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Jinkies, that didn’t take long! The Mystery Inc. gang is coming together incredibly fast. We have another major casting update for Netflix’s upcoming live-action Scooby-Doo series, and this time, it looks like we’ve found our Velma.
Following hot on the heels of the news that Maxwell Jenkins is stepping into the role of Fred, a new report (via @TuSubtitulocom – who broke the news that Mckenna Grace had been cast first) reveals that Abby Ryder Fortson has been cast as the resident brainiac of the group, Velma Dinkley.
Fortson is perhaps best known for her critically acclaimed leading role in the 2023 coming-of-age film Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Marvel fans will also instantly recognize her as the original Cassie Lang from the first two Ant-Man movies. Now, she’ll be donning the iconic orange turtleneck and heavy-rimmed glasses, stepping into a role famously played by Linda Cardellini in the early 2000s theatrical films.
The Mystery Inc. Gang is Almost Complete
With Fortson’s casting, the core team of teenage sleuths is nearly assembled. Here is how the lineup for the modern reimagining currently looks:
- Daphne Blake – Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Stranger Things)
- Fred Jones – Maxwell Jenkins (Lost in Space, Reacher)
- Velma Dinkley – Abby Ryder Fortson (Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Ant-Man)
That leaves just Shaggy Rogers left to be cast to complete the central human quartet!
Additionally, as we exclusively reported, Emmy-winner Paul Walter Hauser is currently being eyed for a role as Scooby’s original owner, we’re told.
A Darker Origin Story Unveiled
Set to begin production in late April and run through September in Atlanta, Georgia, the story takes place during the teens’ last summer at camp. Shaggy and Daphne get entangled in a mystery when a lost Great Dane puppy—who will eventually become Scooby-Doo—might be connected to a supernatural murder. To uncover the truth, they team up with Velma, the “most logical mind in town,” and Freddy, the “strange-but-handsome new kid.” As the foursome investigates, they not only try to solve a case that threatens to expose their own secrets but also begin to forge the legendary friendship that forms Mystery Inc.
The eight-episode series comes from writers and showrunners Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop). Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman will executive produce via Berlanti Productions, with Warner Bros. Television producing.
For a full breakdown of everything we know about the project, check out our comprehensive guide to the live-action Scooby-Doo series.
What do you think of the new Fred and Velma? And who do you want to see cast as Shaggy? Let us know in the comments below!