James Gunn, who wrote the screenplay for 2002’s “Scooby Doo: The Movie” confirmed this week that the script was initially rated R. “Yes, the rumors are true,” Gunn wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday — 15 after the movie came out.
“The first cut was rated R by the MPAA, and the female stars’ cleavage was CGI’d away so as not to offend. But, you know, such is life. I had a lot of fun making this movie, regardless of all that. And I was also able to eat, buy a car, and a house because of it,” explained the movie director, now known for the hit “Guardians of the Galaxy” series.
“Yes, it was not exactly what we planned going out — I had written an edgier film geared toward older kids and adults, and the studio ended pushing it into an clean cut children’s film,” he added.
Gunn recalled fun moments from on set in Australia, like playing Nerf gun tag with the cast — which included Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. — and crew. “Truly some of the most fun I ever had,” he said.
Gunn said that 15 years ago, he was a lot more affected by reviews: “These days I might glance at the occasional review (admittedly, mostly only good ones), but back then I read EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. I also read everything written about the movie online, by, like, anybody, including bulletin board folks.”
Despite bad reviews, “Scooby” performed well enough at the box office to give Gunn is choice in his next project. “I was offered every movie you can imagine. Like, uh, the Jabberjaw movie, and The Jetsons movie, and the Captain Caveman movie. I was offered tons of money to do all of these things. So, of course, me being me, I chose to write Dawn of the Dead. Go figure out my brain, who knows.”
Read his full post below.
MEMORIES OF SCOOBY-DOO: THE MOVIEIncredible. 15 years ago today the first Scooby-Doo: The Movie opened. For those of…
13 Summer Movie Trailers We Love, From 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' to 'The Beguiled' (Videos)
"Spider-Man: Homecoming"
Marvel and Sony saved their best trailer for last as this one prominently features Tom Holland's MCU Spider-Man, Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, and Michael Keaton's Vulture in all their glory.
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"
"I'm your dad Peter," says Kurt Russell's Ego to Chris Pratt's Star-Lord in the last trailer -- solving one of the biggest fanboy mysteries of recent years. Also, scene stealer Baby Groot.
"Wonder Woman"
It took 75 years for DC Comics' Amazonian Warrior to headline her own feature. Gal Gadot stars as Diana/Wonder Woman in a standalone film that shows us her origin, featuring Chris Pine as Steve Trevor.
"Snatched"
The red-band trailer for the Amy Schumer-Goldie Hawn comedy is full of inappropriate jokes, romance and, well -- an unexpected kidnapping. Hawn is back on screen after 15 years.
"The Mummy"
Tom Cruise stumbles upon a mummy of a beautiful woman who was chosen to be Egypt's next queen, but she was thrwarted in her unquenchable thirst for power. And that ancient power is now back.
"Atomic Blonde"
The restricted trailer for "Atomic Blonde" is literally just two full minutes of Charlize Theron kicking a--. Which makes this one of the most anticipated action movies of the summer.
"Baywatch"
The trailer for Paramount's "Baywatch" sports the hottest lifeguards in the world: Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Kelly Rohrbach and Alexandra Daddario. It is hilarious, sexy, and at the end, cringeworthy.
"Baby Driver"
The trailer for Edgar Wright's "Baby Driver" runs on all cylinders, giving us a great look at Ansel Elgort's getaway driver, with the unlikely name of Baby, set to an even cooler soundtrack.
"Despicable Me 3"
The minions are back! And Gru (and his twin brother Dru) are ready for one last heist.
"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets"
From the legendary director of classics like "The Professional," "Lucy," and "The Fifth Element," Luc Besson seems to have another sci-fi winner with this longtime passion project.
"The Beguiled"
The trailer for Sofia Coppola's newest film features Kirsten Dunst, Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning as three women in an all-girls school who let in a wounded soldier. Soon, lust and jealousy take over.
"A Ghost Story"
Casey Affleck’s white-sheeted ghost is unstuck in time, forced to watch passively as the woman he loves slowly slip away. In his spectral state, he embarks on a journey through memory and history, exploring the meaning of human existence. It's beautiful.
"Dunkirk"
Chris Nolan wants to “give the audience the most visceral experiential two hours that they can hope for,” Nolan said of his World War II epic, which is based on the true story of the thousands of Allied soldiers who were trapped and surrounded by the German army on the beach of Dunkirk, France.
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TheWrap Summer Movie Preview 2017: These sneak peeks have us psyched for a season of blockbusters
"Spider-Man: Homecoming"
Marvel and Sony saved their best trailer for last as this one prominently features Tom Holland's MCU Spider-Man, Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, and Michael Keaton's Vulture in all their glory.