Sarah Michelle Gellar Cheers on Mckenna Grace’s Casting as Daphne in Netflix’s Live-Action SCOOBY-DOO
The Mystery Machine is getting ready to roll again, and this time it’s heading to Netflix. A new live-action Scooby-Doo series is officially in the works, and the first big casting announcement has already sparked a sweet reaction from a familiar face.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who previously played Daphne Blake on the big screen, has shared her thoughts on Mckenna Grace stepping into those iconic purple heels.
Grace has been cast as Daphne in Netflix’s upcoming eight-episode live-action Scooby-Doo series, marking her as the first major star attached to the project.
For longtime fans, that news carries some serious nostalgia, especially since Gellar portrayed the character in Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed back in the early 2000s.
After the story broke, Gellar reposted the announcement on her Instagram Story with a simple but enthusiastic message for Grace: “You are going to be perfect!!” Short, sweet, and exactly the kind of co-sign you want when taking over a beloved role.
Grace also took to Instagram to share her excitement about joining Mystery Inc. She wrote, “Oh my jeepers, I can’t believe life is real I could cry all over again just looking at this announcement. So thankful, SO excited.” She added a crying emoji and purple heart, followed by a blue car and magnifying glass emoji.
It’s easy to see why she’s emotional. Daphne Blake isn’t just another role, she’s one of the most recognizable characters in animation history, originally created by Hanna-Barbera.
This new series is described as a “modern reimagining” that revisits “the terrifying case that started it all.”
According to the official logline, the story unfolds during the gang’s final summer at camp. Old friends Shaggy and Daphne reunite and team up with “scientific townie Velma and the strange but handsome Fred to solve the mystery of a lonely lost Great Dane puppy — who may have witnessed a supernatural murder.”
That’s a fun hook, and it sounds like the show will lean into both the spooky and emotional roots of the franchise.
The series was announced in March 2025 and is written by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, who also serve as showrunners and executive producers. They’re joined by André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner through Midnight Radio.
Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Leigh London Redman executive produce for Berlanti Productions under its Warner Bros. Television deal, with Warner Bros. Television producing the series.
For fans who grew up watching Gellar dodge monsters in a purple dress, seeing her publicly support Grace feels like a passing of the torch. Now the big question is who will fill out the rest of the gang. If Netflix nails the rest of the casting, this could be a really cool new chapter for Scooby-Doo.
