Velma may not have been a critical success, but Mindy Kaling's Scooby-Doo reimagining may be back for another season. That's according to comments from a Warner Bros. executive, who alluded to continued work on the series.
Velma was a first for the Scooby-Doo franchise. Marketed towards adults, the series aimed to tell a story about the Mystery Inc. gang without Scooby-Doo. The idea seemed odd to many because what's Scooby-Doo without Scooby-Doo? Though the crew said Scooby-Doo wouldn't be in Velma due to its adult nature, fans remained skeptical, and the show eventually debuted to poor reviews.
According to Deadline, that didn't cement Velma's fate. The publication interviewed Channing Dungey, who serves as Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group. Buried in the article is information about Velma's potential renewal: "Dungey’s team is working on a second season of Scooby-Doo spinoff Velma, an adult animated comedy that comes from Kaling and Charlie Grandy that was the streamer’s most-watched animated series debut ever."
However, Velma's social media presence has remained negative. Even former Daphne voice actress Grey DeLisle seemingly commented on the show's quality. DeLisle tweeted a headline about Velma becoming the worst animated television show in IMDb's history. "JEEPERS!!!" DeLisle titled the post, referencing Daphne's iconic catchphrase.
Several fans have also shunned Velma in favor of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. Though that series was still family-friendly, it offered a more mature take on the gang and managed to include Scooby in the show. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated is frequently considered one of the best entries in the franchise for its twists, serial storytelling, and embrace of the franchise's history. Conversely, many fans believe Velma is lacking because of its uncertain storytelling, occasionally juvenile humor, and new takes on the characters that fly in the face of their established characterizations for the sake of humor.
While Velma was poorly received, the series did pull in some decent viewership. It's currently the highest-viewed animated series on HBO Max. That could come down to hate-watching, but there's also the possibility that a silent contingent of fans enjoys the series. Still, if Velma season 2 doesn't pivot to new opportunities and align the series with a more faithful take on the franchise, fans might continue asking, "Where are you, Scooby-Doo?"
Velma is now available on HBO Max.
Source: Deadline