Some 20 years after it first hit theaters, James Gunn is sharing more details about his lost R-rated Scooby-Doo movie. The writer/director, most commonly known for his work on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy films, previously penned the script for the 2002 live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo and its sequel, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. Based off of the original animated television franchise, the first installment revolved around the members of Mystery Incorporated who, following a two-year disbandment, regroup to investigate a case surrounding a horror-themed resort. It starred Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, and Neil Fanning as the voice of Scooby himself.
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Despite mixed-to0negative reviews, Scooby-Doo became a commercial success, warranting the production of Monsters Unleashed and establishing a new fanbase outside the animated series. Intended to have a darker tone and more adult humor, the 2002 film was rumored to have been assigned an R-rating before subsequently shifting gears and changing its direction ahead of release. Gunn confirmed the speculation back in 2017, adding that CGI was used to remove a female star's cleavage, but stated that nonetheless, he had fun making the movie. In the years since Scooby-Doo hit theaters, several cast members have commented on the particular aspects taken out to achieve its family-friendly appeal, but fans who have grown accustomed to Gunn's style of writing have expressed interest in seeing an R-rated version.
Now, James Gunn has taken to Twitter to give fans more details concerning the lost R-rated Scooby-Doo film. Responding to a question about the PG-13 cut, the writer reveals that although the movie never received that rating, it was the intention of him, as well as the director, Raja Gosnell, to make it PG-13. He notes that after the MPAA gave it an R-rating, and they changed a number of things, it was then made PG. Check out Gunn's tweet below:
Will James Gunn's R-Rated Scooby-Doo Ever Be Released?
Gunn has discussed releasing an R-rated Scooby-Doo in the past, though it may not be the original cut of the 2002 film. Back in August, when asked about the possibility of making a new installment featuring the same cast members, Gunn shared that he thinks the studio would be open to it if they inquired and got everyone back on board. Matthew Lillard and Freddie Prinze Jr. have also expressed their desire to revisit the members of Mystery Incorporated as adults, and while Gunn may be too busy at the moment, he did not oppose the idea.
Given the amount of fan support behind the concept of an R-rated Scooby-Doo movie, as well as the current development of an adult animated Velma series, it will be interesting to see if something can come together down the line. Audiences are familiar with Gunn's style, having surged into mainstream media with his most recent projects, including the R-rated The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, so to have him potentially write and direct a new installment would be exciting. Fans hoping to see how a more mature Scooby-Doo film would play out may have to keep waiting, but Gunn being open-minded is a promising sign.