Paul Walter Hauser Latest Addition To Cast Of Netflix’s Live-Action ‘Scooby-Doo’ Series Reboot

A rather high-profile addition to the cast of Netflix‘s live-action “Scooby-Doo” series has been announced, as we’ve learned that actor Paul Walter Hauser (“The Fantastic Four: First Steps”) has officially joined the gestating reboot project based on the beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon show that debuted all the way back in 1969.

What many would see as a solid addition to the lineup, the streamer confirms that Hauser joins as a series regular, which includes Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley, and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones.

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Netflix has also shared a logline for the new take on “Scooby-Doo”:

A modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog. During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely, lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets.  

Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg are set as showrunners with double-duty as executive producers alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, Adrienne Erickson, and pilot/Episode 1 director Toby Haynes (“Andor,” “Black Mirror”).

Hauser’s role isn’t named, but the main gist of the original cartoon was the young group of sleuths investigating paranormal situations, only for the gang to uncover someone pretending to be some supernatural threat for their own nefarious reasons, usually exposed by being unmasked after capture. So, with that in mind, Hauser could easily be playing friend or foe in the show.

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We have to assume that Netflix is hoping that “Scooby-Doo” could be the next “Wednesday” or “Sabrina,” and what exactly the tone will be is a tad unknown, but given the property’s longstanding connection to a family-friendly audience, it likely won’t be aiming to scare the bees out of little children. However, it may still attempt to use spooky elements.