Scooby News
The latest scoop on the mystery solving kids from Mystery Inc. is definitely that they are coming to the movie screen. The Scooby-Doo movie featuring real people instead of cartoons is planned to come out summer of 2002. All of the content of this page has been compiled from movie gossip sites. Click here to visit the SDDATGT Credits. I'm not sure what portion of this page is fact and what is fiction. If you have any information or rumors on the Scooby-Doo movie to submit, please do so by clicking here. This page will be updated often, as I find more info on the web, so remember to come back and check it out :o)
Release Date - In Theatres June 14, 2002!!!
General Information:
Title: Scooby-Doo – feature film
Creatives: Producer Charles Roven, Director Raja Gosnell, Writer Craig Titley, DOP David Eggby.
Origin: Atlas Entertainment/Warner Bros
Status: Shooting from February 2001 'till June 2001.
Locations: Warner Roadshow Movie World theme park and various locations around South East Queensland.
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Freddy Prinze Jr (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Matthew Lillard (Scream) and Linda Cardellini (Legally Blonde).
Synopsis: The Mystery Ink team break up Beatles-style after solving yet another baffling mystery. The famous five go their separate ways and loose contact, each pursuing their own tentative dreams. Two years later Shaggy and Scooby-Doo instigate a reunion to help solve the mystery of a spooky theme park haunted by real-life demons.
Distribution: Warner Roadshow
Production Year: 2000/2001
General Rumors:
¤ The person picked to do Scooby Doo's voice was picked after doing telephone auditions.
¤ Durring the press conference, the cast told interviewers that they had no clue what the dog [Scooby-Doo] looked like, and had to foucus on a stuffed version of Scooby as a focal point while they filmed,
he will be imposed into the film afterward.
¤ Daphne, played by the Vampire Slayer known for her kick-butt kong fu, gets to use her famous moves in three fight scenes in the movie. Atleast one is rumored to be with her nemesis Zarkos.
¤ One of the dancers in the movie is reported to have hurt their leg on a cattle grate while filming.
Cast:
Sarah Michelle Gellar, (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), plays Daphne Blake; Freddy Prinze Jr, (I Know What You Did Last Summer), plays Freddy Jones; Matthew Lillard, (Scream), plays Shaggy; and Linda Cardellini (Legally Blonde & Freaks And Geeks), plays Velma Dinkley.
Rowan Atkinson (Mr.Bean) plays Mondavarious, the mysterious owner of Spooky Island.
Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath and/or the group is rumored to have a cameo.
Pamala Anderson (Former Baywatch Lifgaurd) flew in 22nd and 24th for cameo.
Filming/Location:
¤ The film was said to be two-thirds complete as of the press conference on May 5th.
¤ Filming took place at Bond University, Tueseday, April 10th and Wednesday, April 11. Only Prenz (Fred) and extras were involoved in filming, in a room tranformed to look like the Pentagon.
¤ Filming at Wet 'n Wild finished on march 24th and the park was back to functioning as normal.
 . .
¤ Filming took place on Spooky Island (really Calypso's Beach Shanty Town) at Wet 'n Wild.
 . .
¤ Gold Coast Inhertland was used in the filming.
¤ Filming was done at the old Tennyson Power Station.
Props/Set:
¤ Castle with gargoyles
¤ Bike (appears to have a face/clown painted on it)
¤ Train (appears to be cardboard or wood)
Mystery Machine:
¤ Red Shag Carpet
¤ A BBQ
¤ A Fur Bean Bag
Articles:
A few online movie review sites were personally invited by Warner Bros. to the filming site of the New Real Live Scooby-Doo Movie.
Garth at Dark Horizons reported the following:
"The secret as to why there was a missing update this week can now be revealed. For the last two days me and reps from a lot of the major movie gossip websites have been up on Australia's Gold Coast checking out the set of one of next year's big Summer films - the live action "Scooby Doo" project. Naturally this baby is being kept top secret thus no photos were allowed unfortunately, however we did get a whole swag of interviews and one heck of a tour. Here's a breakdown of what we saw:
They began pre-production last February, principal photography began in October and runs through till June. They're the biggest production ever on the lot and currently the only big one there as they're using up so many stages. The story of the film is set over a period of two years.
- A big portion of the running time is set on 'Spooky Island', a giant island theme park filled with all sorts of crazy sh*t. The first set we visted was a foyer entrance and banquet room which in the story are both part of a 'ride' thus a working carriage on a track rides through the middle of both. The production design is phenomonal, certainly the film's strongest standing point from what we saw. There's severed albino giant doll heads hanging from the ceiling, chandeliers with monster faces cut into them, and giant cool looking gargoyles galore. In the dining room there was something called the 'Wall of Meat' (I think there's a nightclub in Sydney called that), which I won't spoil but suffice it to say its kind of like that 'stomach mouth' effect in "John Carpenter's The Thing" but involving something else. The design in this area was done by Oscar winning "Babe" designer John Cox and took about a month to construct.
- The next set we visited was a mountain summit area where Daphne has a big fight scene with her nemesis called Zarkos who happens to also be a hell of a wrestler. Thie scene is one of around three big fights she gets to do in the movie. The set looked much like the famous 'Planet Hell' lot used by "Star Trek" shows, though with a blue screen for FX to add whatever sky they need later. Shooting begins on this sequence on Monday with a Hong Kong wire team (not Woo Ping or Yuen but someone like them) heavily involved.
- After that came the biggest set of them all, a giant underground cave scene that took around four months to construct. The cave looks like something out of a Tim Burton feature with lots of dark rocky tendrils on the walls, a "Tomb Raider"-esque pedestal in the middle covered in markings and straddling a waterhole, giant ceiling vents, and sand covering the floor. Finally we got to one sound stage dedicated entirely to the inside of the Mystery Machine van which was covered in red shag carpeting, has its own mini-BBQ, and in one corner the darn coolest technicolor fur covered beanbag.
- Across the way we checked out the artwork office filled with sketches, storyboards and the like. There was a wall dedicated to the design of Scooby's collar with one pattern circled in particular (though there were so many patterns it was hard to which one they'd end up with). The circular pattern was a maroon outer circle, an orange inner circle that was off to one side, and the SD letters in maroon. The easy majority resembled the original show's collar though. Over in one corner was a chest of drawers with labelling of various different sets to be used including: 'Pendulum Pit', 'Dead Mikes', 'Calypso Town', 'Volcanic Vent' and 'VoVo Toy Factory'.
- There's been a lot of concern over the film's script, though scribe James Gunn is on set and hard at work so hopefully the 'nuts & bolts' will be sorted out quickly. Having never read the script I can't really say one way or another, though from a visiting standpoint and certainly a production value standpoint this looks impressive. Director Raja Gosnell seemed quite in control and yet amazingly relaxed which is a good sign, thus it'll basically rest on the shoulders of the acting and writing - for that, we'll have to wait and see before we can judge.
Freddie Prinze Jr. came out dressed differently than expected. The pic you see is part of a flashback to their 'mystery solving' days whilst for the majority of the movie he has a modern short haircut - thus the bleached blond look comes across much better than in the shot on the left. He has to get his hair, eyebrows, armpit hair and arm hair bleached weekly to maintain it. His outfits also vary and whilst still blue in general, they change to things such as jeans & a proper shirt to a Hawaiian shirt and boardshorts outfit. Prinze has every single Scooby episode ever done on tape and watches them regularly (big cartoon buff). Prinze seemed quite adamantly against the upcoming Hollywood actors strike and wants to keep working.
Matthew Lillard admits he's terrified to take on the role of Shaggy as its such a cultural icon. The voice impression of Shaggy took a long time to develop, initially starting with so much shouting that for the first two weeks of filming he got laryngitis due to that. He has the most screentime with Scooby which was difficult at times as he had not only fights with a non-existant creature but there's points at which he has to pretend to be holding a heavy shivering dog in his arms. There is also a scene on mini four wheeler motorbikes where he has Aussie actress Isla Fisher (whose bleached blond and sprouting an American accent) gripping onto him screaming. One big pain of the production is that the hair he has is fake, but in order to wear it he has to have the old fashioned Joe Dirt-esque mullet haircut underneath - thus he wore caps when he came down to Sydney one weekend. In regards to the upcoming strike he hopes it doesn't happen, but sees justifiable reasons on both sides of the argument.
- Sarah Michelle Gellar was decked out in a sleeveless but very similar dress to that in the cast photo (all her wardrobe is short skirts in this - a style she's not a big fan of). The 'Daphne' in this movie is sick of being the damsel in distress all the time and tries to train herself to become a stronger person (so hopefully there'll be some kickboxing). She did reveal that in order to shoot both this and "Buffy" she would spend a fortnight doing one, and the next fortnight doing the other - an arrangement that went on for about two months till "Buffy" wrapped production for the season. She identified more with Velma than Daphne as a kid. She's not sure if she can (or wants to) keep the pastel purple knee high boots - if she can she may sign them and auction them off.
- Linda Cardinelli wasn't available unfortunately so we were unable to ask questions. However all the discussions were taped and hopefully will be available in coming weeks in streaming video, including a list that was passed onto her. Rowan Atkinson wasn't on call that day, though we did see a shot of him which had him decked out in a kind of Easy Rider meets 70's hippie look.
- Then we come to Scooby itself, now of course the design is being kept underwraps thus I can't say too much. This was perhaps the single aspect of the film I was most concerned/worried about in terms of what it would look like. What they've settled on does resemble the cartoon series' dog surprisingly closely in terms of look. Movement we didn't get to see though there were actual size stuffed versions of it around being used as reference points for the actors, though the dog itself will be CGI around 95% of the time with a few shots using animatronic paws and tails for closeups. A dwarf was regularly on set with a Scooby costume to also give the actors a reference point along with a guy who does the voice for the dog, though the real voice of Scooby to be used in the movie has yet to be cast. For those afraid about this don't be, what was a major concern has turned out to be the last thing one needs to be worried about.
So there's the report. Hopefully I'll have some pics of us webmasters goofing around up in Queensland to post up shortly. "Scooby-Doo" is scheduled for release next Summer.
USA Today Report:
Freddie Prinze Jr. solves the Scooby-Doo mystery that has haunted cartoon fans for years: Which way does Fred swing? "Everybody makes jokes about him because he wears an ascot, but he's big into Daphne," says Prinze, who's currently shooting the live-action film of the '70s cartoon in Queensland, Australia. But the dark-haired heartthrob, blond for the role, is having his own image issues these days. "I get my roots done now," Prinze says. "It's not very manly." He's having better luck with Fred's psyche, because he's also big into Daphne, or at least the actress who plays her, Sarah Michelle Gellar. The two have been a couple "for a while," he says, making their time Down Under — his first visit — fairly uplifting. "It couldn't be better," Prinze says. "It's pretty much the easiest job I ever had to do: I don't have to be away from my girl, and our days off are well-spent." "She's a genius," Prinze says about Gellar. Director Raja Gosnell "put his hands together and bowed to her because she was so awesome. He does that pretty much after every take she does. He hasn't bowed to me, so I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but she's absolutely phenomenal." If that weren't enough, Prinze is a lifelong Scooby fan: "I have every episode made on tape in my basement at my mother's house. I watch Scooby-Doo every day. I don't watch regular TV, just cartoons."
WB Official Press Release Article:
BURBANK, CA, March 5, 2001 – Zoinks! "Scooby Doo" is going live in ’02! The first-ever live-action adaptation of the beloved and long-running animated series "Scooby Doo," starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini and Rowan Atkinson, began production on February 12, 2001 at the Warner Roadshow Studios in Queensland, Australia, it was announced today by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, President of Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Raja Gosnell ("Big Momma’s House," "Never Been Kissed,") is directing the comedy, which catches up with Scooby Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang as they meddle their way into a bona fide mystery that leads them into murky and possibly supernatural waters.
Though Scooby’s whereabouts are currently unknown, his clever crime-solving cohorts are, as always, on the case. The gang, seen here for the first time in character: Freddie Prinze Jr. ("She’s All That") as ringleader Fred; Sarah Michelle Gellar ("Cruel Intentions," TV’s "Buffy The Vampire Slayer") as Daphne; Matthew Lillard ("Scream") as Shaggy; and Linda Cardellini (TV’s "Freaks and Geeks") as Velma.
The film also features international comedy star Rowan Atkinson ("Mr. Bean") as Mondavarious, the mysterious owner of Spooky Island and procurer of the Mystery Inc. group’s services.
"Scooby Doo" will film entirely on location in Queensland, Australia, with the support and assistance of the Queensland state government’s Pacific Film and Television Commission. Queensland’s Minister for the Arts, Mr. Matt Foley, said that he was delighted to welcome the "Scooby Doo" cast and crew to Queensland. "The production team couldn’t have picked a better place to shoot this feature," Mr. Foley said. "The Gold Coast region of Queensland is vibrant, friendly and full of colorful characters, just like the original ‘Scooby Doo’ series. Our talented local crew and state of the art facilities will ensure that filming will be hassle free for the ‘Scooby Doo’ production, just as it has been for the countless international crews that have shot here in the past."
Based on the classic Hanna-Barbera characters, "Scooby Doo," a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation of an Atlas Entertainment production of a Raja Gosnell film, is produced by Charles Roven ("Three Kings," "City Of Angels") from a screenplay written by James Gunn ("The Specials"). Richard Suckle, Robert Engelman ("Little Nicky"), Kelley Smith-Wait ("Three Kings"), Andrew Mason ("Red Planet") and William Hanna and Joseph Barbera are the executive producers.
Freddie Prinze Jr. first came to worldwide attention with his starring turn in the hit thriller "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and he reprised his role in the sequel "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer."
His previous starring roles include the romantic comedy "Head Over Heels" and the Miramax releases "Boys and Girls," "Down to You" and "She's All That," for which Prinze and his co-star Rachel Leigh Cook earned a 1999 MTV Movie Award nomination for Best On-Screen Duo.
Prinze made his screen debut in "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday," followed by a role in the critically acclaimed ensemble drama "The House of Yes."
Sarah Michelle Gellar is known to television audiences worldwide as the eponymous star of The WB television network’s hit series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." A working actor since she was six years old, Gellar was discovered at the age of four while eating in a restaurant. She went on to play the role of Kendall Hart Lang on ABC’s long-running daytime drama "All My Children" from 1993-95. Gellar has also guest-starred on HBO’s hit series "Sex and the City," the "Buffy" spin-off series "Angel," and Fox’s animated TV series "King of the Hill."
Gellar’s feature film credits include the blockbuster horror films "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Scream 2," as well as the romantic drama "Cruel Intentions." She also voiced a role in the Disney animated feature "Hercules."
Her upcoming film projects include "Harvard Man" with Eric Stoltz and Joey Lauren Adams and "The It Girl."
Rowan Atkinson first appeared onscreen in 1977, in "Monty Python Meets Beyond the Fringe," which he followed up with a three-year stint on the British television comedy "Not the Nine O’Clock News." Atkinson went on to star in the celebrated "Blackadder" series, including "Blackadder: The Cavalier Years," "Blackadder’s Christmas Carol," "Blackadder Goes Forth" and most recently, "Blackadder Back and Forth."
In 1988, Atkinson starred in his own comedy special, "Live! From London," with the "Absolutely Fabulous" team of Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. A second special, "Rowan Atkinson Live," was released in 1992. He went on to play "Mr. Bean" on the television series of the same name, and starred in the international hit feature film "Bean" in 1997.
Atkinson’s additional film roles include his memorable turn in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," and "Hot Shots! Part Deux." He also provided the voice of Zazu in Disney’s animated blockbuster "The Lion King." He will next be seen in "Rat Race."
Matthew Lillard made a major impression on audiences with his role as the manic killer Stuart in the 1996 mega-hit "Scream." Previously, Lillard appeared opposite Kathleen Turner in the horror comedy "Serial Mom." He went on to play roles in the critically lauded film "Without Limits," the comedy-drama "SLC Punk," as well as "Spanish Judges," "Wing Commander" and "Love’s Labour’s Lost."
Lillard has several movies opening in 2001, including two films from Warner Bros. Pictures: the romantic comedy "Summer Catch," with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jessica Biel, and the remake of the classic 1960 horror film "13 Ghosts," with F. Murray Abraham.
Linda Cardellini is best known for her starring role in the widely acclaimed TV series "Freaks and Geeks." She has appeared on numerous television shows, including starring roles in "Bone Chillers" and "Guys Like Us"; recurring roles on "Pacific Palisades" and "Boy Meets World"; and guest spots on "3rd Rock from the Sun," "Step by Step" and "Promised Land." She has also been seen in the telefilms "Dying to Live" and "The Lot."
Cardellini’s work in feature films include roles in "Dee Snider’s StrangeLand" and "Dead Man on Campus." Cardellini will next be seen onscreen in "Legally Blonde" with Reese Witherspoon and "Sins of the Father."
"Scooby Doo" will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company.
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