If there's one thing Hollywood loves, it's a good origin story. If that origin story can be a part of a world-famous brand that is permanently ingrained in pop culture, even better. Now it looks like we will be getting an origin story we never expected. Warner Bros. has announced that Scooby-Doo's Velma and Daphne will be getting their very own live-action, feature-length movie in 2018 titled Daphne and Velma. The movie will reimagine the origin of Mystery Inc.'s female sleuths before they teamed up with Shaggy, Fred and the talking dog himself, Scooby-Doo.
Donning Daphne Blake's trademark scarf will be Sarah Jeffrey, who audiences may know from television's Shades of Blue or Wayward Pines. Taking on the role of Velma Dinkley and her ill-fitting glasses (Seriously, wear a strap or get LASIK, you're letting down the team!) is Sarah Gilman from Last Man Standing. The two will play Daphne and Velma in their teen years as friends who have only met online before Daphne winds up at Velma's high school. There, at the prestigious technical institute, Ridge Valley High, the two will work to uncover what is causing the disappearance and subsequent zombification of the school's star pupils.
Daphne and Velma is coming from Warner Bros. Television Group's digital studio Blue Ribbon Content and Ashley and Jennifer Tisdale's Blondie Girl Productions. The studio is looking to tell stories from a female perspective and reintroduce the iconic and intelligent Daphne and Velma to a new audience. The origin story should be much like previous iterations of the Scooby-Doo universe and have elements of mystery and comedy in a family-friendly package. This sort of throwback to these characters seems timely given the success of The CW's Riverdale. Hopefully Daphne and Velma will take a cue from that show's style and avoid its melodrama.
It does not seem like this movie will have any connection to the Scooby-Doo reboot film, S.C.O.O.B. or be an entry-point to the oft-rumored Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe. But, if nothing else, this could prime audiences for that possible eventuality (one that will hopefully find more success than Universal's Dark Universe). Velma was always the smartest of the Mystery, Inc. gang so it will be fun to watch her ditch the dead weight and team up with a more modern and capable Daphne. The two amateur sleuths will hopefully have a fun dynamic together, honing the gumshoe skills in their teen years that will make them the bane of costumed criminals everywhere when they grow up.
Suzi Yoonessi will direct Daphne and Velma, based on a script by Kyle Mack and Caitlin Meares. Daphne and Velma is currently in production in Atlanta and is scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in 2018. For all the latest in your childhood being mined for nostalgia dollars, keep an eye on CinemaBlend.
