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Netflix has unveiled the first-look at its upcoming Scooby-Doo live-action series, and certain fans are having a ruff day.
In a clip posted to social media, a young version of the beloved canine sleuth can be seen running through the woods and meeting Shaggy for the first time.
The series titled “Scooby-Doo: Origins” is “unleashing in 2027”, with the Mystery Inc. Gang consisting of Tanner Hagen as Norville “Shaggy” Rogers, Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley, and Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake.
The official logline describes the show as modern reimagining of the beloved cartoon.
“During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy (Hagen) and Daphne (Grace) get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder,” the logline reads.
“Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma (Fortson), and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy (Jenkins), 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.”
That’s all very well and good, but some fans of the original show created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears aren’t pleased with the casting of the doggo.
Critics have argued that the dog looks nothing like the original cartoon. “It’s not even close to real Scooby,” wrote one user, with another commenting: “Y’all had one job…”
“SCOOBY IS A GREAT DANE!!!!!! How do you mess up something so simple????” wrote one person on Instagram. Another pup connoisseur suggested that the dog looks more like a Labrador rather than a Great Dane. “People have never seen a Great Dane puppy and it shows.”
“Not every animal needs to be ‘real’ for it to have emotional weight in a story. Scooby works cuz he’s basically a child in a giant CARTOON dogs body,” said another.
“I mean, it’s cute, but it’s not Scooby.”
Some did try to steer the conversation back to reason (good luck with that on socials) by stating: “This is a show about a talking dog. And it’s live action which means no cgi talking dog. Who cares if he’s not a normal looking Great Dane puppy you all think he should be.”
Scheduled for a 2027 release, Netflix’s eight-part series Scooby-Doo: Origins is helmed by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg. Voice actor Frank Welker, who has voiced Scooby since 2002, will reprise his role as the four-legged star of the show.