Mike Myers' Biggest Career Regret: The Scooby-Doo Role That Got Away
The comedy legend was set to play Shaggy and co-write the script for the live-action adaptation, calling it his 'childhood dream,' but was ultimately replaced before filming began.
Mike Myers has never been known for churning out movies at breakneck speed. The Canadian comedian has always been selective about his projects, sometimes to his own detriment. While hits like Wayne's World and the Austin Powers series cemented his place in comedy history, his careful approach to choosing roles meant several dream projects slipped through his fingers.
A Pattern of Missed Opportunities
Between 1993 and 2008, outside of his major franchises like Wayne's World, Austin Powers, and Shrek, Myers only appeared in seven films. During those gaps, he was constantly developing projects that never saw the light of day. A Saturday Night Live spinoff called Dieter, a Keith Moon biographical film, and an early version of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty all fell by the wayside. He was also considered for the lead in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and the title role in a Pink Panther remake that eventually went to Steve Martin.
The Dream Role That Never Happened
But among all these missed chances, one project stands out as his biggest regret: a live-action Scooby-Doo movie. In summer 1998, it was announced that Myers would portray Shaggy and help write the screenplay alongside Jay Kogan. This wasn't just another job for him – it was a childhood fantasy come to life.
"I don't know what's happening on Scooby-Doo," Myers explained to Kathryn Jenson White at the time. "I'm waiting on a script. I was interested and still am, but it's all script, script, script. I loved Scooby-Doo as a kid. It was the comfort food of my childhood. I loved dogs. I thought Shaggy would be interesting if he were this kind of politically correct guy. It's a hippie update."
When Dreams Don't Come True
Unfortunately for Myers, once director Raja Gosnell came aboard the project, the studio decided to go in a different direction. Matthew Lillard was cast as Shaggy instead, and he's been voicing and playing the character ever since – appearing in dozens of TV shows, streaming series, and video games over the past two decades.
What might Myers' version have looked like? Probably similar to the 2002 James Gunn-scripted film that eventually hit theaters, but with more of Myers' signature comedic style. Unlike Lillard, who was billed third in the ensemble cast, Myers likely would have been the main attraction, given his star power in the late '90s. The released version has gained a cult following over the years, though there's no telling if a Myers-led adaptation would have achieved the same beloved status.