Mike Myers’ Lost Dream: The Scooby-Doo Movie He Never Made

Mike Myers has always been known for his careful approach to choosing film roles, often taking his time before signing on to any project. While his movies have a unique style that doesn’t appeal to everyone, he’s never been one to rush into anything. Some of his most beloved projects, like Wayne’s World, were deeply personal to him, though they weren’t without their share of behind-the-scenes drama —much of it stemming from Myers himself. The Austin Powers series, on the other hand, managed to avoid most of those pitfalls and became a huge success. But not every project went so smoothly. The Cat in the Hat and The Love Guru both took a toll on his reputation in Hollywood.

Between 1993 and 2008, aside from his iconic roles in Wayne’s World, Austin Powers, and Shrek, Myers only appeared in a handful of films. Much of his time was spent developing projects that never made it to the big screen. These included a feature-length Saturday Night Live spinoff called Dieter, a biopic about Keith Moon, a new version of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (which eventually went to Ben Stiller), an early take on Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and even the role of Inspector Clouseau in a Pink Panther reboot, which ultimately went to Steve Martin.

Shaggy: The Role That Got Away

But the one project that meant the most to Myers was a live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo. In the summer of 1998, it was announced that Myers would not only play Shaggy but also co-write the script with Jay Kogan. This was a dream he’d held onto since childhood. As he once explained to Kathryn Jenson White,

I don’t know what’s happening on Scooby-Doo. I’m waiting on a script. I was interested and still am, but it’s all script, script, script. I loved Scooby-Doo as a kid. It was the comfort food of my childhood. I loved dogs. I thought Shaggy would be interesting if he were this kind of politically correct guy. It’s a hippie update.

Myers was eager to bring his own spin to the character, hoping to update Shaggy for a new generation. But when Raja Gosnell was brought on as director, Myers was quietly replaced. The role of Shaggy went to Matthew Lillard, who has since become synonymous with the character, voicing him in countless TV shows, movies, and video games for over two decades.

A Missed Opportunity in Hollywood

It’s hard not to wonder what Myers’ version of Scooby-Doo might have looked like. The 2002 film, written by James Gunn, became an ensemble comedy, but if Myers had stayed on, the studio likely would have built the movie around his comedic style. Instead, Lillard took the part and made it his own, while Myers’ vision never made it past the development stage.

Despite his passion and lifelong love for the franchise, Myers never got the chance to bring his childhood favorite to life. The project slipped away, leaving him with a regret that still lingers years later.