Netflix’s live-action Scooby-Doo features a real dog that might just talk!

Netflix’s upcoming live-action Scooby-Doo series has finally revealed its star, and for the first time in nearly 60 years, Scooby will be portrayed by a real dog.

On Monday, Netflix unveiled a sneak peek of the Great Dane set to play Scooby in Scooby-Doo: Origins, a new live-action series currently in production in Atlanta. While Scooby-Doo has had numerous live-action adaptations over the years, including the early-2000s films featuring a star-studded cast, those versions relied on CGI for the iconic talking dog. This time, Netflix is opting for the genuine article, raising some intriguing questions.

Is the dog truly a real dog? The promotional still looks convincing, but in an era where AI and advanced graphics often replace live animals on screen, skepticism is understandable. However, sources close to the production confirm that the pup is indeed real — both in the photo and on set.

This decision goes against a growing trend in Hollywood. As discussions about the use of real animals versus CGI intensify, studios have increasingly turned to digital creations due to advancements in visual effects and heightened concerns about animal welfare. Scooby-Doo: Origins, however, is banking on the unique charm of having an actual Great Dane in front of the camera.

This also places Scooby among a notable lineage of canine stars. He joins the ranks of Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier from The Artist; Cha Cha, the pit bull from John Wick; and the various collies that have portrayed Lassie over the years. For a character who has been an animated icon for decades, becoming a live-action dog is a significant shift. While Netflix hasn’t disclosed the specific dog actor playing Scooby in Origins, it’s likely that his IMDb StarMeter will see a significant boost when the show premieres.

Scooby-Doo: Origins serves as a fresh take on the early days of Mystery Inc. According to Netflix, the series kicks off during the gang’s last summer at camp, where old friends Shaggy Rogers and Daphne Blake get caught up in a mystery involving a lonely Great Dane puppy that may have witnessed a supernatural murder. To crack the case, they team up with Velma Dinkley, described as a scientific townie, and Freddy, a quirky but attractive newcomer. Together, the four teens find themselves embroiled in a mystery that threatens to unearth long-hidden secrets while plunging them into what Netflix calls a “creepy nightmare.”

The cast features Mckenna Grace as Daphne, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma, Maxwell Jenkins as Fred, and Paul Walter Hauser in an undisclosed role. The series is helmed by showrunners, writers, and executive producers Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, known for their work on various projects, including Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films and the live-action Cowboy Bebop.

While not as radical a reimagining of Scooby lore as HBO Max’s recent Velma, Origins represents a significant effort to reintroduce Mystery Inc. to a new generation — think “Riverdale for Scoob.” The setup also seems to lean more into supernatural horror than many previous iterations, aligning it closer to The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo for those who want to dive deep into the franchise’s history. It’s easy to see why there’s so much riding on Netflix getting this live-action Scooby right.

Scooby-Doo: Origins is set to premiere globally on Netflix in 2027. Will the dog talk? Netflix has kept that detail under wraps, leaving fans to wonder if CGI magic will allow the dog to speak in a Babe-like manner. So, there’s still one more mystery to unravel.

In the meantime, let’s enjoy the greatest Scooby-Doo theme song in franchise history.