Following the recent example of Trolls World Tour, Warner Bros. has decided to skip theatrical release all together for Scoob!, their animated reboot of the iconic Scooby-Doo franchise. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner will release Scoob! straight to premium on-demand instead of waiting for theaters to re-open. Starting on May 15, the film’s original theatrical release date, Scoob! will be available both to buy for $24.99 or for 48-hour rental for $19.99,
Warner Brothers Animation
In a statement, Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff said “While we’re all eager to be able to once again show our films in theaters, we’re navigating new, unprecedented times which call for creative thinking and adaptability in how we distribute our content. We know fans are eager to see Scoob! and we’re delighted we can deliver this feel-good movie for families to enjoy while they’re home together.”
The biggest releases to go straight-to-digital during this pandemic have been smaller budgeted fare, or animated family films like Trolls and now Scoob! The strategy makes sense, as kids are home from school and craving new entertainment. And parents are willing to shell out the extra bit of money to entertain their little ones and keep them from bouncing off the walls during quarantine. The real game changer will happen when a potential big budget live-action blockbuster decides to forego theaters and go straight to digital. And so far that hasn’t happened—yet.
Scoob! features an all-star voice cast playing the iconic animated characters, including Will Forte as Shaggy, Amanda Seyfried as Daphne, Zac Efron as Fred, Gina Rodriguez as Velma, and legendary voice actor Frank Welker returning once again as Scooby-Doo. The film was intended to launch a new big screen Scooby franchise. However, any future theatrical adventures for the Mystery, Inc. gang will just have to wait.
Featured Image: Warner Brothers Animation