Scoob!

VOD release poster

***Scoob!*** is a 2020 American computer-animated mystery comedy film produced by the Warner Animation Group, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is a reboot of the theatrical *Scooby-Doo* film series and the third theatrical film based on the characters, following *Scooby-Doo* (2002) and *Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed* (2004). The film is directed by Tony Cervone (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Adam Sztykiel, Jack Donaldson, Derek Elliott, and Matt Lieberman, and a story by Lieberman, Eyal Podell, and Jonathon E. Stewart. It stars the voices of Frank Welker, Will Forte, Gina Rodriguez, Zac Efron, and Amanda Seyfried. The film also features the voices of Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs, Kiersey Clemons, Ken Jeong, and Tracy Morgan as other Hanna-Barbera animated characters. Set in a Hanna-Barbera animated multiverse, the film follows Mystery Incorporated working with the Blue Falcon to solve their most challenging mystery behind their mascot's secret legacy and purpose, which connects with Dick Dastardly's evil plan to unleash Cerberus.

Plans for a new *Scooby-Doo* theatrical film began in June 2014, when Warner Bros. announced that they would reboot the *Scooby-Doo* film series with an animated film. Cervone was hired to direct the film in August 2015, with Dax Shepard being brought to co-direct it in September 2016, until he was no longer part of the project by October 2018. Warner Bros. then hired Chris Columbus, whose "affection for the character" made him a creative producer on the final film, while the studio “understands how much of its history is rooted in these iconic characters”.

*Scoob!* was originally set for a worldwide theatrical release on May 15, 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic causing the closure of theaters across the globe, Warner Bros. made the film available to own digitally in the United States on the same date it was planned to be released in theaters. It received a theatrical release in select countries beginning in July 2020 and a secondary theatrical release in the United States beginning on May 21, 2021, for three days. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its animation, voice performances, and sense of nostalgia but criticized its modernization, screenplay, and polarizing casting choices. *Scoob!* topped digital rental charts in its first three weekends of release, and became the third-most watched title on PVOD in 2020.

A prequel, *Scoob!: Holiday Haunt*, was set for release through HBO Max; it was cancelled in August 2022, although production on the film was completed after its cancellation.

## Plot

In Venice Beach, a young, lonely Shaggy Rogers befriends and adopts a young talking stray Great Dane, whom he names Scooby-Doo. On Halloween night, Scooby and Shaggy meet three young children—Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, and Velma Dinkley—before venturing into a haunted house, where they capture a thief disguised as a ghost, which inspires them to form Mystery Inc. and solve mysteries together.

After years of solving mysteries, Mystery Inc. goes into business. During an investor meeting with Simon Cowell, he refuses to do business with Scooby and Shaggy involved due to their behavior, which he insultingly proclaims as childish, and claiming friendship as useless. Infuriated, the pair quit the group and storm out to the Takamoto bowling alley, where they are terrorized by shapeshifting robots called Rottens that belong to Dick Dastardly, who seek to capture Scooby and Cerberus' three skulls. They are rescued by Dee Dee Skyes, and their lifelong idols, Dynomutt and Brian Crown, who has taken over from his father's role as the masked superhero, Blue Falcon. Dastardly and the Rottens trap and terrorize Scooby and Shaggy in a creepy abandoned amusement park, but the Falcon Force rescues them and investigates that Dastardly finds Scooby important, causing Shaggy to feel alone.

Meanwhile, Fred, Daphne, and Velma discover that Dastardly is after Scooby and Shaggy, and head off to investigate. The group also reminisces about the good times they had with Shaggy and Scooby around, before being imprisoned in Dastardly's airship. They escape with one of the Rottens' help and make contact with Dee Dee to explain that she and the others are being taken to Messick Mountain, where the last skull is located. The group then finds out that Dastardly's plan is to open the gates to the Underworld to rescue his dog Muttley, who was trapped during an attempt to steal the Underworld's riches. Dastardly needs Scooby to unlock the gates since he is the last remaining descendant of Alexander the Great's dog, Peritas.

Scooby, Shaggy, and the Falcon Force go underground to a prehistoric island in Messick Mountain. Shaggy, who sees Scooby's importance as an insult to their friendship, wants Scooby to stay with him on the ship. Scooby wants Shaggy to join him and the group, but Shaggy demands Scooby choose between him and them. Scooby picks the Falcon Force, to Shaggy's dismay, and finds Captain Caveman guarding the last skull and testing his bravery, in a fight for it. Dastardly tricks Shaggy into taking him to Scooby and the skull, and captures them, while the Rottens throw Fred, Daphne, and Velma out of the airship. Shaggy expresses guilt and remorse for Scooby's capture, and his speech inspires everyone to work together and rescue Scooby.

