Former General Hospital Bad Girl Joins Netflix’s Live-Action Scooby-Doo Prequel
General Hospital alum Avery Kristen Pohl (ex-Esme Prince) has landed a role in the upcoming Netflix series Scooby-Doo: Origins, which is currently in production for a 2027 release.
A Mysterious New Adventure
Deadline reported that Pohl was one of 15 actors being added to the cast of the Scooby-Doo prequel series, joining previously announced talent like Mckenna Grace (ex-Faith, Young and Restless), who plays a central role as Daphne Blake. “Dog’s outta the bag,” Pohl joked on Instagram when the news broke. “So grateful to work with so many talented and kind individuals.”
Pohl first joined the cast of GH back in August 2021 and played the scheming Esme Prince right up until the character’s apparent death in January 2024. In 2025, she received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Guest Performer category. That December, she made a brief return as Esme, who appeared in Laura’s (Genie Francis) nightmare.
Tabyana Ali (Trina), who worked closely with Pohl on GH as their characters battled for the heart of Spencer Cassadine (Nicholas Alexander Chavez), was excited for her former castmate. “HELLLO!!!!” she commented on Pohl’s Instagram post, later adding a dancer and disco ball emoji, and cheering: “YESSS THAT’S MY GIRL!!!!” Sydney Mikayla, who played Trina before Ali assumed the role, chimed in with, “Congratulations!!!” Kristen Vaganos (Molly) added, “How fun!!!!” with an applause emoji, Tanisha Harper (Jordan) commented, “Congrats that’s awesome!” and Jophielle Love (ex-Violet) wrote, “OMG so amazing!!!! Yes.”
In addition to Grace, Scooby-Doo: Origins stars Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Rider Fortson as Velma Dinkley, and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones, with The Conners alum Sara Gilbert and Twin Peaks star Sherilyn Fenn (ex-Audrey Horne) also joining the cast. Their roles, as well as Pohl’s, are being kept under wraps.
Scooby-Doo: Origins is based on the classic Scooby-Doo cartoon franchise, which launched back in 1969, and is a live-action reimagining of the group of mystery-solving youngsters and their unique dog. In the series, the four teens join up together to help solve a mystery surrounding a lost Great Dane puppy that may have witnessed a supernatural murder.
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