Mckenna Grace is officially confirmed to play Daphne Blake in Netflix’s upcoming Scooby-Doo live-action series. Grace previously voiced the younger version of Daphne in the 2020 animated film SCOOB!. Known for her roles in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Young Sheldon, Grace shared her excitement on an Instagram post with the caption:
“Oh my jeepers😭💜 I can’t believe life is real I could cry all over again just looking at this announcement. So thankful, SO excited. 🚙🔎💜”
Set during one final summer at camp, the upcoming Netflix Scooby-Doo live-action series will reimagine the early days of Mystery Inc., telling an origin story about how the famous group first came together.
From voice to live-action: Mckenna Grace returns to play Daphne Blake in Netflix’s Scooby-Doo live-action series
While Grace is the first lead to be officially confirmed, reports suggest that actor Frank Welker may return to provide the voice for Scooby-Doo himself. The rest of the Mystery Inc. gang: Fred, Velma, and Shaggy, are still being cast, with the studio reportedly looking for teenage actors to keep the show feeling like an authentic origin story.
The series, potentially titled Scooby-Doo: Origins, will consist of eight episodes with a runtime of about one hour. The official logline of the upcoming Scooby-Doo live-action series reads:
“A modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog. During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, 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.”
Filming is scheduled to begin in April 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Because production will run through the summer, fans can likely expect the show to premiere on Netflix sometime in 2027.
The Scooby-Doo franchise began on September 13, 1969, with the premiere of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears for Hanna-Barbera, the show initially aired on CBS. It later moved to ABC in 1976 and eventually found a long-term home on Cartoon Network and Boomerang.
The show followed four teenagers and their talking Great Dane as they solved spooky mysteries with a mix of humor and suspense. Over the decades, the franchise expanded to air on networks like ABC and The WB, alongside numerous films and reboots. The series has spawned over 15 different TV series, dozens of movies, and a massive following.
With Netflix and Warner Bros. Television backing the project, Scooby-Doo live-action series is being brought to life by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, the writing duo behind the Cowboy Bebop adaptation. They serve as executive producers alongside Greg Berlanti’s production company.
Netflix has yet to announce the official release date and further cast details about the upcoming live-action series.
Edited by Suchita Patnaha
