Director James Gunn has stated that he believes an R-rated Scooby-Doo movie is just an ask away.
An R-rated Scooby-Doo film, which would seemingly serve as the third theatrical live-action film in the long-running franchise, was first brought up during an interview between TooFab and Matthew Lillard, who portrayed Shaggy in the first two live-action films and continues to voice the character in animation. The actor was asked what he thought about an R-rated Scooby-Doo movie that would pick up after the 2000s live-action films. "It's up to the fans. I think that people listen, especially these days, to social media, they listen to fans and that fandom is really strong," Lillard said, adding that an R-rated reboot "would be a super fun thing to see." Freddie Prinze Jr., who played Fred Jones in the films, responded to the interview, posting on social media, "Rightly or wrongly they don’t have the guts to make that movie." This prompted James Gunn, who wrote the screenplays for the films, to tweet, "I think they’d do it if we asked. I just don’t think I have the time right now!"
The first live-action Scooby-Doo film was released in 2002 and starred Lillard, Prinze, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne Blake and Linda Cardellini as Velma Dinkley, with Neil Fanning as the voice of the titular Great Dane. The film focused on Mystery Incorporated reuniting to investigate a mystery at a popular horror-themed tropical island resort. Scooby-Doo was a box office success upon release, grossing $275 million worldwide despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics. A 2004 sequel, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, brought back the first film's cast and centered on Mystery Incorporated dealing with their past monsters being brought to life by an evil masked figure trying to take down the gang. A third film, set to be written and directed by Gunn, was originally in development but was canceled following the poor critical reception and box office performance of Monsters Unleashed.
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In the years since Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Gunn has become a critically acclaimed and sought-after director. He helmed Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) for Marvel Studios and directed The Suicide Squad (2021) for Warner Bros. and DC Films. He also created the DC Extended Universe's first television series, Peacemaker, starring John Cena as the titular character. Gunn's current projects include The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) and Peacemaker Season 2. He is also developing multiple DC television series for HBO Max, meaning that an R-rated Scooby-Doo film would likely not happen until Gunn's schedule opens up in the mid-to-late 2020s.
The Scooby-Doo franchise is set to continue with a new series aimed at pre-schoolers. The upcoming series, titled Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Pups, will feature the vocal talents of actors Frank Welker and Lillard as Scooby and Shaggy, respectively. The series will follow the two characters as they work as camp counselors at a sleepaway camp, leading a new crew, comprised of puppies, on mystery-solving adventures. No additional voice cast or characters have been announced at this time. Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Pups will debut on HBO Max and Cartoon Network in 2024.