Scoob (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max)

Initial release date: May 15, 2020

Studios: Warner Bros/ Warner Animation Group

Tagline: His epic tail begins

Mystery Loves Company

Plot: With hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever - a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerbeus upon the world. As they race to stop this global dog-pocalypse, the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone could have imagined.

Cast

Will Forte - Shaggy Rogers

Mark Wahlberg - Blue Falcon

Jason Issacs - Dick Dastardly

Gina Rodriguez - Velma Dinkley

Zac Efron - Fred Jones

Amanda Seyfried- Daphne Blake

Kiersey Clemons - Dee Dee Skyes

Ken Jeong - Dynomutt

Tracy Morgan - Captain Caveman

Frank Welker - Scooby Doo

Iain Armitage - Young Shaggy

Mckenna Grace - Young Daphne

Pierce Gagnon - Young Fred

Ariana Greenblatt - Young Velma

Simon Cowell - Simon Cowell

Christina Hendricks - Officer Jeffe

Henry Winkler - Keith

Writer(s) Adam Sztykiel (Rampage; Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip)

Jack C. Donaldson

Matt Lieberman (Free Guy; Christmas Chronicles 2)

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera (based on characters created by)

Director: Tony Cervone

Rated PG for some action, language and rude/suggestive humor (93 min)

The 2020 animated feature ‘Scoob’ is a fun time for the kids and the rest of the family. This take of the ‘Scooby Doo’ series is a nice fresh take on the beloved series and shows how the gang met when they were younger.

‘Scoob’ also has quite a few humorous social media gags that may go over the kiddos' heads. But, this is great family fun and can be a little heart-felt at times. Parents will also really enjoy this movie since most of them grew up with the original cartoons.

And, throughout the movie, there are some references to other Hanna-Barbera properties.

‘Scoob’ is available on the HBO Mac streaming platform and other PVOD sites where you can rent or buy the movie.

Here are quite a few interesting tidbits for ‘Scoob’:

• The montage of Scooby Doo and their adventures is almost a shot by shot replica of the opening credits of ‘Scooby Doo, Where Are You.’

• This is the first time since 1988s ‘A Pup Named Scooby Doo’ that Fred Jones isn’t voiced by Frank Welker. Welker originated the role in ‘Scooby Doo, Where Are You,’ and has voiced the character in all of his appearances as an adult. Welker provides the voice of Scooby, which he has been doing since the premiere of ‘What’s New, Scooby Doo.’

• This film is the first time that Shaggy is voiced by someone other than Matthew Lilliard (who portrayed Shaggy in the live action films and became the character’s voice since 2010) since 2009s ‘Scooby Doo and the Samurai Sword.’

• This is planned to be the first installment of a Hanna Barbera Cinematic Universe.

• In the final scene, the logo on the back of Velma’s laptop is a Q, the symbol of Quest Labs from ‘Jonny Quest.’

• Second fully animated remake to a live action Hanna-Barbera film franchise, after 2017s ‘Smurfs: The Lost Village.’

• On June 17, 2014, WB announced that they would reboot the ‘Scooby Doo’ movie series with an animated movie.

• At the 2016 CinemaCon, the movie’s official title was announced to be ‘S.C.O.O.B.,’ with a plot involving Scooby and Shaggy recruited by a larger organization led by Blue Falcon. It was intended to lead into a cinematic universe based on Hanna-Barbera properties.

• Later in production, many miscellaneous Hanna-Barbera characters were cut, and the story changed to focus on Scooby and Shaggy’s friendship and give Scooby an emotional arc.

• Originally set for a September 21, 2018 release, before being pushed back to May 15, 2020. Like most releases, the theatrical release was delayed. It was announced on April 21, 2020 that WB canceled the domestic theatrical release and instead made the movie available through PVOD on the originally intended theatrical date. The movie was eventually reissued in domestic theaters for the weekend of May 21-23, 2021.

• A spin-off movie for HBO Max and a sequel are currently in development.

https://youtu.be/GzlEnS7MmUo