HBO Max's Velma - What We Know So Far
The Scooby-Doo franchise has been around in several incarnations since its inception in 1969. Several films and TV shows, both in live-action and animation, have focused on the group, comprised of Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Norville Rogers, aka Shaggy, as they solve supernatural mysteries, with their dog Scooby-Doo in tow. Numerous iterations have seen the group both battle actual supernatural entities and humans pretending to be paranormal entities for their own nefarious purposes.
The latest version in the franchise, in the form of a TV series, comes courtesy of the streaming service HBO Max. Titled "Velma," the series will make Velma Dinkley, often the brains of the group, the focal point in the series. Often bespectacled and wearing an orange turtleneck sweater and red skirt, with shoes and socks that match in color, this will mark the first time Velma is the sole lead in a story set in this universe. Here's what we know so far about HBO Max's "Velma."
When is Velma being released?
"Velma" doesn't have a set release date yet, but it has been announced by HBO Max that it will come out in 2023. It has already been confirmed to have a 10-episode first season.
The series is likely to premiere in the first half of the year, thus explaining the release of a teaser by HBO Max. The series was announced in February 2021 (via Variety), and by comparison, the Elizabeth Olsen miniseries "Love & Death" was announced in May 2021 (per Deadline). Based on the teaser released a couple of weeks ago, it appears that "Love & Death" has shot enough material to be able to formulate a teaser, which means that "Velma" is also similarly further along in its development cycle, despite the later announcement.
Furthermore, animation is not dependent on shooting schedules, which gives it an easier production window, as the animators can work independently from the voice performers. The combination of these factors suggests that we're likely to see "Velma" on HBO Max before June 2023, but that is merely a guess.
Who is in the cast of Velma?
"Velma" is being produced by Mindy Kaling, of "The Office" fame. Kaling has executive produced a number of shows, including fellow HBO Max series "The Sex Lives Of College Girls" and The Netflix series "Never Have I Ever."
Kaling will also be voicing the titular Velma, with other members of the Scooby-Doo gang also appearing on the show. "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Glenn Howerton will voice Fred, while "Veep" and "Ted Lasso" supporting performer Sam Richardson will voice Shaggy, aka Norville. Finally, "Fresh Off The Boat" and "Hustlers" star Constance Wu completes the human ensemble as Daphne.
Among the show's supporting cast is Frank Welker, who is a veteran of "Scooby-Doo" cartoons and is likely to be voicing Scooby himself this time around. Other stars confirmed to be lending their voice to the series include Melissa Fumero, Nicole Byer, Shay Mitchell, Gary Cole, Kulap Vilaysack, Ming-Na Wen, Sarayu Blue, Debby Ryan, Fortune Feimster, Yvonne Orji, Stephen Root, and musician Weird Al Yankovic (per The Hollywood Reporter).
Where can you see other versions of Velma and Scooby-Doo?
"Scooby-Doo" has appeared in numerous iterations over the course of its run. There have been two live-action theatrical versions, the 2002 film "Scooby-Doo" and the 2004 sequel "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed," in which Linda Cardellini plays Velma, both of which are also available on HBO Max as well as Netflix. In addition, the 2010 cartoon series "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated," which saw Matthew Lillard reprise the role of Shaggy in voice form after playing the character in the live-action films, also has both its seasons available on HBO Max. The 2020 film "Scoob!," which explored the beginnings of Shaggy and Scooby's friendship, can also currently be found on HBO Max.
The 2018 live-action film "Daphne & Velma," which saw Sarah Gilman take on the role of Velma, is currently available via Hoopla to select libraries that have the service available to their members. The 2009 live-action film "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins," which sees Hayley Kiyoko as Velma, is also available on HBO Max. The 2018 crossover between Scooby-Doo and the DC Universe, titled "Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold," is also currently on HBO Max.