The Scooby-Doo live-action movie has been in theatres for over 20 years. Despite being one of the biggest box office hits, we have seen a very different product than initially envisioned for the film. James Gunn’s screenplay for Mystery Incorporated was different from the production he had imagined, with several unexpected character arcs and starring roles. As much as some of the changes here have been helpful for the game, others would have made it a more progressive experience in the long run.
We all have fond memories of this film as children. It is one of those films that leaves a lasting impression on many of us who had the privilege of watching it when we were young. Would it have been such a success if it had been based on a different narrative? Could it have been even better if it had been done differently? I want to tell you about a few versions we didn’t see and what ultimately prevented them from coming to fruition.
1. Jim Carry as Shaggy
Matthew Lillard did an excellent job as the well-intentioned, yet often helpless, Shaggy, even landing himself the voiceover role in the animated series he would play for many years. It should be noted, however, that he was not the first choice. As a Hollywood star, Jim Carrey was signed to play Shaggy in the 2002 adventure to Spooky Island. This adventure was initially scheduled to be released back in the 1990s.
Unfortunately for fans excited about this portrayal, the production hit numerous delays, and the movie no longer worked for Carrey’s schedule, so he withdrew from the role. Interestingly, Austin Powers’ leading man Mike Myers was seriously considered for the position, but in the end, the studio while Lillard. While it would have made for quite a different portrayal of the lovable Mary-Jane admirer, Lillard did such an excellent job that it’s hard to imagine anybody else in the role
2. Isla Fisher as Daphne
It was decided that Sarah Michelle Gellar was the right choice for the role of Daphne among several big names that were considered. In the meantime, it was Sarah Michelle Gellar. I was selected. In addition to Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Love Hewitt, other actors were running for the role. However, both were favored over Gellar as the ideal choice.
As it turned out, Isla Fisher made a lasting impression on director Raja Gosnell during this film. Due to her impressive performance in Daphne’s audition, she was cast as Mary-Jane, Shaggy’s love interest, due to her remarkable performance. The actor was a fan of the franchise from his childhood and was thrilled to be a part of it as a part of his childhood. It is challenging to picture Gellar in the role of Daphne, but she did a great job portraying Mary-Jane in the film.
3. Velma was Originally Gay
The fans of the Scooby-Doo franchise have long speculated that Velma Dinkley may be gay, and as it turns out, it was very nearly the case that she was gay. There was no doubt that Velma would be explicitly gay in James Gunn’s original screenplay for the live-action movie. There was gradual and gradual watering down of Velma by the studio until, eventually, it was no longer mentioned that she was gay, and then in the sequel, Monsters Unleashed, she even had a boyfriend.
In my opinion, this was a tragedy for the film as a whole. The studio saw this as an excellent opportunity to support the LGBTQ+ community when there is a massive underrepresentation of LGBTQ+ characters in the film and television world. The event would have been a huge moment for any young fans who may have been struggling with their sexuality, as they would have witnessed such an iconic character embrace their own identity at a time when they were working with theirs.
4. The Luna Ghost
The 2002 feature film depicted the Luna Ghost in a typical ghostly fashion. This is a white apparition with hollowed black eyes at the film’s start. Shaggy and Scooby managed to stifle the specter after he kidnapped Daphne for several hours at a factory that produced machines before they buried him. It was Old Man Smithers, the factory’s janitor (Jim Cummings), who Scooby-Doo unmasked in classic Scooby-Doo fashion, and he was revealed to be Old Man Smithers. In the end, that was the last time we saw Smithers.
However, he was initially supposed to be the main villain of the movie and the man responsible for Spooky Island. Unfortunately, we couldn’t carry out this plan, and we got to witness the evil Scrappy-Doo wreaking havoc on the island instead. As a result, this added a degree of depth to the film. This allowed the studio to create a twist that the audience would understand. Scrappy was a prominent character in several different animated series over the years.
This would have made it difficult for the film to distinguish its plot from just a regular series episode with a one-off character serving as the antagonist in the case of the film. The film benefited from Gunn’s bold decision, which ultimately contributed to the overall success of the movie as a whole and helped make the film a success. A fun fact about the movie is that Tim Curry was offered the role of Emile Mondavarious. However, he declined the role after hearing that Scrappy-Doo played such an essential role in the movie.
Considering the multiverse is a hot topic at the moment, with films like Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness and Everything Everywhere All At Once popularizing the idea, it’s an excellent idea to imagine Scooby-Doo in these different versions because the concept is currently grabbing headlines. Almost twenty years after its release, we wonder what could have been, but we were still treated to a delightful family film that has stood the test of time despite its dated outlook.
