Cartoon Network and Warner Premiere today commenced production on Scooby-Doo: In The Beginning, a live-action/CG prequel that will be debut on the network in the fall of 2009, shortly before being released on DVD. by Warner Home Video. The pic is being shot in Vancouver, BC by director Brian Levant (The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, The Flintstones) from a script by the Altiere Brothers (Doctor Dolittle, Goin’ Hollywood). Brian Gilbert (The Deaths of Ian Stone) is producing.
Scooby-Doo: In The Beginning is set prior to the 2002 and 2004 live-action films. This newest entry finds the Mystery Inc. gang uniting for the first time to solve the haunting of their high school. Rob Amell (Life With Derek, Cheaper By The Dozen 2) is playing Fred, leading a cast of relative newcomers including Kaitlyn Melton as Daphne, Hayley Alcroft as Velma and Nick Palatas as Shaggy. Scooby will be a CG-animated character created by Animation Picture Company and voiced by Frank Welker, a member of the original cartoon cast.
‘This contemporary take on Scooby-Doo will be an exciting movie event on Cartoon Network,’ comments Rob Sorcher, chief content officer for Cartoon Network. ‘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 sprang from the legendary Hanna-Barbara studios with the 1969 cartoon Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? The property has spawned ten televisions series, seven TV specials/telefilms and 12 made-for-video films. The latest animated DVD feature, Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King, is set to debut in September. The two live-action movies, Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, made a combined $458 million at the box office worldwide.
