New live action Scooby Doo movie coming

[Raph's Girl]

http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=25307

Cartoon Network and Warner Premiere have announced the start of production on Scooby-Doo: In The Beginning, an all-new, live-action prequel that will be debut on the network Fall, 2009 to coincide with the DVD release. This original movie will commence principal photography on August 4, 2008 in Vancouver, BC, it was announced today by Diane Nelson, President, Warner Premiere and Rob Sorcher, Chief Content Officer, Cartoon Network.

"Scooby-Doo has enchanted generations of audiences for nearly 40 years and, as evidenced by box office, DVD sales and television ratings, the franchise today is stronger than ever," said Nelson. "We're delighted to extend the Scooby-Doo legacy into another live-action film, and bring these beloved characters to an even greater legion of fans in an all-new original movie."

"This contemporary take on "Scooby Doo" will be an exciting movie event on Cartoon Network," said Sorcher. "This project is also an anchor component of our new push into movies, our great partnership with Warner Premiere and the overall expansion of Cartoon Network programming efforts."

Scooby-Doo: In The Beginning is set prior to the 2002 & 2004 live-action Scooby-Doo films. The newest entry in the popular franchise finds the Mystery Inc. gang, a mismatched quartet of unlikely teenage pals, uniting for the first time to solve the haunting of their high school. The film is a co-production between Warner Premiere and Cartoon Network. Warner Home Video will be the home entertainment distributor.

Director Brian Levant takes the helm of Scooby-Doo: In The Beginning, which is being produced by Brian Gilbert (The Deaths of Ian Stone) and penned by the Altiere Brothers (Doctor Dolittle, Goin' Hollywood). A writer-director who began his career scripting episodes of Mork & Mindy and Happy Days, Levant has significant experience in the live-action/CG arena with both canines and Hanna-Barbara properties. Levant directed the popular dog-starring films Beethoven and Snow Dogs, and was behind the camera for the Hanna-Barbera cartoon-brought-to-life versions of The Flintstones and The Flintstones in Viva Las Vegas. Levant also directed the recent Ice Cube hit Are We There Yet and the Arnold Schwarzenegger holiday vehicle Jingle All The Way.

The live-action cast is headed by Rob Amell (Life With Derek, Cheaper By The Dozen 2) as Freddy along with relative newcomers Kaitlyn Melton as Daphne, Hayley Alcroft as Velma and Nick Palatas as Shaggy.

Scooby-Doo will appear via computer-generated animation (courtesy of Animation Picture Company), and his voice will be provided by Frank Welker.

Warner exec: "Hey! You know what we need?? A prequel to the Scooby Doo movies!"
Cartoon Network: "Yes! U can put it on my network! Oh! And it can be set in High School where they FIRST MEET!"
Random person: "But didn't they meet as children in "A Pup Named Scooby Doo" which AIRED on Cartoon Network??"
Warner Bros and Cartoon Network: "SHHHH!!"

[ThirdMarioBro]

Should I care? No. Do I care? No.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by ThirdMarioBro

Should I care? No. Do I care? No.

Yeah pretty much same here, people are seriously out of ideas.

[Ninjinister]

Retcons are no bueno.

[The Stryker]

The guy who's directing this directed Jingle all the way.

I'm ****ing down.

[Spike Spiegel]

Why don't they spend that time and those resources to make Cartoon Network better or at least put Toonami back on during weekdays. It's a vortex of mindless doom now...

And haven't they done ENOUGH with Mr. Doo yet??

[Drtooth]

Levant also directed the recent Ice Cube hit Are We There Yet

Shudder... is that the film franchise with the terrible animatronic deer screaming in the trailer?

Seriously... to quote Monseur Garfield, people who make Family films like that should be drug out to the street and shot.

Now, I did enjoy the Scooby films (except for the end of the second one, with that totally unnecisarry performance by a fat dude that won American Idol that year that people have since forgotten), but this is just rediculous. They were supposed to make a Scooby 3, and it was supposed to be similar to this. But is was originally planned as a "Pup named Scooby Doo" movie.

And to Cartoon Network.... reread the name of your organization. and STOP TRYING TO BE THE &^&%^$ DISNEY CHANNEL!!!!! You're NOT getting their viewers, so for the love of Mike, STOP!!!!

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

And to Cartoon Network.... reread the name of your organization. and STOP TRYING TO BE THE &^&%^$ DISNEY CHANNEL!!!!! You're NOT getting their viewers, so for the love of Mike, STOP!!!!

I've been saying that for years... every time they advertise a live action movie for CN, I say to myself "I thought this was the CARTOON Network!

[poiuytre]

I wish Tim Burton would make a cool gothic Scooby Doo movie. Depp can do Shaggy and Carter can play Freddie.

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by The S

I've been saying that for years... every time they advertise a live action movie for CN, I say to myself "I thought this was the CARTOON Network!

I blame this whole thing on the idiots they keep hiring to run the network. Ever since that guy was P.R. fired (i.e. forced to step down, but they make it look like it was a volentary decision) for the Mooninites Lite Brite fiasco, they just haven't had a single person that cares about the product they're selling, and wants to desperately be the Disney Channel, and it's shallow live action shows. this Scooby Movie is only being made because of HSM and crap like that. Every single 10 year old wants to be a teenager these days.

[comixfan]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

Now, I did enjoy the Scooby films (except for the end of the second one, with that totally unnecisarry performance by a fat dude that won American Idol that year that people have since forgotten), but this is just rediculous.

That part of the movie did seem rather off to me. LOL! I enjoyed the music, but couldn't quite get past the reason why it was there.

Reading everyone else's reaction to this, I guess I should start having doubts about it myself. I dunno. I checked all of the cast members who will be playing the human members of Mystery Inc., and the only one who seems appropriate for her role is the kid playing Daphne.

I told my brother about the kid playing young Freddy, and he asked an interesting question, "Why are they casting dark-haired boys to play a blond one?" Haha!

I'll watch this and hope to be entertained the same way I was when that live-action Ben 10 movie aired last year (that one was mildly enjoyable, but I wished they could've used more aliens and less Ben).

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by comixfan

I told my brother about the kid playing young Freddy, and he asked an interesting question, "Why are they casting dark-haired boys to play a blond one?" Haha!

Oh Im sure Rob Amell will look as hot with blonde hair as he does with dark. That boy is fiiiiine. Num!!!

Freddie Prinze Jr looked good as a blonde. But Rob Amell is WAY hotter than Freddie Prinze Jr....

The kid playing Shaggy actually looks the part.

[KROW]

I don't care for the fact that it's a prequel. The only good thing about that is no Scrappy Doo. I'd really much rather prefer another sequel, if only to enjoy seeing Matt Lillard as Shaggy... and Linda Cardellini as Velma... rowr...

Originally Posted by Raph's Girl

The kid playing Shaggy actually looks the part.

Who's playing Shaggy, and what does he look like?