Scoob 2 wasn't the only film starring Mystery Inc. to be canned by Warner Bros. Discovery as another Scooby-Doo project starring the fan-favorite band Hex Girls was also terminated.
As revealed by storyboard artist Carolyn Gair during an interview with YouTubers JayBee & Milly, the film was ultimately put on hold due to what they describe as a "financial decision" made by the studio. The film, named Scooby-Doo and the Haunted High Rise, would have seen the Hex Girls, playing a major role in the spooky story. "I think the Haunted High Rise was even funnier than the first, because we had the Hex Girls, and new songs, and we pulled out all the stops. We had motorcycle chases throughout the hallways," Gair explained, who would have served as the film's Director of Animation.
"Do you know, the saddest part is it would’ve cost the same to shelve it as it would to make it, because it was already lock picture and in animation," Gair elaborated. "That was another reason for them doing the two movies back-to-back because they had an animation studio they could be feeding work to." The creative continued on to say that while they aren't familiar with the politics driving Warner Bros. Discovery, they doubted whether Haunted High Rise would ever see the light of day, despite feeling optimistic about the possibility. "It was a locked picture, all dialogue, songs were recorded, it was ready for animation."
Scoob's Unfortunate Fate
While Warner Bros. Discovery's cancelation of Scoob!: Holiday Haunt made headlines in mid-2022, the situation in relation to Haunted High Rise was largely undocumented. Based on Gair's description, the Hex Girls' return had not yet reached a stage where animation had begun in earnest while the second Scoob movie was reportedly largely finished with production. The official reason behind the terminations has never been confirmed but insiders have stated it was a means to cut costs, writing off the films as tax cuts.
One of Scoob: Holiday Haunt's writers Paul Dini was openly critical of WBD's decision, calling the company out for what he considered to be a poor business move. "Why cancel a 95% finished holiday movie this close to Fall, when you're guaranteed kids watching it from right after Halloween until at least New Years? Makes no business sense esp. as both kids & parents dug the WIP screening," Dini wrote.
Warner Bros. Discovery has no known plans to release either Scooby-Doo and the Haunted High Rise or Scoob!: Holiday Haunt.
Source: YouTube