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‘Scooby-Doo’ reboot in the works: 3 ways the movie can avoid being terrible

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than ten years since the last Scooby-Doo movie, “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed,” hit theatres. Apparently studio Warner Bros. has a hard time believing it, too, because they’re marking the decade anniversary of one of the worst reviewed films of 2004 by announcing that a reboot of franchise is "finally" in the works.

The announcement also comes just days after the death of Shaggy voice actor Casey Kasem. Great timing!

So Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are heading back to the big screen, but should Warner Bros. really reboot the “Scooby-Doo” franchise? In short: No. No, no, no.

The previous film in the series was a financial disaster, barely earned back what cost to make ($80 million) and was one of the most-poorly received films of the decade. Nothing has changed in the past decade to bolster the popularity of the character or to justify a remake.

In fact, with the most recent incarnation of the cartoon, "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated," going off the air more than a year ago, public awareness of the character and franchise was at an all-time low until Kasem's death.

But when have bad reviews, poor returns, or and lack of awareness ever stopped a Hollywood studio from trying again though? In order for the reboot to be a success, the producers really need to ask themselves what a “Scooby-Doo” reboot can possibly bring to the table that hasn't been done before. Here are three ideas:

A new cast
Perhaps the biggest mistake made by the first two "Scooby-Doo" movies was building a franchise around the on-screen talents of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Matthew Lillard. That simply won't fly for the reboot. If it were 1999, maybe, but this is 2014, and Prinze, Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar and company simply don't have the box office appeal they once had. The “Scooby” reboot needs a fresh cast with serious comedic chops.

A different tone
The previous “Scooby-Doo” movies were meant for kids. That’s all well and good, but it ignores the fact that almost no one under 20 even remembers the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon on which the films were based. Audiences don't need some dark and gritty "Dark Knight"-style reimagining, but Warner Bros.’s best option for the reboot is to go the “21 Jump Street” route. The original cartoon ran on and off from 1969 to 1993. Make the new “Scooby” flick a movie that adults who grew up with the show can enjoy -- one that pokes fun at itself in a funny way.

A good mystery
There are certain elements viewers expect from a “Scooby-Doo” story: Shaggy and Scooby almost always become separated from the main Mystery Machine gang at some point; the villain of the week is invariably the abandoned amusement park/mansion/school/factory owner in disguise; and there is always a hilarious chase/set piece involving a long hallway full of doors. Having those classic “Doo” tropes in the reboot is absolutely necessary, but the producers need to think outside the box for this one. Surprise us!

Do you want to see a new "Scooby-Doo" movie? Do you have fond memories of the original cartoon or the early oughties live-action movies? What do you want to see the reboot do? Let us know in the comments.