Mckenna Grace cast as Daphne in gritty new 'Scooby-Doo' origin series

Mckenna Grace is set to don the iconic purple ensemble as Daphne in Netflix’s upcoming live-action Scooby-Doo series, and she has already received a glowing endorsement from a franchise legend.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played the fashion-conscious sleuth in the early 2000s films, took to Instagram to celebrate the casting news.

Sharing the update, Gellar cheered: “You are going to be perfect!!” This passing of the torch adds a sweet, human touch to a project that has fans buzzing with nostalgia.

The eight-episode drama, developed by Berlanti Productions and Midnight Radio, is being crafted as an atmospheric origin story.

Rather than jumping straight into the Mystery Machine, the series finds old friends Shaggy and Daphne spending their final summer at camp.

The pair become embroiled in a supernatural murder mystery involving a stray Great Dane puppy.

They eventually join forces with Velma, a pragmatic local, and Fred, the handsome new arrival, to face a nightmare that threatens to unearth their darkest secrets.

Netflix secured the project following a competitive bidding war, committing to a premium script-to-series format.

Written by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, the untitled show promises a grittier, more serialised take on the Hanna-Barbera classics.

With the "stamp of approval" from Gellar and a cast led by the talented Grace, this reimagining looks to bridge the gap between long-time fans and a new generation of mystery solvers. Production is moving ahead swiftly as the studio aims to bring the haunting case to life on screen.