Matthew Lillard is best known for his iconic portrayal of Norville “Shaggy” Rogers for the popular ‘Scooby-Dooby’ franchise. His looks as well as his voice, both have played an important role is bringing to like the main character in the ‘Scooby-Dooby’ franchise.
Though Lillard could not show up in the last part of the film, he is returning to voice the beloved character in the upcoming immersive ‘Scooby-Dooby’ project. As fans are now anticipating the next piece in the franchise, the actor is set to be back again on screens with his iconic looks and voice.
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Matthew Lillard Set To Return For Next ‘Scooby-Doo’ Project
Matthew Lillard first stepped into the ‘Scooby-Dooby’ universe in 2002, playing the live-action version of Shaggy. He further continued to voice the character in animated movies and TV shows after original actor Casey Kasem retired in 2009. However, he was replaced in the 2020 film ‘Scoob!’, much to the disappointment of many fans.
In a recent interview, Lillard gave his fans the good news as he confirmed that he is returning to the franchise again. Though he remained tight-lipped about specific details of the project, he expressed excitement teasing an immersive experience that allows kids to insert themselves into a Scooby-Doo adventure.
“I’m really excited about [Scooby-Doo],” Lillard said of his next project voicing Shaggy. “I can’t really talk about it yet, but there’s a new project I’m associated with that will allow kids to put themselves into a Scooby-Doo adventure. That’s super fun. For me, that’s my day job. It’s my bread and butter,” he added.
As he acknowledged the inevitability of passing on the role, as Casey Kasem did for him, Lillard said he would still like to continue playing Shaggy as long as he can. “For me, being Shaggy for so many years and holding space for that part while honoring Casey Kasem, I know eventually I’ll pass that part to the next generation as he did,” Lillard explained.
“I’m honored to do that for as long as they’ll have me. Scooby-Doo is always in cycle in some capacity or another. We’re either doing a cartoon or a movie or a commercial for something,” he added.
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The ‘Scooby-Doo’ Franchise Continues To Expand
The ‘Scooby-Doo’ franchise has seen various adaptations, including live-action films, and continues to thrive with cartoons, movies, and commercials in constant development. Lillard, having held the role for 16 or 17 years, sees ‘Scooby-Dooby’ as a perennial presence.
“There are a million different iterations of it and something is always in the works. I’ve had the privilege and honor of being that voice for the last 16 or 17 years, so I will hold on to that as long as I can,” he said.
Lillard’s return to the role follows the brief recasting of Shaggy with Will Forte in ‘Scoob!’ and the planned sequel, ‘Scoob! Holiday Haunt’. However, the sequel’s release was canceled, seemingly concluding Forte’s tenure as Shaggy.
The disappointment expressed by fans over Lillard’s temporary absence may have influenced the decision to bring him back for the upcoming immersive ‘Scooby-Doo’ project.
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