Jinkies! Warner Bros. Animation is developing a new Scooby-Doo spin-off series revolving around the brains of Mystery Inc., Velma Dinkley. The show will be a "comedic origin story" focused on the beloved character, with Mindy Kaling set to voice the character. In addition to taking on the role of the turtleneck-loving super sleuth, Kaling will also executive produce the 10-episode series. Also, to mark this momentous occasion, WB also shared a logo for the new show.
According to HBO Max, Velma will "[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."
“It is a tremendous privilege to build on the 100-year plus legacy of ‘cartoons’ at this company. We can draw a straight line from our hundreds of childhood hours spent watching Bugs outwit Elmer to the current slate of adult animated projects we are building here at HBO Max and we think fans will agree,” Suzanna Makkos, the EVP of Original Comedy and Adult Animation, at HBO Max said in a recent statement.
“We are proud to introduce this distinctive group of series from a wide range of diverse creators that will form a first stop destination for animation lovers everywhere.”
You guys, my ship has finally come in! Velma was my first "cartoon crush" as a child and I've been wanting a show like this for a long time. While every member of the Scooby gang plays a part in solving the mysteries they uncover, it's Velma who has always done the heavy lifting. She's no-nonsense, clear-headed, and is always the first to award Shaggy and Scooby with a smorgasbord of munchies for a job well done. In short, Velma is the business and I'm very excited about this show's potential.
For the moment, no other casting news has been announced, nor has the show received a release window. That said, this is another potential win for HBO Max, who in the past few months has made a very strong argument as to why fans should subscribe to their service. I say we dust off the old magnifying glass and go in search of some ghosts!