Summary
Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Seriesreceives a progress update from executive producer Greg Berlanti. Beginning back in 1969 with the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon,Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, the crime-solving canine and his teenage companions have been adapted into countless television series and movies over the years, both animated and live-action. In April 2024, it was reported thatNetflix’s live-actionScooby-Dooserieswas in the works with Berlanti producing. However, there hasn’t been any progress updates since then.
During an interviewDeadlinepromoting his new movieFly Me to the Moon,Berlanti provided a progress update on Netflix’s live-actionScooby-Dooseries. After reminiscing about his early job at Hanna-Barbera and relaying the history ofScooby-Doo, the producer revealed that, after hearing pitches for a year and a half, they finally found one that they felt captured the spirit ofScooby-Doo, and Berlanti is currently working on the pitch for the pilot. Read his full comments below:
One of my first jobs in this business was as a temp at Hanna-Barbera. I’d sit with Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna while they autographed animation cels. I would go in the morning and I would retrieve with my boss a bunch of these animation cels. I’d go to Bill Hanna’s office first. He was a very stoic guy. His office was very spare. And then came my favorite part of the day, going to see Joe Barbera. He was such a life force. He would sign the cels, but he would stop and regale me with the greatest stories. He was such a raconteur.
He would tell stories of how Scooby was created and what they were thinking, and how it was the late ’60s and kids felt under assault by adults, and they felt overwhelmed and they needed to be empowered. When they pitched it to Bill Paley he was like, you need a dog or something. And that was the birth of Scooby-Doo. Joe was such a special storyteller, and I was so, wow. I’d always loved them as a kid. And again, with any of the properties be they Hanna-Barbera or DC or anything at Warners, you feel lucky to be the historian who helps usher them into a new generation. You just go back to the spirit and the DNA of what makes ’em special. With Scooby-Doo, we went out and heard pitches for a year and a half and finally found one that we really felt really captured it. I just was working on the pitch for it this morning, for the first episode. So we’re really pumped.
Everything We Know About Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series
Who Else Is Involved In Netflix’s Adaptation?
While coming to Netflix, the live-actionScooby-DooTV showis produced by Berlanti, under his Berlanti Productions banner, for Warner Bros. Television. Berlanti is best known for producing the Arrowverse series, though he and his production company have also producedRiverdale, based on the Archie Comics, and the Netflix spinoff seriesThe Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. These series blended melodrama with darker and more mysterious elements, and Berlanti is expected to bring the same to Netflix’s live-actionScooby-Dooseries.
Casting Daphne For Netflix’s Scooby-Doo Live-Action Show: 10 Actors Who’d Be Perfect
There are no plot details about Netflix’s live-action Scooby-Doo series, but casting the right Daphne Blake will be just as important to the show.
With Berlanti producing,Netflix’s live-actionScooby-DooTV showwill be written by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg. The former has worked on Michael Bay’s live-actionTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesmovies andMission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, while the latter has worked on the newJumanjimovies andVenom. The writing duo also recently worked on Netflix’s live-actionCowboy Bebopseries, which was canceled after one season. It remains to be seen if the live-actionScooby-Dooseries suffers the same fate as so many Netflix series have.
No cast members have been announced, includingwho will play Fred, Daphne, Velma, or Shaggy.
With these talented creatives on board, Netflix’s live-actionScooby-DooTV seriesshould be steered toward success. Berlanti’s update ensures that they are making progress on the show, but since he is still working on the pitch for the pilot, it seems the series is still far off from receiving an official order from Netflix, let alone releasing on the streaming service. If anything, Berlanti’s update indicates that they are aiming to capture the original spirit of the cartoon withScooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series.
Source: Deadline
Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series
Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series is a new adaptation of the classic cartoon, bringing the beloved characters to life in a live-action format. The show follows the iconic Mystery Inc. gang, comprised of Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby, as they embark on mysteries and supernatural adventures.
