Paul Walter Hauser, best known for his scene-stealing turns in “I, Tonya,” “Cruella,” and “Black Bird,” steps into a very different kind of mystery with his latest role in the upcoming live-action series “Scooby‑Doo.”
The Emmy Award-winning actor has joined the show as a series regular, joining the project as the cast continues around the Mystery Inc. gang. Famous for crystallization. The upcoming one-hour drama is a modern reimagining of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon classic, serving as an origin story for Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and of course the Great Dane himself, Scooby-Doo.
What will his role be?
The filmmakers have yet to reveal the exact nature of Hauser’s character. Several entertainment scoops suggest that he may play Scooby’s “original owner,” a character who could help expand the beloved pooch’s backstory.
If this turns out to be true, Howser will be central to the emotional core of the series, giving viewers a new perspective on how Scooby ended up with the Mystery Inc. crew. The show is described as a character-driven mystery, focusing on the case that brought the four teens together for the first time and pulled Scooby into their orbit.In a brief note shared by Deadline, the outlet framed his casting as a major expansion of the group, writing that Hauser joins “following the casting of the show’s four core cast: McKenna Grace as Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley, and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones.”
This suggests that he is not just a guest player but a recurring presence who will interact with the teens as they explore their first big mystery.
Breaking the news that he was first picked up as a series regular is credited to Deadline, which broke the news on March 24, 2026.
Why does Paul Walter Hauser fit into Scooby-Doo so well?
There’s already a fun feeling among fans that Howser is headed into the world of “Scooby-Doo.” According to information shared by Entertainment Weekly, in his new role, he joked that he’s “the most Scooby-Doo actor who hasn’t been in a Scooby-Doo thing yet,” citing his talent for playing characters that are a little strange and confusing, but deeply human.
In Black Bird, he won an Emmy for his portrayal of a complex detective, while in Cruella, he played Horace, the cowardly but loyal sidekick, showing a range that suited the tone of a dark comedy where humor and heart coexist.If Hauser does play Scooby’s first owner, he’ll likely bring the same mix of warmth, vulnerability, and sly humor that made him stand out in darker dramas. The live-action “Scooby-Doo” series, produced by Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions, aim to maintain the spirit of the original while updating it for a new generation, and Hauser’s grounded, relatable performance can help anchor its most emotional moments.For fans of both the actor and the series, his arrival in the Mystery Machine is a sign that this new adaptation of “Scooby‑Doo” plans to rely on character and relationships as much as it does creepy house haunts and unmaskings.