partners at Berlanti Productions and with Midnight Radio to bring the legendary Scooby-Doo franchise to a live-action series for the first time,” said Clancy Collins White, President, Creative Affairs, Warner Bros. Television: “It’s no mystery why audiences continue to love these iconic characters after more than a half century. We’re excited for a new generation to discover Mystery Inc. And we’re grateful to our partners at Netflix for the opportunity.”
Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, the Scooby-Doo! franchise was launched in 1969 with the duo’s first animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! for then-Hanna-Barbera (later absorbed into Warner Bros. Animation).
The series, which introduced supernatural mysteries-solving teens Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley and Shaggy Rogers and their talking Great Dane Scooby-Doo, originally aired on CBS from 1969-76, when it moved to ABC, where various versions of the show aired until 1986. Spinoff A Pup Named Scooby-Doo! aired from 1988-91. Two Scooby-Doo! reboots premiered as part of Kids’ WB on The WB and its successor The CW from 2002-08. Further reboots were produced for Cartoon Network beginning in 2010 and continuing through 2018. One of them, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, is currently available on Netflix, departing next month. Boomerang premiered original animated series Scooby-Doo! and Guess Who? on its streaming service in 2019 and later on Max.
The franchise’s latest animated spinoff, Max original Velma from Mindy Kaling, ran for two seasons on the WBD streamer which also is home of the Scooby-Doo! library.
While this is the first live-action Scooby-Doo series, a live-action film was released in 2002 starring Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy and Linda Cardellini as Velma. It spawned a 2004 sequel. An animated feature, Scoob!, was released during the pandemic.
Berlanti and Berlanti Productions are repped by CAA and Felker Toczek Suddleson. Appelbaum and Rosenberg are repped by WME and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Midnight Radio is repped by WME; Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; and Ziffren Brittenham. Pinkner is repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham.
Seems completely unnecessary and redundant, but, if we are going to proceed with this, why is WBD not putting this on either Max, or any of their TV channels? Scooby-Doo is a pretty important piece of WB (and before then, H-B).
maybe their internal network didn’t want to buy it
We all can imagine coming from Netflix the casting won’t look anything like their cartoon counterparts.