On March 26, it was confirmed that a new Scooby-Doo live action show was ordered to series at Netflix. And while we know the bare minimum about the new series, we already have some thoughts.
At this point, we basically know that this is going to be an origin story. And we love that for us. But we don't really know much more than that, including what to expect from our Mystery, Inc. gang. There are barely any character descriptions to go off of, and the only description we have of Fred reads, "the strange but handsome Fred," which was part of the social media posts shared.
However, we have been thinking about the series (honestly, we are always thinking about Scooby-Doo), and we decided to pull together a list of actors that we think would work as both strange and handsome, while also being leaders. Because if you are a longtime Scooby fan, then you already know that Fred can definitely be a leader in the group.
So who are we thinking for our new, live-action Fred?
5 actors we could see playing Fred in the new live-action Scooby-Doo
Cole Sprouse
After bringing the iconic character of Jughead to life on The CW's Riverdale, I have to admit that I can absolutely see Cole Sprouse in a Scooby-Doo project. And what better role for him than as Fred, a leader who is both a bit strange, but also has a charisma about him that draws people in.
Honestly, I remember Cole from his Suite Life of Zack and Cody days, so I know that he has what it takes to be a bit zany and adventurous, and when you throw in his Riverdale gig, you have an actor who actually has the strange and handsome aspect of the character down perfectly. At the same, time we have also seen the actor take on more serious roles, so we know how versatile he really is.
When it comes to who could possible take on the role of this new version of a live-action Fred in a Scooby-Doo series, I can definitely see Cole Sprouse being a strong contender.
KJ Apa
If you watched Riverdale, then you likely already know who KJ Apa is. As the actor behind the iconic Archie in the series, he was in nearly every single episode of the series and in a lot of ways, he helped to carry the show. And he did it in a way that showed off his ability to be serious when needed, and also a bit quirky.
While I didn't intend to have two different Riverdale actors in my list of potential Freds, it really just felt right. Both actors showcased their ability to bring a comic to life in a live action rendition, and they did it in a way that didn't necessarily feel overly campy, unless that was the purpose of the episode or scene. So we know that KJ Apa can be a leader, and he can do it in a way that is mysterious and strange, while also bringing his good looks to the table.
Plus, the fact that KJ is a dog lover makes him even more perfect for the role. He already has a way with dogs, so he and Scooby-Doo should have no problems getting along.
Brenton Thwaites
At first I wasn't sure about this pick, but I am a big fan of Brenton Thwaites ever since his time on The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. And then when he took on the mantle of Nightwing (formerly Robin) on the DC series, Titans, I loved his ability to be a flawed leader.
Overall, I think Thwaites could be a perfect actor to bring Fred to life, because he has the comic experience himself. He also knows how to have fun with a character, which makes me think he would be a great choice for a character described as "strange but handsome." Having already showcased his superhero skills on screen for us, having him be a leader with the Mystery, Inc. gang makes perfect sense.
I also think it helps that Thwaites is recognizable, but likely doesn't have the largest fan base ever. I think he draw in viewers, while also being able to make the character his own.
Kit Connor
Kit Connor might actually be the perfect choice for Fred, even if casting him for the role seems unlikely. Thanks to Heartstopper he has definitely gained an international following, and he has also started to expand his presence in a number of other projects. The fact that the series that really brought him to our attention is also a Netflix project definitely makes us think he is out of the running for this role as well.
However, I still think that Kit Connor could be a great choice for Fred. Not only is he on the younger side compared to the previous actors mentioned, but he has a quirkiness about him that would totally work for this version of Fred. In many of the animated projects, Fred is also a blonde, and with his lighter hair color, Kit fits well with the look we recognize from those works. Honestly, there is just something so engaging about Kit Connor when he is on our screens, so it feels right to include him in our dream castings.
It certainly helps that he has also taken on some very serious roles and would be able to bring a sense of gravity to the part. So if he were to be cast as Fred, we know he could handle the leadership role, while also being able to have fun with it.
Noah Schnapp
If Netflix is looking to keep Noah Schnapp around now that Stranger Things is over, why not bring him over to the new Scooby-Doo project? The actor is already familiar with the streaming service, plus his series was definitely heavy on the supernatural, so that feels like a perfect fit for this new project.
Noah might be younger than the rest of the actors mentioned, but he has definitely proven himself on onscreen for years. I think he definitely fits perfectly in terms of knowing how to handle the strange aspect of our new Fred, while also being comfortable with those more supernatural elements that make Scooby-Doo so fun to watch.
Not only that, but Noah Schnapp has already proven he can work well as part of a team, so being a main member of the Mystery, Inc squad makes perfect sense. He could easily be a fun addition to the series, and I think Netflix would be crazy to lose him.