Remember that time when Warner Bros and WWE joined forces to produce a direct-to-DVD film based within the Scooby Doo franchise? Well, apparently the joining of odd bedfellows worked wonders, as both companies are on board for another round.
Variety recently reported that after the success of Scooby Doo! Wrestlemania on home video platforms, WWE Studios and Warner Bros’ Home Entertainment division are going to work on a sequel set for a 2016 release window.
Plot details remain under wraps, but there is word that Hulk Hogan will be prominently featured as a new addition to its as-of-yet unknown cast of wrestlers. This comes a while after Hulk Hogan returned to WWE in February and hosted this year’s Wrestlemania tournament.
Like with its other film projects, WWE will promote the film on its TV shows, websites, live events, and social media platforms.
And just in case people thought that it wasn’t going to happen: that WWE-produced Flintstones direct-to-DVD animated movie is still happening. Titled The Flintsones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown, John Cena will feature prominently among its lineup of wrestlers (among others) and is set to release sometime in the Spring of 2015.
As for the reasoning behind this strange team-up: the goal of the first film (and subsequent others) was to enable Warner Bros. to breathe new life into the Scooby Doo brand, while also allowing WWE a new platform through which they can introduce its wrestler to younger audiences in a new way.
Do remember that these productions remain separate from Warner Bros’ major plans for their respective properties, which include animated big-screen reboots for both.
What do you think? What are your thoughts on this partnership?
