Summary

• Netflix's upcoming live-action Scooby-Doo series could finally bring an adult version the franchise never saw before.
• The 2002 Scooby-Doo movie's R-rated cut hints at the potential for a more grown-up take on the beloved series.
• With Netflix at the helm, fans can expect more character development and new storylines in the upcoming Scooby-Doo show.

It was recently announced that Netflix is in the process of developing a live-action Scooby-Doo television series, and while there are many reasons why this new project is exciting, one big one is that this show can make up for the R-rated Scooby-Doo movie that never happened. Although Scooby-Doo first originated as an animated series all the way back in 1969, the franchise has had a long media history, from various animated TV series to live-action movies and spinoffs. Recently, new Scooby-Doo content hasn't done as well as hoped, however, this is a chance to revive the beloved franchise.

Netflix's live-action Scooby-Doo project was announced at the end of April 2024. Deadline reported that the series would be produced by Berlanti Productions, which has previously worked on series like You, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and various DC superhero shows like The Flash. Furthermore, it was revealed that the series is titled Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series. Though nothing has been revealed about Netflix's Scooby-Doo cast or plot, it is undeniable that this new Scooby-Doo project could be a chance to do something different with Scooby-Doo that has never been done before.

Netflix's Scooby-Doo Show Can Be The Adult Scooby-Doo Story That Never Happened

Scooby-Doo has never had an adult rating

Despite all the various sequels, remakes, and versions of Scooby-Doo that have been created over the decades, there is one aspect of Scooby-Doo that has never changed: its rating. Although Scooby-Doo technically follows a group of teenagers, its television series and movies have always held a rating appropriate for children, and have rarely ever gone above a PG rating, aside from Mindy Kahling's 2023 take on the franchise, Velma.

In many ways, this hasn't really hurt Scooby-Doo too much, however that does not mean that a more adult Scooby-Doo would not be successful. In fact, many audiences want it.

Now that Netflix is helming a new Scooby-Doo project, this is the chance for the franchise to take a more adult turn. Although Velma faced many criticisms, the show's rating was not a part of the problem. If anything, making Scooby-Doo more adult gives it an edge that is refreshing and unique from past iterations. If Netflix truly wants to make their version of Scooby-Doo exciting and different, then raising the rating, even to PG-13, could be incredibly beneficial. Though it seems like a small detail, it truly can make the difference between a good show and a great one.

Scooby-Doo (2002)'s R-Rated Cut Explained (& Why It Wasn't Released)

Scooby-Doo has tried to go adult before

If Netflix does decide to make Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series more appropriate for teens and adults, it would be fulfilling a prophecy 20 years in the making. Though Scooby-Doo has rarely gone beyond a PG rating since 1969, there was once a time when it was almost Rated R. In 2002, director and writer James Gunn took on the screenplays for 2002's Scooby-Doo and 2004's Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. These live-action movies were the first of their kind for the Scooby-Doo franchise, and according to Gunn, were going to be marketed towards adults rather than children.

In 2017, James Gunn took to Facebook and confirmed rumors that the original cut of 2002's Scooby-Doo was rated R by the MPAA. He noted that he and director Raja Gosnell were aiming for a PG-13 rating, therefore the Rated-R cut was promptly changed. Gunn revealed that a female star's cleavage was even CGI-ed out of the film. In the end, Scooby-Doo ended up being rated PG, leaving many audiences wondering what the beloved film would have looked like if it had been allowed to be more geared toward adults. Netflix may have the chance to show us.

The Scooby-Doo live-action cast included Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Lina Cardellini.

What To Expect From Netflix's Scooby-Doo Show After 5 Live-Action Movies

Netflix can include more character development and new storylines

Although fans are excited for Netflix's Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series, there are questions about what the show will look like after so many years of Scooby-Doo. Though a live-action series has never been done before, the live-action movies are pillars of the franchise, and therefore, Netflix will have to really set themselves apart. Considering that this is a Scooby-Doo show, it may be that Netflix will dive deeper into character development and new storylines. Rather than being a monster-of-the-week show, Netflix can offer more of an overarching story, and with that, a better understanding of these popular characters.

There is still quite a long wait before audiences get to enjoy Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series, so all that is left to do is theorize. With so much content behind it, Netflix has high expectations to meet, however there are certainly ways in which they can succeed. The key is to do something different. Whether that is by increasing the rating or adding another new detail, Netflix's Scooby-Doo series needs to prove that there is a reason it's being made, aside from pure nostalgia.