The world of Scooby-Doo has seen many iterations but the most recent adult animated series, Velma, may have just had its final curtain call.
Velma's Controversial Run
Released on Max in January 2023, Velma took a wildly different approach than previous iterations. Focusing on the origins of Velma Dinkley, voiced by Mindy Kaling, the series gave fans a glimpse into her past, particularly what lead up to her team up with the rest of Mystery Inc. Along with the title character, it featured some notable stars like Glenn Howerton (as Fred), Sam Richardson (as Shaggy) and Constance Wu (as Daphne).
A controversial aspect, however, was the total omission of the iconic Scooby-Doo himself!
What was even more compelling is the way these well-known characters are portrayed in the show, highlighting different races from the originals.
- Velma is depicted as a bisexual South Asian American.
- Shaggy is African-American.
- Daphne is East Asian American.
This new version aimed for dark humor, appealing to a mature audience and it has received decidedly mixed reviews. From what many have pointed to is that there is far more negativity than positivity. Velma was slammed by many who are die-hard fans.
The Cancellation
It looks like Velma, might not get another season! Even though there was a Halloween special released on October 3, 2024, which shows just how well the streaming service supports it's newer products! However, the information points to a cancellation.
One of Velma's background painters, Davey Cummings posted a celebratory slideshow of his artwork. Sadly, he also included some very definitive comments to the online community!
- He seemed very proud of working with the cast and crew but emphasized there won't be a season 3.
- Cummings expressed hope that this won't be the end and these individuals could reunite in future productions.
- He urged everyone to catch the new Halloween Special.
Though this wasn't an official announcement by Max (the streaming service it came out on). This leak was still highly significant, as no official statement from Max was released either!
Why The Cancellation?
Velma did create one big moment for HBO Max and it has never been duplicated since. But what has everyone so confused and interested was that the series had an impressively successful initial premiere.
However, that doesn't fully reveal everything! With the controversy eventually settling down after a brief explosion the second season seemingly showed that there wasn't the massive demand needed.
Although there were quite a lot of negative reviews (pointing towards bad faith by some) about how this particular take on Scooby-Doo showed race-swapped characters! It still left fans with a few questions and points of discussion about its characterizations, humor and the general approach the writers chose. All in all, it is clear that some major alterations in a well-loved and familiar brand may never sit right with a large fanbase!
Velma's Legacy
Velma has already had a wild two-season run! Though the end came sooner than expected. The bold move that it was from Max may not have given this particular adaptation the recognition and the opportunity that they desired but may end up a fun reminder of how to give new adaptations to classic stories for today's audiences. There are always going to be changes for people as we grow but what's cool about some projects is that while there might be a shift and new interpretations to a series like Scooby-Doo.
There is a wide, broad range of tastes, but it does highlight a major learning curve for studios that work with brands that have a long and lasting love for their audience that may never change!
