Los Angeles [US], March 25 (ANI): Actor Paul Walter Hauser, best known for his role in 'Black Bird', has bagged a pivotal role in Netflix's live-action Scooby-Doo series.

Hauser joins following the casting of the show's core four: McKenna Grace as Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley, and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones. However, details regarding his role have not been disclosed yet. Hailing from showrunner-writer-EPs Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, the untitled series is a modern reimagining of the Warner Bros cartoon, presenting an origin story for the Mystery Inc. gang, including Great Dane Scooby-Doo, that looks at the case that got them solving mysteries, Deadline reported.

Warner Bros Television is the studio behind the project. In addition to Appelbaum and Rosenberg via Midnight Radio, exec producers include Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Leigh London Redman via Berlanti Productions, which has an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television; Andre Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Adrienne Erickson via Midnight Radio; and Toby Haynes, who is directing the first episode.

The Scooby-Doo franchise, which originated from CBS and Hanna-Barbera's iconic 1969 animated series created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, has remained a beloved staple for over 50 years. It has since expanded into three theatrical films, nearly 40 animated home entertainment movies, and more than a dozen animated series.

Netflix's upcoming Scooby-Doo series will mark the first live-action adaptation, though Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, and Linda Cardellini previously starred in a pair of live-action films in the early 2000s. (ANI)