AceShowbiz - Netflix has officially started production on the highly anticipated live-action series Scooby-Doo: Origins, bringing Mystery Incorporated to life in a fresh new way. Filming is underway in Atlanta, Georgia, and to mark the occasion, Netflix released the first official image of the cast in character, offering fans a glimpse at the reboot’s youthful ensemble — though notably, the beloved Great Dane Scooby-Doo himself is absent from the shot.

The newly revealed image shows the core gang cautiously peering around a large wooden door. From top to bottom, the characters include Fred Jones, played by Maxwell Jenkins (Reacher); Daphne Blake, portrayed by McKenna Grace (Scream 7); Velma Dinkley, taken on by Abby Ryder Fortson (Ant-Man); and Shaggy Rogers, played by Tanner Hagen (The Pitt). While Scooby-Doo himself is missing from the image, a large paw print on the door hints at his presence within the story.

In addition to the main cast, Paul Walter Hauser (The Naked Gun) has joined the project in an undisclosed role. His involvement stokes speculation that he might portray a monster or antagonist in costume, adding a layer of mystery to the reboot’s narrative.

Scooby-Doo: Origins is set to explore the beginnings of the iconic group’s friendship. The storyline centers on old friends Shaggy and Daphne spending their last summer at camp, where they become embroiled in a haunting mystery involving a Great Dane puppy who may have witnessed a supernatural murder. Teaming up with the quirky local Velma and the enigmatic newcomer Fred, the four form the newly minted Mystery Incorporated and set out to unravel the spooky secrets before them.

For those unfamiliar with the franchise, Scooby-Doo was originally created in 1969 by writers Ken Ruby and Joe Spears for Hanna-Barbera, following concerns from parents' groups about cartoon violence. The show featured four teenagers and their talking Great Dane traveling in the Mystery Machine van, solving eerie cases that often turned out to be elaborate hoaxes perpetrated by adults in disguise.

The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring a multitude of spin-offs, adaptations, and feature films over the decades. Unlike the more traditional mystery unmasking of villains seen in the original, some later iterations, such as The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, explored genuine supernatural elements within their stories.

The franchise’s live-action film debut came in the early 2000s with two theatrical releases: Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed. Directed by Raja Gosnell and written by James Gunn, these films brought the characters to life with a star-studded cast and a comedic tone. Several live-action TV movies followed, but Scooby-Doo: Origins will mark the very first live-action series installment in the Scooby-Doo saga.

The series is being helmed by writers and executive producers Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, known for their work on projects like High Fidelity, Citadel, and Everything Sucks!. Other executive producers include Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman from Berlanti Productions; André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Adrienne Erickson from Midnight Radio; with Toby Haynes (Andor) directing the pilot episode.

As Scooby-Doo: Origins continues production, Netflix has yet to announce a release date for the series. Fans eager for updates should stay tuned, as more details and promotional material are expected to emerge in the coming months.

With its blend of mystery, adventure, and comedy, Scooby-Doo: Origins aims to bring a new generation into the fold while honoring the legacy of the classic animated franchise. This reboot promises to deepen the origins story of Mystery Incorporated, exploring how these four friends—and a Great Dane puppy—became the iconic crime-solving team beloved around the world.