Scooby-Doo is gearing up for another mystery, this time with a Netflix twist. Two decades after Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed gave the live-action gang one last romp, the iconic Great Dane is set to return in a new origin series created by Josh Appelbaum (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Scott Rosenberg (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle). The eight-episode drama promises a reimagined take on the beloved franchise — one that’s leaning more Riverdale than Saturday morning cartoon.
Set during a fateful final summer at camp, the show follows Shaggy and Daphne, old friends who find themselves caught in a chilling mystery involving a lost Great Dane puppy that may have witnessed a supernatural murder. They’re joined by Velma, described as a “pragmatic and scientific townie,” and Freddy, the “strange, but ever-so-handsome new kid.” Together, they’re pulled into a case that threatens to reveal secrets none of them are prepared to face. Early descriptions hint at a more emotionally-driven and horror-tinged direction, echoing the stylised teen drama formula that’s worked for other Netflix hits like Wednesday.
Greg Berlanti, whose résumé includes everything from the Arrowverse to You, is executive producing under Berlanti Productions, adding another Warner Bros. property to his portfolio. The announcement keeps Berlanti’s presence at Netflix alive as You wraps its final season, while also marking a new chapter for a franchise that has shifted platforms and tones countless times over the decades.
This latest iteration arrives after a string of mixed results for the franchise. HBO Max’s Velma, an adult animated prequel centered on the brainy sleuth, was cancelled in 2024 after two polarising seasons. Against that backdrop, this live-action reboot could provide the franchise with a much-needed refresh, and perhaps even fill the supernatural teen drama void as Stranger Things nears its end.
First launched in 1969 with Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, the mystery-solving crew has remained a constant in pop culture for over 50 years, spawning a staggering number of spin-offs, reboots, and films. While the franchise has dabbled in live-action before, most memorably with the 2002 and 2004 films starring Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, and Linda Cardellini as Velma, this marks the first time a serialized live-action series is being attempted.
Netflix has yet to announce a premiere date, but with production underway and interest high, it’s only a matter of time before Scooby and the gang are back on screen reimagined, but ready to unmask another mystery.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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