The big news was revealed at New York Comic Con panel where the star-studded cast of the show was revealed as well. Here’s what we know about the spin-off series right now:
Is Velma Getting Her Own Show?
The official logline of the series describes the show as “the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the unsung and underappreciated brains of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang. This original and humorous spin unmasks the complex and colorful past of one of America’s most beloved mystery solvers.” As revealed by executive producer Mindy Kaling, Velma’s origin story will be “a journey of self-discovery” of the timeless character. Apart from boldly revealing the real gender of Velma, Kaling has turned the character Indian. Speaking to Deadline, Kaling explains: “I think of the characters in this are iconic but in no way… are they defined by their whiteness. Most Indian American [women], when they see skeptical, hardworking under-appreciated characters, they can identify with her. The vast majority are ready for it. This show is for them.” In another interview, Kaling also explained that “You’ve hopefully noticed by now my Velma is South Asian. And if people freak out about that, I don’t care. No one’s imaginations ever had a problem with a talking dog solving mysteries. So a brown Velma is fine.” The actress also shared that they “want to honor other interpretations and what we think feels really modern.”
When Will Velma be on HBO Max?
As of this writing, the adult animated series is not yet available for release. The first season of Velma will make its debut on HBO Max sometime in 2023. It will consist of 10 episodes. According to TVLine, HBO Max quietly revealed its “What’s New in January” slate on December 20 and included the release date of Velma. The show is said to make its release on Thursday, January 12, 2023 with two episodes getting released per week. The first season will have a total of 10 episodes.
Will Scooby-Doo Be in Velma?
It wouldn’t be a Scooby-Doo movie without, well, Scooby-Doo. And yes, this is why the beloved talking dog is not in this series. Together with Kaling, showrunner Charlie Grandy explains that they struggled to look for a take on “that mangy mutt.” Grandy said that “It felt like what made it a kids’ show was Scooby-Doo. That coincided with Warner Bros. Animation saying, ‘Hey, you can’t use the dog.’ So we were like, ‘Great, this works out well.’”
Who’ll Be Part of the Velma Cast?
Since this is an adult animation, we won’t actually get to see the actors on our screens but hear their voices. The star-studded cast includes the following:
Mindy Kaling (as Velma)Sam Richardson (as Shaggy)Constance Wu (as Daphne)Glenn Howerton (as Fred)Jane LynchWanda SykesRussell PetersMelissa FumeroStephen RootGary ColeKen LeungCherry JonesFrank Welker"Weird Al" YankovicFortune FeimsterYvonne OrjiSarayu BlueNicole ByerMing-Na WenShay MitchellDebby RyanKulap VilaysackKarl-Anthony Towns
Is There a Velma Trailer?
When the show was revealed, a teaser was also released. You can watch it here:
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