‘Scooby-Doo’ Live-Action Series Set at Netflix

“Scooby-Doo” fans rejoice: A Netflix live-action series is in the works.

Netflix announced that Greg Berlanti‘s Berlanti Productions (via the company’s Warner Bros. Television deal) is bringing Scooby to life…literally. This will be the first live-action TV adaptation of the beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters. The “Scooby-Doo” eight-episode series will tell the origin story for the mystery-solving gang.

The official synopsis reads: “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. 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.”

The series will be a “modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog.” And while the cast has not yet been announced, we can only hope for cameos from the iconic 2002 stars including Linda Cardellini, Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Freddie Prinze Jr., who all also returned for the 2004 sequel.

“Scooby-Doo” will be written by Midnight Radio’s Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, who also brought the live-action version of “Cowboy Bebop” to Netflix. Appelbaum and Rosenberg will serve as showrunners on the series, which the duo, André Nemec, and Jeff Pinkner executive produce via Midnight Radio. Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman executive produce for Berlanti Productions via the company’s Warner Bros. Television deal. WBTV is the studio.

The “Scooby-Doo!” franchise was launched in 1969 and was created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears. The first animated series “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” was made for Hanna-Barbera, which was later absorbed into Warner Bros. Animation.

“One of my first and favorite jobs in Hollywood was sitting with Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera while they signed animation cells,” Greg Berlanti, the executive producer for “Scooby-Doo,” 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!”

Peter Friedlander, the Vice President of Scripted Series at Netflix, said, “Mystery, Inc. is back in business! We’re excited to bring Scooby-Doo to TV as a live-action series for the first time. 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.”

Clancy Collins White, President of Creative Affairs at Warner Bros. Television, added, “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. 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.”

The “Scooby-Doo” franchise has been expanded upon by Warner Bros. prior to the Discovery deal. Mindy Kaling’s “Velma” series aired for two seasons; the original animated series was recently removed from Max amid a push to reduce the amount of kids content on the streamer. In total, the “Scooby-Doo” IP has led to three theatrical films, more than a dozen animated series, and nearly 40 animated home entertainment movies.