There’s a new Scooby-Doo live-action film coming, and it’s got the internet asking all the right questions. After Paul Walter Hauser was announced to be up for the role of “Scooby’s owner” on X, the comments were flooded with inquiries, all variations of “wait, I thought Shaggy owned Scooby?”
That’s the question that A Geek’s Viewpoint put to the internet once the news broke. And according to popular consensus, it’s the right one to ask. The comment section is flooded with assertions that Shaggy is indeed Scooby’s owner, but is that actually the case?
Has the Scooby-Doo franchise ever officially announced that Scooby is Shaggy’s one and only fur baby? Or have fans just been making false assumptions all this time? Is the Mandela Effect involved here? What is going on!?
“My whole life I thought Shaggy owned Scooby wtf” says one user, and honestly, same here. While one could argue that Scooby is the collective property of the Mystery Gang as a whole, Shaggy is really the one spending all the time with him.
Could you imagine Fred picking up after Scooby when he drops a steamer? Daphne wandering through the spooky woods with Scooby on a walk? Velma remembering to feed him? She can barely keep track of her glasses, how is she supposed to get a handle on a ravenous Great Dane’s robust feeding schedule? Sorry Hanna-Barbera, I know that you may have intended your furry star to be looked after by the collective, but the internet knows that there’s only one person who can take care of Scooby-Doo — a certain cowardly stoner we all know and love.
“Isn’t Scooby’s Owner Shaggy Tho”
While most are certain that Shaggy is Scooby’s protector and provider, one user takes umbrage at the core idea of Scooby-ownership. “What, ain’t no one owns the scoobster” posted one user with an accompanying photo of an indignant Mr. Bean rendered in PS2-era graphics — honestly, fair point. Scooby-Doo has been around since 1969. He is 57 years old. That’s 399 in dog years.
He’s one of the oldest dogs in history, outliving the 29-in-human-years World Record holder by a long shot. All this to say, he is a full-grown adult who is capable of taking care of himself — he doesn’t need an owner. If anything, Shaggy is more of a friend. A companion. A life-partner. If that comparison sounds wrong, I don’t wanna be right.
“So who’s playing Scooby-Doo? Because the chemistry better be ‘Ruh-roh’ level good,” says another user. Good point. Whoever plays Scoob should be prepared to regard Paul Walter Hauser with dogged devotion. Hauser should be prepared to do the same.
Personally, I think the pair of actors should go full method to prep for the role. Long walks through haunted mansions, accusing disgruntled butlers and groundskeepers of crimes, and of course, cannabis-fueled dog treat binges. It’s the only way to make the on-screen chemistry palpable.
While Scooby-Doo live-action remake questions abound, one user reminded the internet of the most important one of all. “If there isn’t a scene where they both fight over a giant sandwich, then what is even the point of this reboot?” Whether their relationship is owner/pet or lifelong besties, if Scooby and Shaggy don’t spend at least 15 minutes duking it out over a septuple-decker sub, I think we can all agree that this Scooby-Doo remake shouldn’t be made at all.
(featured image: Warner Bros.)
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