Netflix's Scooby-Doo live action series officially passes its most daunting hurtle

It’s been a long time coming, but Scooby-Doo will finally make his way to Netflix! No, the cartoons aren’t being added to Netflix, and the live-action movies aren’t coming either (though don’t count those possibilities out). But we have the update we have been waiting for regarding the live-action, and still unnamed, Scooby-Doo series in the works at Netflix!

Regretting You and Scream 7 star McKenna Grace was the first cast member announced as one of the core four Mystery Inc. members, taking on the iconic role as Daphne Blake that was previously taken on by Sarah Michelle Gellar. One month later, Netflix has rounded out the rest of the main cast, announcing the actors who will play Shaggy, Velma, and Fred.

Tanner Hagen will play Shaggy Rogers, the laid back guy who becomes Scooby’s righthand man and partner in figurative crime. Abby Ryder Fortson will don Velma Dinkley’s glasses, and Maxwell Jenkins will play heartthrob Fred Jones, known as Freddy in the new series. We’ll have to wait and see whether Freddy will have the bleach-blonde hair and ascot he’s become synonymous with.

Getting the main four cast members right was by far the live-action Scooby-Doo series’ most daunting hurtle to overcome after getting the straight-to-series order in March 2025. It’s been a year since the streaming service gave the series the green light, so we can imagine that showrunners Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg and executive producer Greg Berlanti have been working hard to bring these multi-generation-defining characters to life with the perfect cast.

In addition to learning who will be playing the Mystery Inc. team, Netflix also pulled back the curtain on what to expect from the series. Before the casting announcements were made and the official plot synopsis was revealed, all we knew about the forthcoming series was that it was an origin story about the team. But now we know the full setup of the story.

Check out the official Scooby-Doo live action series synopsis via Netflix’s press release:

“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.”

There might be some Scooby-Doo fans who are deep in the lore who could poke some holes here, but it’s interesting that Daphne and Shaggy are the long-time friends at the center of the series. Obviously, summer camp is a naturally spooky location to kick off a horror-leaning supernatural series, and there’s an organic way to bring the core four together.

One of the biggest questions fans will likely have revolved around Scooby himself. Apparently, he’s a puppy in this modern retelling (yes, it takes place in modern day), but he remains a mystery. Will he be CGI? Will he be a real puppy? Will he talk? There’s no confirmation just yet on what Scooby’s look will be, just like the rest of the team. Will they still have vintage style?

The Netflix live-action series has been in development since April 2024, and the long build-up period to get to this point tells us one thing: They’re really trying to get this right. Netflix hasn’t shared when the series will release, but we shouldn’t expect it much before sometime in 2027. Until then, we’ll share all the latest updates on what’s surely one of Netflix’s most highly anticipated new shows!