James Gunn Wants To Make An R-Rated Scooby-Doo Movie
James Gunn might be wrapping up his time with the Guardians of the Galaxy, but he has his mind set on another team-up by making an R-Rated Scooby-Doo movie.
Long before James Gunn was a household name courtesy of his work writing/directing Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, as well as creating the smash hit HBO Max series Peacemaker, the Hollywood hot property penned the screenplays for both live-action Scooby-Doo movies in the early 2000s. Whilst Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) were scary enough for their young target audience, they were both family-friendly. However, if James Gunn weren’t so busy, he’d want to return to the Scooby-Doo franchise with an R-Rated film, Movieweb reports.
The news comes courtesy of a couple of Tweets, the first coming from Freddie Prinze Jr, who played Fred in Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, who Tweeted that Warner Bros “rightly or wrongly” don’t “have the guts” to make a third Scooby-Doo film with the Prinze Jr and his castmates with an R-Rating. James Gunn Tweeted in response to Prinze Jr’s statement by saying “I think they’d do it if we asked, I just don’t think I have the time right now!”
James Gunn isn’t kidding when he says he doesn’t think he has the time to commit to an R-Rated Scooby-Doo film presently. Ever since Marvel Studios hired him to take Guardians of the Galaxy from a relatively unknown property to one of the most popular movies of 2014, Gunn has been non-stop. He has written and directed the Guardians follow-up Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as well as the DC Comics film The Suicide Squad, which then spawned the spin-off series Peacemaker, starring John Cena as the titular villain. That series has a second season in the works and as well as writing and directing The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special – set to air on Disney+ this festive season – Gunn has wrought Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 from the depths of his creative grey matter.
With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 set to hit cinemas in May 2023, James Gunn has been busy promoting the film, such as when he and key cast members appeared at the San Diego Comic-Con (July 21-24). For those left still thinking Gunn could find some time for an R-Rated Scooby-Doo film, he also has several other producing and writing projects on the go, such as his screenwriting credit on the upcoming Warner Bros feature Coyote Vs Acme, or his producing moniker for the as yet untitled Peacemaker spin-off series focusing on Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller character. GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT has previously learned that the Waller spin-off is possibly one of three Peacemaker spin-offs that James Gunn is working on.
For fans who are disheartened by the fact that the very enticing prospect of an R-Rated James Gunn Scooby-Doo film is unlikely to come to pass any time soon, there is some solace in the offing thanks to Mindy Kaling. Kaling, a supremo in creating and starring in comedy series is taking the lead on the Scooby-Doo spin-off, Velma. Kaling will lend her voice and likeness to Velma in the animated spin-off that focuses on the spectacled genius Scooby-Doo character solving mysteries in a solo fashion. It is said that Warner Bros has given Kaling free reign to make Velma a more adult-orientated affair. The series is expected to air on HBO Max later this year.
