HBO Max is expanding its slate of adult animated television shows with a very exciting order:Velma, aScooby-Dooprequel series all about Velma Dinkley.Velmais one of three new adult animated shows ordered by the streamer. In addition to thisScooby-Dooprequel series geared towards grown-up fans, HBO Max has also givena two-season order totheCloneHighrebootand a new series calledFired on Mars.
Velmacomes from executive producerMindy Kaling. As the title indicates,Velmawill focus on the orange turtleneck-wearing, spectacle-sporting Velma Dinkley. According to HBO Max,Velmawill “[tell] the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the unsung and underappreciated brains of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang” and that the show is “an original and humorous spin that unmasks the complex and colorful past of one of America’s most beloved mystery solvers.”
In addition to serving as executive producer, Kaling will also voice the character of Velma. No additional casting announcements have been made yet. Additionally, the production timeline is still unclear so we can’t say for sure what the expected release date is at this point. However, we do know the series has been given a 10-episode order by HBO Max. Two of Kaling’s fellow executive producers onVelma—CharlieGrandyandHowardKlein— go all the way back with Kaling to the days ofThe Office. Joining thisOfficealum trio isSamRegister(Batman: The Killing Joke), also serving as an executive producer.
Like the rest of the Mystery, Inc. team, the character of Velma Dinkley has been around for more than 50 years. First appearing in the Hanna-Barbera animated seriesScooby-Doo, Where Are You?, Velma and her buddies — Fred, Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo — have been running around solving mysteries of all sorts and doing fun things like unmasking their suspects at the scene of the crime for so long they’ve become pop culture icons. In recent years, theScooby-Doogang have gotten their own movies, including the 2002 live-action rompScooby-Doo, which sawLinda Cardelliniplay Velma, and the 2020 animated movieScoob!, which featuredGina Rodriguezstepping into Velma’s shoes (and oversized specs).
We’ll keep you posted asVelmadevelops. In the meantime, why not check out our recommendations for thebest adult animated TV showsyou can stream right now?
