Scooby-Doois back, but it won’t be how you left it. Netflix is officially tackling the next live-action adaptation of the beloved franchise,this time in the television format. In the early 2000s, there were famously two live-actionScooby-Doomovies made for the big screen, which eventually gained a cult status in the following years. However, Netflix is attempting to make the first modern spin on the property in live-action, this time following the blueprint set by other Hanna-Barbera TV adaptations.
Netflix has officially ordered an eight-episodeScooby-Dooseries that will cover the origin of how the titular canine became part of the mystery-solving crew. Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg will be handling the project alongside producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman (Berlanti Productions), and André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner (Midnight Radio). For those that recognize the Berlanti name, the live-actionRiverdaleseries may come to mind. The CW show may be the best comparison to the upcomingScooby-Dooreboot, which will tell an original story fans have yet to witness before. Check out the synopsis forScooby-Doobelow:
“In this modern reimagining, old friends Shaggy and Daphne team up at summer camp with scientific townie Velma and the strange but handsome Fred to solve the mystery of a lonely lost Great Dane puppy — who may have witnessed a supernatural murder.”
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And he would have gotten away with it, if it weren’t for those meddling kids.
The behind-the-scenes crew of the upcoming Netflix show is nothing to scoff at. Appelbaum is co-writingScooby-Dooafter having written and produced a number of major projects, includingCitadel,From,Cowboy Bepop, and many more. His partner in crime, Rosenberg, is a veteran writer who has lent his talents toJumanji: The Next Level,Venom,Zoo, andHappy Town. Meanwhile, Berlanti is a longtime TV vet that has helped oversee a number of popular franchises,including CW’s Arrowverse. When it comes toScooby-Doo, it seems the iconic property holds a special place in his heart. Berlanti:
“One of my first and favorite jobs in Hollywood was sitting with Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera while they signed animation cels. 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 Warner and Netflix for the partnership in helping bring this iteration of Scooby-Doo to life!”
Live-Action ‘Scooby-Doo’ Series Greenlit After Panned Max Spin-Off Show Was Canceled
For those unlucky few that are aware, Max recently attempted their own updated version of theScooby-Doofranchise via an animated spin-off revolving around Velma. Titled after the character, it was an instant hit on the streaming service, but for all the wrong reasons. Critics were not very kind to the series, with reviews garnering it a measly 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were far harsher with a 7% Popcornmeter score (although a good chunk was likely trolls). For those reasons, it was the talk of the town when it debuted. However, the bad publicity did not carry it long-term.
When the second season premiered in 2024,Max pulled the plugafter it failed to keep audiences invested in the Mindy Kaling-led sitcom. For many, the show changed too much from the source material, as it did not really focus on the mystery-solving group. Meanwhile, Netflix is probably not going to attempt to mess with the formula too much, but it will surely put its own spin on the franchise. Hopefully, it will be a far more successful adaptation.
