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Matthew Lillard shared his thoughts on Netflix’s planned live-action Scooby-Doo series, and also weighed in on the reboot as the streamer develops a new take on the iconic mystery gang. Lillard, of course, also played Shaggy in a live-action movie in the early 2000s.
“My general thought is, I’m really happy for them. I think the show needs to come back,” Lillard said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Lillard also hinted that there are key elements he hopes will remain in the new version. “I think it’s good to have that back,” he said. “My hope is that they hold tight to what’s tried and true and hack away at it. But the reality is, I’m kind of a purist when it comes to this series. The core of this work is really about friendship, and I hope they continue to have that because it’s really sweet.”
Why Lillard wants Scooby-Doo back in animation
He also expressed a desire for another Scooby-Doo animated series.
“I haven’t done an animated series in years, and I think this is terrible,” Lillard said. “I think this is a great way for kids to understand storytelling. For a lot of kids, this is their first introduction to ghost stories, right? It’s about friendship, it’s about coming together as a gang and working together to solve a mystery. And usually it’s a dangerous white guy in a mask. Those are the things kids have to learn.”
Lillard played Shaggy in 2002’s Scooby-Doo, co-starring Sarah Michelle Gellar (Daphne), Freddie Prinze Jr. (Fred), Linda Cardellini (Velma), and played the voice of Neil Fanning’s talking Great Dane. This film was followed by Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed in 2004, both films directed by Raja Gosnell.
What we know about Netflix’s live-action Scooby-Doo series
Netflix describes the project as a modern-day origin story set during the group’s final summer camp. According to the official synopsis, “Old friends Shaggy and Daphne become embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely Great Dane puppy who may be a witness to a supernatural murder,” before teaming up with “down-to-earth, scientific townie Velma” and “weird but very handsome newcomer Freddy.”
The series is being developed by showrunners and writers Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, along with Greg Berlanti and Berlanti Productions. Cast and premiere date have not been announced.
