The casting for Netflix’s upcoming live-action Scooby-Doo series is heating up, with a popular actor from Cobra Kai now reportedly in talks to join the mystery. Paul Walter Hauser is being eyed for a significant role in the eight-episode origin story, which would bring the actor into the world of Mystery Inc. just as production prepares to start .
According to multiple reports, Hauser has received an offer to play a character closely connected to the beloved Great Dane himself. Sources indicate the Emmy-winning actor would portray Scooby’s original owner, a role that would add new depth to the iconic dog’s backstory . Hauser is widely recognized for his portrayal of Raymond “Stingray” Porter in the hit series Cobra Kai, as well as for his roles in films like The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Cruella, and Richard Jewell, for which he won a Golden Globe .
A Fresh Take on the Mystery Inc. Origin Story
The Netflix series, which received a script-to-series commitment in early 2025, is being developed as a modern reimagining of the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) are attached as writers and showrunners under their Midnight Radio banner . The project is a collaboration between Warner Bros. Television and Netflix, with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman executive producing via Berlanti Productions .
The official logline for the series describes a darker, more serialized take on the familiar story. During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne become entangled in a haunting mystery involving a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have witnessed a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic townie Velma and a mysterious new kid named Freddy, they set out to solve the case that threatens to expose all of their secrets .
The series is expected to feature a tone different from the comedic live-action films of the early 2000s. Reports suggest the show will take inspiration from series like Stranger Things and Riverdale, blending supernatural suspense with emotional stakes .
Mckenna Grace Set as Daphne Blake
Hauser is not the only name attached to the project. In February 2026, it was confirmed that Mckenna Grace had landed the role of a young Daphne Blake . The 19-year-old actress is no stranger to the character, having voiced a young Daphne in the 2020 animated film Scoob! . Grace has built an impressive resume with roles in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, The Haunting of Hill House, and the upcoming Scream 7 and Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping .
Veteran voice actor Frank Welker, who has provided the voice of both Fred Jones and Scooby-Doo for over five decades, is expected to return as the voice of the titular Great Dane . Welker has been a constant presence in the franchise since 1969.
Production Timeline and Release Window
The live-action Scooby-Doo series is scheduled to begin filming in Atlanta, Georgia, in late April 2026, with production expected to continue through September . The eight-episode first season is currently targeting a premiere on Netflix sometime in 2027 .
While Netflix has not officially confirmed the title, production listings have referred to the project as Scooby-Doo: Origins, aligning with the show’s focus on how the Mystery Inc. gang first came together.
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Hauser’s Rising Star
If Paul Walter Hauser officially joins the cast, it would mark another high-profile role for the actor who has become known for playing complex, memorable characters. In addition to Cobra Kai, Hauser recently voiced a character in the Netflix animated film Orion and the Dark and is set to portray comedian Chris Farley in an upcoming biopic . His ability to bring both dramatic weight and subtle humor to his roles could make him a perfect fit for the mysterious world of Scooby-Doo.
Neither Netflix nor Warner Bros. Television has officially commented on the casting report. Representatives for Hauser have also not confirmed the actor’s involvement. Fans will have to wait for an official announcement to see if Stingray joins the Mystery Inc. universe.
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