Turns out James Gunn did write an R-rated version of Scooby-Doo, Matthew Lillard has confirmed – but it didn't see the light of day because parents didn't dig it in the live-action adaptation's screen tests.
"I'm a product of a lot of those jokes," the actor, who recently reprised his role as the one of the franchise's original Ghostface killers Stu Macher in Scream 7, told Entertainment Tonight. "Can you make that parents like and can catch a joke or two above the kids' heads? That's a James Gunn specialty... Frankly, it was very funny and I do think that that movie would've been a huge hit as well. But when they tested it, some of the parents were like, "Hm, I don't know if we need that level of joke." Check it out below.
Matthew Lillard confirms there was indeed an R-rated version of 'Scooby-Doo.' 😂 pic.twitter.com/B6jcP64gg5February 28, 2026
