Mckenna Grace showed up at the Los Angeles premiere of the 2026 movie calendar release of PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie looking like she had just stepped away from a Mystery Inc. adventure. She switched up her usual blonde hair for long, copper-red waves, which instantly made me picture her hanging out by the Mystery Machine in Daphne Blake’s purple boots. I honestly cannot get enough of her bold new red hair.
The look isn’t a coincidence, as Grace is going to play Daphne in Netflix's upcoming live-action series, Scooby-Doo: Origins, which is set to hit the 2027 release calendar. She first unveiled her new red look back in April, right after her casting was announced, and even used a clip of Sarah Michelle Gellar to introduce it. Check out her new (excuse the pun) hair doo below.
Unfortunately, Grace didn't show up to the premiere in a purple mini dress or wearing Daphne’s signature green scarf. But instead she went for a sleeveless white dress with an embellished skirt that let her new hair color, which falls somewhere between copper and deep auburn, take the spotlight. With soft bangs and loose waves, she captured that recognizable Daphne vibe without looking like she was in a cheap Halloween costume or bad cosplay. She truly looks the part.
The shade is also a smart choice because it nods toward Daphne without turning the Haunting of Hill House alum into a copy of anyone who's played the character across some of the best Scooby movies. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s version from the 2002 and 2004 live-action movies still casts a long shadow, especially for fans who grew up watching her Daphne go from danger-prone investigator to someone capable of kicking a masked villain across the room.
Grace already has some history with the role, too. She voiced a younger Daphne in the 2020 animated movie Scoob!, meaning the live-action Netflix series will not be her first trip inside the Mystery Machine. Her casting announcement also came with plenty of enthusiasm, as she celebrated the news on Instagram with an “Oh my jeepers” and several appropriately purple emojis.
The red hair gets the immediate attention, but Grace’s résumé is what makes the casting especially promising. She has spent years moving between family projects and horror movies, including Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Annabelle Comes Home and the Scream franchise. That background feels particularly useful for a show about young investigators chasing what may be an actual supernatural killer.
Netflix’s series is set to follow Daphne and her longtime friend Shaggy during their final summer at camp. The pair discover a lost Great Dane puppy who may have witnessed a supernatural murder, bringing them together with Velma and Fred for the mystery that forms their famous group. The show is expected to premiere sometime in 2027. The project will also introduce the first live-action Scooby played by a real Great Dane rather than a fully animated dog.
We still have not seen Grace in Daphne’s full costume, but the premiere look gives us a strong preview. She has the red hair, prior experience with the character and enough horror credibility as a real bona fide scream queen to give the upcoming supernatural mystery a real sense of danger.
Now I just need Netflix to show me the purple wardrobe because the hair department has already cracked its case.
