We’ve all got to start somewhere, and before James Gunn broke out as the writer/director behind “Slither,” which started him down the path of becoming a blockbuster moviemaker for Marvel, he penned the script for 2002’s “Scooby-Doo.” While the film isn’t particularly well-remembered, it was successful enough to spawn a sequel, but if the studio had been ballsy enough at the time to go with Gunn’s original vision, we would be talking about a very different picture.
With the film celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Gunn hit Facebook to share his reminisces about his first studio movie, and reveals that “Scooby-Doo” was originally far, far naughtier than the family entertainment that wound up on the big screen. Here’s what he had to say:
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Yes, it was not exactly what we planned going out — I had written an edgier film geared toward older kids and adults, and the studio ended pushing it into a clean cut children’s film. And, yes, the rumors are true — the first cut was rated R by the MPAA, and the female stars’ cleavage was CGI’d away so as not to offend. But, you know, such is life. I had a lot of fun making this movie, regardless of all that. And I was also able to eat, buy a car, and a house because of it.
That’s pretty remarkable, and one wonders if some of that tougher edged footage and material will ever see the light of day. I doubt it, but it never hurts to start a petition to Warner Bros., right? Read Gunn’s full Facebook post below.