Cartoon Network, Warner Premiere Align for New Scooby-Doo Movie

BURBANK, August 4: Scooby-Doo:
In the Beginning, a new
live-action prequel in the long-running franchise, is being produced by Cartoon
Network and Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Entertainment’s new production
company, for delivery in 2009.

The on-air launch on
Cartoon Network will coincide with the DVD release of the film by Warner Home
Video. Principal photography for the original movie begins today in Vancouver,
BC. Scooby-Doo: In the Beginning features
the gang all meeting for the first time to solve the haunting of their high
school. Brian Levant will serve as the film’s director, with Brian Gilbert (The
Deaths of Ian Stone) as the
producer and the Altiere Brothers (Doctor Dolittle, Goin'
Hollywood) as writers. Warner Home
Video will be the home-entertainment distributor.

"Scooby-Doo has enchanted generations of audiences for nearly
40 years and, as evidenced by box office, DVD sales and television ratings, the
franchise today is stronger than ever," said Diane Nelson, the president
of Warner Premiere. "We're delighted to extend the Scooby-Doo legacy into another live-action film, and bring
these beloved characters to an even greater legion of fans in an all-new
original movie."

"This contemporary
take on Scooby Doo will be an
exciting movie event on Cartoon Network," said Rob Sorcher, the chief
content officer for Cartoon Network. "This project is also an anchor
component of our new push into movies, our great partnership with Warner
Premiere and the overall expansion of Cartoon Network programming
efforts."

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski