“Hold on, Man. We don’t go anywhere with ‘scary’, ‘spooky’, ‘haunted’, or ‘forbidden’ in the title“

A while back we exclusively reported on a new “Scooby Doo” prequel movie that Warner Premiere (“Lost Boys : The Tribe”, “Dukes of Hazzard : The Beginning”) are doing. Set in highschool, the film tells the back-story of how Fred, Daphne, Shaggy, Velma and, of course, Scooby, hooked up.

We were informed this evening that newcomer Nick Palatas has scored the role of the new Shaggy in the movie.

“He is terrific. He does a great Shaggy”, says our source. “Matthew Lillard was good, Nick will be great!”

It’s a big break for Palatas, who’ll make his film debut in “Scooby Doo 3”.

Palatas, who has “also signed on for two further films” joins the previously announced Kate Melton (“Friday Night Lights”) who plays Daphne.

Brian Levant (“The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas”) directs the “Scooby Doo” prequel. Shooting begins in August.