Director James Gunn is among the most sought-after in Hollywood. Gunn has rapidly won over the hearts of comic book fans everywhere with his distinctive combination of humour and character-driven narrative in films like Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad. Before he became a household name, he was best known as the screenwriter for the 2002 and 2004 live-action Scooby-Doo movies. It is only in the last some years that Gunn has been honest about his experience on this legendary project and his ideas for a third feature. Since then, Gunn believes Warner Bros. would support a PG-13 Scooby-Doo 3. Earlier this month, Gunn responded to a fan on Twitter who inquired about the logistics of a third picture. During an interview with Toofab, Matthew Lillard, nicknamed Shaggy, stated his desire for an R-rated revival with the original cast members. I don’t think they’re brave enough to create that movie,” said Freddie Prinze Jr., who played Fred the leader of Mystery Inc. “I think they would do it if we asked,” Gunn joined in. Sorry, but I don’t believe I have the time at this moment!
Currently, reboots are all the rage. Ghostbusters and Star Wars are two of several prominent franchises that seem to be capitalising on this nostalgia-driven time period. As a result, the live-action Scooby-Doo duology is ripe for a relaunch. Undoubtedly, among the best films of the 2000s is the original Scooby-Doo, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary. That didn’t stop it from defining the series for a new generation, despite the fact that the picture was plainly altered from Gunn’s original vision. Even though the picture was widely derided at the time, this was an experience that was genuinely ahead of its time.
The 2002 picture was a love letter to Scooby-Doo while also being a witty spoof of the series as a whole, thanks to everything from the great casting to the brilliant music and director James Gunn’s hilarious humour. However, even though it was not rated R, it got away with a lot of things, and it would not have been PG today had the picture been made today. Because of its popularity, a sequel was made that is just as entertaining. Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed was released in 2004, however, it didn’t make enough money to warrant a third picture. For an experimental rated R relaunch, the fundamentals are already there. Because of the deleted sequences and Gunn’s amazing mature sensibilities in both The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, especially if you’ve seen them. Gunn and WB appear to have a good working relationship, so it’s possible.
Throughout the franchise’s history, it has been increasingly focused on appealing to children, and the recent release of Scoob! only serves to reinforce that trend. There have always been some darker moments in his work, such as Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (the finest example of this is the animated classic) or the Witch’s Ghost (the best example is Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost). While he’s presently working on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and other DC projects like Peacemaker Season 2, Gunn says he’s incredibly busy. No harm in asking, even if he’s the busiest filmmaker in Hollywood. “What could possibly happen by ringing a doorbell?” quipped Fred.
Gunn behind the camera in a PG-13 Scooby-Doo 3? Who wouldn’t want that? Stranger things have happened in a universe where Michael Keaton is back as Batman. You can watch the first two live-action Scoobies on HBO Max while we speculate about a rated-R Scooby-Doo 3, which is now in development.