The “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker believes Warner Bros. would be interested in a “Scooby Doo” with a R rating.
One of the most well-liked directors currently at work is James Gunn. Gunn has rapidly won over the hearts of comic book fans all across the world with his special blend of humor and character-driven storytelling in blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad. But before he became famous, he was best recognized as the screenwriter of the live-action Scooby Doo movies from 2002 and 2004. Gunn has been candid in recent years about his experience working on this venerable franchise and what a third movie might have looked like. Now Gunn believes that Warner Brothers would support a Scooby Doo 3 with a R rating if he requested it.
Gunn recently responded to a Twitter fan who inquired about the requirements for the production of a third movie. The actor Matthew Lillard, better known by his stage name Shaggy, indicated interest in an R-rated revival with the original ensemble in an interview he gave to Toofab, which the fan published. The actor who played Mystery Inc. head Fred, Freddie Prinze Jr., responded, “Rightly or incorrectly, they don’t have the courage to do that movie,” sounding less than positive. Gunn chimed up at this point and said, “I think they’d do it if we asked. I simply don’t believe I have the time at this moment.
These days, reboots are extremely popular. Every big brand under the sun, including Star Wars, The Munsters, and Ghostbusters, seems to be attempting to capitalize on this nostalgia-driven time. This makes the live-action Scooby Doo duology a good candidate for a reboot. One of the most overlooked masterpieces of the 2000s was the original Scooby Doo movie, which recently marked its 20th anniversary. The movie was obviously changed from Gunn’s earlier, more mature version, but that didn’t stop it from defining the franchise for a new generation.
Regardless of how poorly the movie was received at the time, this was a truly innovative experience. The 2002 movie was a love letter to Scooby Doo while simultaneously being a witty spoof of the series as a whole, whether it was due to the ideal casting, the fantastic soundtrack, or Gunn’s crazy wit. The movie got away with a lot, even though it wasn’t rated-R or even PG-13, and it definitely wouldn’t have been PG today.
The movie was well-received enough to warrant an entertaining sequel, Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, in 2004, but a third movie was never made. But the groundwork is already in place for an experimental rated-R relaunch. Particularly if you had watched the Scooby Doo Deleted Scenes, and Gunn had already established his amazing adult sensibilities with The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.
It may very well be in the works because Gunn and WB appear to work well together. The recent film Scoob! only serves to reinforce the idea that the brand, which has been around for more than 50 years, has always been more aimed toward children. The best examples of Scooby-most Doo’s enduring work, meanwhile, have always tended to be his darker cartoon classics Scooby Doo on Zombie Island and Scooby Doo and the Witch’s Ghost.
He’s now very busy working on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and his various DC projects, including Peacemaker Season 2, as Gunn previously stated. Even though he might be Hollywood’s busiest director, it doesn’t hurt to inquire. What could possibly happen by ringing a doorbell, as Fred jocularly put it? Who wouldn’t want to watch a Scooby Doo 3 with Gunn at the helm that is rated R? Stranger things have occurred in a universe where Michael Keaton is once again playing Batman. However, you can watch the first two live-action Scooby Doo mysteries on HBO Max (Industry Season 3, True Detective Season 4) right now as we speculate about the potentially gory possibilities of a Scooby Doo 3 rated-R. Watch the first movie’s trailer below:
