Brian Levant is no stranger to translating animated classics into live action features. The "Beethoven" director oversaw both "The Flintstones" in 1994 and "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas" in 2000. For his new Cartoon Network production "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins," however, Levant went in with a lofty goal to reboot the "Scooby-Doo" franchise, which has already seen two feature films with flesh-and-blood actors. The director's first step was to recruit a younger cast.
"When we started filming, the youngest member of our cast was barely 16 years old, and I think the age of the cast reflects the innocence and energy and an openness to new stimuli – in general and specifically – in this franchise," Levant said. "By starting over, we have re-energized the franchise and given it a new reason to exist."
For the dog's last two trips to theaters, Scooby fans watched an older cast led by Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar, as a mid-20s Freddie and Daphne. The entire gang inside the Mystery Machine this time around clocks in at least half a decade younger, and that's precisely the difference Levant wants audiences to see when "The Mystery Begins" premiers on September 13 to celebrate Scooby's 40th birthday.
"[W]e go back to when these are just meddling kids, and they truly are kids," the director explained.
If he makes good on his aspirations, this incarnation may be celebrating its own anniversary in forty years -- though these cast members will likely show their age quite a bit more than their canine costar.
Brian Levant To Reboot ‘Scooby-Doo’ With Live-Action Cartoon Network Movie » MTV Movies Blog
"When we started filming, the youngest member of our cast was barely 16 years old, and I think the age of the cast reflects the innocence and energy and an openness to new stimuli – in general and specifically – in this franchise," Levant said. "By starting over, we have re-energized the franchise and given it a new reason to exist."
For the dog's last two trips to theaters, Scooby fans watched an older cast led by Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar, as a mid-20s Freddie and Daphne. The entire gang inside the Mystery Machine this time around clocks in at least half a decade younger, and that's precisely the difference Levant wants audiences to see when "The Mystery Begins" premiers on September 13 to celebrate Scooby's 40th birthday.
"[W]e go back to when these are just meddling kids, and they truly are kids," the director explained.
If he makes good on his aspirations, this incarnation may be celebrating its own anniversary in forty years -- though these cast members will likely show their age quite a bit more than their canine costar.
Brian Levant To Reboot ‘Scooby-Doo’ With Live-Action Cartoon Network Movie » MTV Movies Blog
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