Arriving in Athens, Dastardly reveals the Underworld's gates with the three skulls and tries to unlock them with Scooby's paw while Scooby's friends pursue him in a flying Mystery Machine. The Rottens shoot them down, while Dastardly releases the rampaging Cerberus, causing the town to flee. Scooby runs to the crash site to reunite with his friends, and Dastardly reunites with Muttley in the Underworld, and they escape with some treasure. Scooby and Shaggy determine how to trap Cerberus; Fred, Daphne, and Velma determine how to close the gates; and the Falcon Force flies around Cerberus to keep him distracted. With help from the Rottens, they trap Cerberus back in the Underworld, but Shaggy sacrifices himself to stay inside the Underworld and lock the gates, following Alexander the Great and Peritas' bond prophecy. The gang finds an exit that continues the prophecy, which Scooby unlocks to reunite with Shaggy.

The Rottens capture Muttley and Dastardly, who is unmasked twice in a revelation that he impersonated Cowell. The Falcon Force takes the pair into custody, while Mystery Inc. returns home and unveils their official new headquarters. They celebrate their grand opening with the entire town, including the Falcon Force, who gifts them an upgraded Mystery Machine, before they head off to solve another mystery.

## Voice cast

*Main article: List of Scooby-Doo characters*

* Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo, a talking Great Dane who was adopted by Shaggy
	+ Welker is the only current voice cast member from the franchise to reprise his role for the film, and also provides the vocal effects of the pterodactyl.
* Will Forte as Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers, Scooby-Doo's best friend and one of the main character in the franchise . He is considered as the best human character in the mystery gang .
	+ Iain Armitage as young Shaggy Rogers
* Mark Wahlberg as Brian Crown / Blue Falcon, the original Blue Falcon's son and successor. Crown is Wahlberg's first voice acting role, with the actor previously only performing live roles.
* Jason Isaacs as Dick Dastardly, a criminal mastermind plotting to obtain treasure from the Greek underworld and rescue his dog Muttley
* Gina Rodriguez as Velma Dinkley, the intellectual brain of Mystery Inc.
	+ Ariana Greenblatt as young Velma Dinkley
* Zac Efron as Fred Jones, the leader of Mystery Inc.
	+ Pierce Gagnon as young Fred Jones
* Amanda Seyfried as Daphne Blake, the fashionable member of Mystery Inc.
	+ Mckenna Grace as young Daphne Blake
* Kiersey Clemons as Dee Dee Skyes, the pilot for the Falcon Force
* Ken Jeong as Dynomutt the Dog Wonder, the robot dog sidekick of Blue Falcon
* Tracy Morgan as Captain Caveman, a fur-covered caveman superhero who resides in Messick Mountain
* Simon Cowell as himself, Mystery Inc.'s first investor who is later revealed to be Dastardly in disguise.
* Christina Hendricks as Officer Jaffe, a police officer. She is named after Nicole Jaffe, the original voice of Velma.
* Henry Winkler as Keith, the servant of the Falcon Fury
* Harry Perry as himself
* John DiMaggio as a restaurant owner
* Kevin Heffernan as Officer Gary, a police officer who pursues a younger Scooby-Doo
* Ira Glass as himself
* Henry Kaufman as Chad and Chet, two kids who steal Shaggy's Halloween candy
* Maya Erskine as Judy Takamoto, the proprietor of Takamoto Bowling. She is named after Iwao Takamoto, the original designer of Scooby-Doo.
* Billy West as Muttley, the dog sidekick of Dick Dastardly
	+ Don Messick provides Muttley's laughs, as well as the Spooky Space Kook, via archive recordings
* Fred Tatasciore as Cerberus, the giant three-headed ghost dog that guards the Greek underworld
* Justina Machado as Jamie Rivera
* John McDaniel as Hal Murphy
* Pam Coats as Mrs Rogers, the mother of Shaggy
* Adam Sztykiel as Officer Casey, a police officer who investigates stolen items at the Rigby House. He is named after the late Casey Kasem, the original voice of Shaggy.
* Alex Kaufman as Officer North, a police officer who investigates stolen items at the Rigby House. She is named after the late Heather North, the second voice of Daphne.
* Vanara Taing as Dusty/Baby Rotten
* Sarah Lancia as Dispatcher Stevens, a police dispatcher. She is named after Pat Stevens, the second voice of Velma.

Additionally, director Tony Cervone cameos as the voices of Ghost/Mr. Rigby as well as Alice.