Netflix’s Scooby-Doo Series Sets Tanner Hagen As Shaggy, Abby Ryder Fortson As Velma & Maxwell Jenkins As Fred, Joining Mckenna Grace As Daphne

What happened

Netflix has cast the main human characters for its upcoming live-action Scooby-Doo series. Tanner Hagen will play Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson will portray Velma Dinkley, and Maxwell Jenkins will take on Fred Jones. They join previously announced McKenna Grace as Daphne Blake to complete the Mystery Inc. gang.

Why people care

Scooby-Doo remains one of the most beloved animated franchises, and live-action adaptations mullin-dhs-nomination-over-personal-feud.html" class="story-link" title="Markwayne Mullin’s Confirmation Hearing Was the Funniest in Ages—and Might Have ">have historically been both commercially successful and critically divisive. The casting choices for iconic characters like these always generate intense scrutiny from fans who have strong opinions about how their childhood favorites should be portrayed. Netflix's track record with nostalgic properties adds another layer of anticipation and skepticism.

The takes

Fans say

The casting looks promising, with each actor having solid credentials from recent projects like Lost in Space and Are You There God? It's Me Margaret. The young cast seems age-appropriate for a fresh take on the teenage mystery-solving gang. At least Netflix appears to be taking the property seriously rather than going for cheap nostalgia bait.

Skeptics say

Live-action Scooby-Doo has been tried before with mixed results at best, and these relatively unknown young actors face an impossible task living up to decades of animated legacy. The franchise works best in animated form, and Netflix's tendency to cancel shows after a season or two makes any investment in new characters feel risky. Some question whether modern audiences even want another Scooby-Doo reboot.

Sources