Scooby-Doo to be played by real dog for first time in Netflix series
Scooby-Doo to be played by real dog for first time in Netflix series
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYMon, June 8, 2026 at 4:04 PM UTC
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Scooby-Dooby-Doo, here are you – making your live-action debut.
Netflix has revealed a first look at the title pup in its live-action "Scooby-Doo" TV series, which will be the first time in the franchise's history the character will be played by an actual dog.
The streamer on June 8 dropped an adorable photo of the real Great Dane puppy, as well as a brief teaser video that shows Scooby-Doo sniffing around in the woods before being picked up by Shaggy.
When "Scooby-Doo" was previously brought to live-action in the 2002 movie and its 2004 sequel, the title dog was a digital creation.
"Scooby-Doo: Origins" is described as a "modern reimagining" of the long-running mystery comedy franchise, and it's being developed by Greg Berlanti, the producer behind hit shows like "Arrow" and "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina."
Scooby-Doo in the new Netflix series "Scooby-Doo: Origins."Meet the Gang: 'Scooby-Doo' real life cast revealed
Four young actors are taking on the iconic lead roles, with Mckenna Grace as Daphne, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred.
"During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder," the logline reads.
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"Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets."
"Scooby-Doo: Origins" is the first live-action television series based on "Scooby-Doo." Recent iterations of the franchise have included the 2020 animated movie "Scoob!," which skipped a traditional theatrical release due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and "Velma," an animated comedy from Mindy Kaling that was geared more towards adults and was canceled after two seasons.
Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley, McKenna Grace as Daphne Blake, and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones in "Scooby-Doo: Origins."
Linda Cardellini, who played Velma in the live-action "Scooby-Doo" movies, told USA TODAY at the Gotham TV Awards on June 1 that she's looking forward to watching the Netflix show and said her advice for the new cast is to "have fun."
"[Abby Ryder Fortson is] gonna be wonderful," Cardellini said. "I'm such a fan. I was a fan of 'Scooby-Doo' before I was in it, and I'm a fan still to this day, so I will be watching. I'm so excited."
For his part, Matthew Lillard told USA TODAY last year he would be up for playing a different character in the Netflix show, but he doubted he'll ever reprise Shaggy again in live-action, as he did in the films.
"He's a meddling teenager," Lillard said. "I'm almost 60 freaking years old. I know AI can do a lot, but I would be shocked if I went back."
'Scooby-Doo' Netflix series release date
Netflix hasn't announced a specific release date for "Scooby-Doo: Origins," but the streamer says it will premiere sometime in 2027.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Scooby-Doo' – Great Dane puppy to play real Scooby in Netflix show
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
