One trend in film and TV that largely seems to fail is the live-action adaptation. Usually, this involves turning a Japanese anime or other work of animation into a series or film with live-action actors. Some have proven to be successful, but many just really miss the mark. This is due to a whole slew of problems, but a big one comes down to casting.
Remakes and adaptations are working with themes and characters that people are already attached to. Given the nature of fandoms, it's no surprise that people can be pretty intense about their love for these works. That means that if the casting isn't exactly right, it'll be torn apart. One longstanding work that's gotten a few adaptations and remakes, including some live-action ones, is Scooby-Doo. It's been a staple of many family homes since 1969, so it's safe to say that many people around the world are attached to this franchise and its characters.
There have been multiple live-action adaptations, with the most well-known being the 2002 film Scooby-Doo. While the movie itself garners a fair amount of criticism, there has always been one strong strength: its cast. Each character seems to be perfectly cast and written, embodying the legacy of each character but still adding its own spin. But what made each of them so great?
Linda Cardellini as Velma Dinkley
Velma might not be the most well-known or well-loved member of Mystery Inc., but she absolutely has moments where she shines. She's known for her all-orange outfits, short brown hair, and signature glasses. As a character, she's extremely intelligent and well-read. She often figures out the mystery first and is in general very stereotypically nerdy.
In the live-action films, Velma is played by Linda Cardellini. Cardellini fully embodies this character in every way, and improves her. While Velma had previously been more of a background member of the group, most of the time, Cardellini's version of her wants to change this. She's more assertive and open about wanting credit for what she deserves. She's also romantically viable and has love interests in these films.
Physically as well, Cardellini is Velma. While some of this is achieved with hair, makeup, and wardrobe, a good part of it is her. From her physical mannerisms to her line delivery, and the iconic voice, it's hard to see anyone else in this role. She actually went on to voice Velma in the series Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated.
Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred Jones
Who better to play mystery-solving heartthrob Fred Jones, than another heartthrob named Freddie? Son of Hollywood comedian Freddie Prinze, Freddie Prinze Jr. was really born to play someone like Fred Jones. Best known from the cartoon for being the leader of the group, as well as incredibly handsome and well-dressed, Fred is a very fun character in the series.
In the cartoon, Fred is kind of bossy and often takes the leadership role. While this also translates into the live-action film, they choose to alter things a bit. Fred is still his bossy, macho, self. However, he also gets stood up to by his coworkers. They don't let him walk all over them, and this forces him to confront himself and why he is the way he is.
Even though Freddie Prinze Jr. hasn't had the most lustrous of acting careers as of late, he does an excellent job in this role. The performance is so believable, and it just feels like he is the character. This of course could be aided by some real-life chemistry between him and his on-screen love interest.
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne Blake
Most well-known for her lead role as Buffy in the long-running Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar brings a lot of those fighting skills to the character of Daphne Blake. Daphne's character was always that of the beautiful, stylish, and charismatic member of the crew. She's known for her all purple outfits, go-go boots, and of course her red hair.
Daphne is usually getting captured, becoming the damsel in distress, and getting saved by the rest of the group-- namely Fred. Scooby-Doo 2002 acknowledges this and plays into it, but in this film, she's unhappy with that narrative. She wants to stand on her own two feet, solve mysteries on her own and take the initiative to learn martial arts. This makes Gellar so perfect for the role.
Firstly, she's stunning. That's a huge part of being Daphne, she has to be beautiful. But adding this bit of edge to make her a "strong female character" also plays into Gellar's strengths. She is used to being this type of character and role model, she's used to being strong and fighting. And she does it so well. Lastly, this film really plays into a FredxDaphne romance. Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar actually married in real life the same year Scooby-Doo was released!
Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers
The most famous performance to come out of this movie was of course Matthew Lillard as Shaggy. Shaggy is an important character to get right. He's so lovable and so weird. He's the best friend of Scooby, the title character. Everything about him screams good and innocent, which is why he's a fan favorite. He's also a suspected lover of marijuana, which is played into a little in this film.
Shaggy is really the heart and soul of this film. His journey is pretty much the main story, and he's very much the moral backbone and glue of Mystery Inc. In a lot of ways, Shaggy has always been that character. He's the truest to the character of the main players in this film, and Lillard pulls it off amazingly. He's got the long and lean look that Shaggy has naturally, but also is a wonderful actor. From the facial expressions to the line delivery and the general wackiness, he knows how to play very endearingly. Because of the success of this portrayal, Lillard continues to do the voice of Shaggy to this day!