James Gunn has shared a behind-the-scenes photo from his 2002 live-action Scooby-Doo film in honor of its 20th anniversary. Gunn co-wrote the script for the adaptation of the classic Hanna-Barbera series. Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Freddie Prinze Jr. starred as the beloved members of Mystery Inc. Meanwhile, Neil Fanning voiced Scooby himself.
Released on June 14, 2002, Scooby-Doo was directed by Raja Gosnell, with Gunn and Craig Titley providing the script. In this reimagining, an older, exhausted Mystery Inc. breaks up due to issues between Fred (Prinze Jr.), Daphne (Michelle Gellar), and Velma (Cardellini), leaving Shaggy (Lillard) and Scooby alone with the Mystery Machine. Two years later, the gang is reunited when they are each called to a horror-themed resort called Spooky Island in order to uncover what is brainwashing the young, rowdy tourists into zombies. With fans now being given the chance to stay in the Mystery Machine with Airbnb to celebrate the Scooby-Doo's 20th anniversary, Gunn has shared a throwback story to celebrate the occasion.
On the anniversary of Scooby-Doo's official premiere, Gunn shared a throwback image to the set of the 2002 movie, along with a small recollection about the film's opening weekend. The photo shows Gunn sitting alongside other members of the crew inside what appears to be the Spooky Island dining room set. In the post, he recalls how he heard the news that Scooby-Doo would earn what was then the biggest opening for a June movie. "My life changed in one moment; I'm incredibly grateful for that & everything since," he writes. Check out Gunn's post below.
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Despite negative critical reception, the film and its sequel, Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed, have their share of famous fans according to Gunn, as both films have gathered a cult following. Gunn revealed in September 2021 that Ghostbusters star Bill Murray told him that he is a fan of Monsters Unleashed when the two were at a party together. Gunn recalled that Murray approached him at the event to praise the movie, though the writer didn't believe him until others recalled their own experiences with Murray to learn that the actor's appreciation was true.
Even now, 20 years after its release, Scooby-Doo remains beloved for many reasons, including its casting and the more risque humor tucked into a script aimed at an older audience. Plus, it led to Gunn's career, which now encompasses two major superhero franchises, flourishing. Scooby-Doo continues to inform the franchise to this day, from Lillard taking on the role of Shaggy in subsequent animated series, to HBO commissioning an R-rated Velma spinoff series created by Mindy Kaling. As such, fans will appreciate Gunn's heartfelt story celebrating the film's 20th anniversary.
Source: James Gunn/Twitter