Mystery Incorporated's resident nerd, Velma Dinkley, is getting her own series. The mystery-solving gang we all have watched growing up as kids is back, but the adventures are meant only for adults now. Velma is a character in the Scooby-Doo franchise who is considered the brains of the group. The original series was released in 1969, and the gang has come a long way in the past 50 years. Since then, the crime-solving crew has been reimagined in various formats, like animated movies, video games, live-action movies, and now an adult-themed cartoon.
Not much is known about the upcoming animated series yet. The news of the HBO Max show came out in February, but since it is at the beginning of its developmental journey, its details are still limited. A few critical elements have been pointed out to give this character and franchise a fascinating spin. The other gang members repeatedly undervalue Velma's character on the show. Though she was never considered glamorous with her baggy turtleneck orange sweater, a red skirt, and square glasses, this show will finally focus the limelight on her and give this member of Mystery Inc. the recognition she deserves.
Of all the properties in the Hannah-Barbera library, the Scooby-Doo franchise is one of the most popular and the one that stuck in the minds of kids as their first approach to terror. In the franchise, Velma is one of the most beloved characters by fans, despite the fact that neither the show nor subsequent films gave the character much background. But Velma was a true reflection of many of the children who devoured any Scooby-Doo series and movies. It's time to review the plot, cast, and everything else we know about Velma.
Updated: October 2022 by Raquel Morales: If you are excited about Velma, you’ll be happy to read this updated article that provides the trailer, cast, plot, and everything else you need to know about the show.
Velma: The Plot
The new animated series will dive into Velma’s origin and how she got the reputation of being the brains of the Scooby-Doo gang. According to Kaling’s Instagram post, “Velma will struggle to navigate the pitfalls of high school, her budding sexuality, and a serial killer intent on murdering every popular kid in town.”
When the first look of the animated series was released, there was a lot of controversy surrounding Velma’s race. Unlike before, she will be of South Asian Indian descent in the spin-off.
On May 18, 2022, at the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront presentation, Mindy shared a preview image of Velma. In it, Velma is in a locker room, staring at a body whose head is scalped with its brains out. Multiple women appear to be naked in the background, glaring in horror at the body. You see her wearing her trademark attire, apart from Velma's skin color.
In July 2021, Kaling responded to the backlash on the TV show Late Night with Seth Meyers. She said:
"I felt great because these are really intense fans, you know — cartoon, comic book fans, those are huge fans. And especially [for] a legacy show like this. Then it was announced about a month ago that the Velma character would be reimagined as South Asian, and people were not happy. She's such a great character. She's so smart. And I just couldn't understand how people couldn't imagine a really smart, nerdy girl with terrible eyesight and who loved to solve mysteries could not be Indian. Like, there are Indian nerds. It shouldn't be a surprise to people."
In an interview with TV Kids, Tom Ascheim, ex-president of Warner Bros. Discovery Kids, Young Adults, and Classics, mentions that along with Velma being of the Indian race, the spin-off series will take place in a different world. A world where there will be no dog and no van. However, he speaks about the four important characters: Fred, Daphne, and Shaggy, who may be on the show.
The official synopsis for Velma confirms that the series will take place in a time before Velma joined Mystery Incorporated, as read:
Velma is an adult-animated comedy series telling 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.
The entrance of a serial killer shows Velma taking a dark turn from the cartoon, so the series is determined to find its own name, as it should be.
Velma: The Cast
Nicole Jaffe initially voiced Velma in Scooby-Doo, and since then, various actors like Pat Stevens, Mindy Cohn, and Gina Rodriguez, to name a few, have voiced the character. In the live-action movie adaptation, she was portrayed by Linda Cardellini, Hayley Kiyoko, and Sarah Gilman. And now, none other than the multi-talented Mindy Kaling will lend her voice in the latest spin-off.
Mindy Kaling is an award-winning American actress, writer, director, producer, and comedian. She gained popularity for acting, writing, and directing NBC’s sitcom, The Office. Since then, she has gained international recognition for creating, directing, and starring in various shows like Fox’s The Mindy Project, NBC’s Champions, Netflix’s Never Have I Ever, and HBO Max’s The Sex Life of College Girls.
She has also done voiceover work in the past in movies like Despicable Me, Wreck-it Ralph, and Inside Out. Some of her acting roles include comedy films such as No Strings Attached, The Night Before, Ocean’s 8, Wrinkle in Time, and Late Night to name a few. Kaling’s 2011 memoir, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) and 2015’s Why Not Me? was also featured in The New York Times Best Seller list. She is a woman who can do it all. Along with playing the lead voice actor in Velma, she will also serve as an executive producer for the show.
Teen Titans’ Sam Register, Howard Klein, and Charlie Grande will serve as executive producers along with Kaling. Warner Bros. Animation will be the home where these talented creators will work their magic. Talking about other cast members, there are some details out there.
Velma features Glenn Howerton as Fred, Constance Wu as Daphne, and Sam Richardson as Norville (aka Shaggy). Veteran voice actor Frank Welker, who has been a part of the Scooby-Doo franchise since the beginning as Scooby, is also returning, but it doesn't seem that he will play Scooby.
Velma also adds an amazing cast of supporting characters, consisting of Ming-Na Wen, Gary Cole, Debbie Ryan, Melissa Fumero, Stephen Root, Ken Leung, Jane Lynch, Shay Mitchell, ‘Weird Al' Yankovic, Sarayu Blue, Nicole Byer, Wanda Sykes, Fortune Feimster, Yvonne Orji, Russell Peters, Kulap Vilaysack, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Cameron Hales.
Premiere Date
Mindy Kaling was the first to reveal Velma's first look. However, although that was a few months ago, HBO Max has not yet decided to reveal a specific release date. Despite this, the teaser that the streaming service released confirms that Velma will arrive in 2023. It remains in question whether the series will premiere early or late next year.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, given that HBO Max has been releasing different news about the show and preparing Velma to make its grand entrance for some time now, the safest bet seems to be that the series will arrive in early 2023.