Scooby-Doo TV movie underway for Cartoon Network

By April MacIntyre Aug 3, 2008, 2:41 GMT

Scooby-Doo returns to the smallscreen.

Cartoon Network is producing a live-action Scooby-Doo movie that will appear on the cable network in fall 2009.  The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created in 1969 for Hanna-Barbera studios by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, CBS executive Fred Silverman, and character designer Iwao Takamoto.

“Scooby-Doo: In the Beginning” will take place before the  live-action theatrical Scooby-Doo film of 2004. The premise is the nascency of the ensemble team of Velma, Shaggy, Freddie and Daphne, with the star Scooby-Doo; Shaggy's insatiable canine aide de camp.

Cartoon Network announced that Frank Welker, (original voice of Freddie in the cartoon series), will provide the voice of the computer-animated Scooby in the new movie. Brian Levant will direct.

“This contemporary take on Scooby-Doo will be an exciting movie event on Cartoon Network,” said Rob Sorcher, chief content officer of Cartoon Network.

The film is a co-production between Cartoon Network and Warner Premiere. Warner Home Video will release a DVD at the same time the movie appears on the cable channel.

“Scooby-Doo has enchanted generations of audiences for nearly 40 years and, as evidenced by box office, DVD sales and television ratings, the franchise today is stronger than ever,” said Diane Nelson, president of Warner Premiere.