Mckenna Grace – Photo by Olivia Wong/FilmMagic
The Mystery Machine is officially filling up. After Netflix won a competitive bidding war for a new live-action Scooby-Doo series last spring, we finally have our first member of Mystery Inc. Mckenna Grace has been tapped to lead the cast as Daphne Blake who is joining Frank Welker, previously reported to be voicing Scooby-Doo in the upcoming live-action series currently gearing up for production.
The project, which holds a script-to-series commitment at the streamer, comes from the powerhouse team at Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The series, expected to be titled SCOOBY DOO: ORIGINS, has an eight-episode commitment. Filming kicks off in late April and will run through September 2026, calling Atlanta, Georgia, its home.
Here is everything we know about the casting and the new take on the franchise.
Mckenna Grace becomes Daphne Blake
The news of Mckenna Grace’s casting was first posted by TuSubtitulo on X, with the trades following suit soon afterwards, confirming that Mckenna Grace has secured the first major role in the series, portraying the fashion-forward and danger-prone Daphne.
Grace is no stranger to high-profile genre projects or the Netflix ecosystem. Horror fans will recognize her from The Haunting of Hill House, while she has also made waves in the Ghostbusters franchise and The Handmaid’s Tale. She was most recently seen in the Paramount film Regretting You and has a busy schedule ahead, with roles in Scream 7 and the upcoming Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping set for November.
Grace is also no stranger to the Scooby-Doo franchise, having voiced Young Daphne in the animated movie Scoob!
Reacting to the news on social media, the actress posted:
“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. 🚙🔎💜”
What is the plot of the new Scooby-Doo series?
Forget the cartoon antics of the 1970s; this live-action adaptation is pitched with a specific, somewhat darker angle. The series is described as an origin story detailing how Mystery Inc. formed and solved its first haunting case.
According to the official logline, the story takes place during a pivotal summer:
“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.”
Who is behind the series?
The series is being developed by Midnight Radio, Berlanti Productions, and Warner Bros. Television. The writing team of Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop) are serving as showrunners. They will also executive produce alongside Midnight Radio partners André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner. From the Berlanti side, super-producer Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman are executive producing via their overall deal with Warner Bros. Television.
Are you excited to see Mckenna Grace as Daphne? Let us know in the comments below!
