Velma-Centric Scooby-Doo Animated Prequel Series Ordered at HBO Max; Mindy Kaling to Voice Titular Role
At long last, vindication for Velma Dinkley!
HBO Max has placed a 10-episode series order for Velma, a comedic animated origin story centered on the “unsung and underappreciated brains” of the Scooby-Doo gang, with Mindy Kaling giving voice to the iconic character.
The streamer says the new iteration will “unmask the complex and colorful past of one of America’s most beloved mystery solvers.”
Kaling will also serve as an EP on the project alongside Charlie Grandy, Howard Klein and Sam Register.
In other ‘toon news, HBO Max has also handed series orders to a reboot of MTV’s cult fave Clone High as well as Fired on Mars, an “existential workplace comedy set five minutes in the future” with Saturday Night Live‘s Pete Davidson voicing the central role.
Mindy does a good job voicing Velma. Since its a prequel, a Facts of Life-like parody of Velma at a all female boarding school would be fun… at least I think so…
Mindy Kaling is not from Facts of Life.. sadly…
Lol… I just caught it was Kalinga. Mindy Cohn has done the voice of Velma in numerous iterations and my mind read what it wanted to see. Sadly, it is not Mindy Cohn. Nothing against Kalinga, as she is incredibly talented; but, I am surprised a poc is voicing a white iconic character and many white actors have stepped down from poc characters.
Auto correct added the a at the end of Kaling and this site doesn’t allow edits.
I’m sorry but recently all the white American actors have stopped voicing Indian characters but it’s ok for an Indian American to voice a white character? I’m sorry but bring Mindy Cohn back for the role.
Please don’t play the reverse-racism card.
Really? What is “reverse” about it? There is one definition if racism and it applies to everyone regardless of color. Nothing against Kalinga as she is an enormous talent, but double standards are double standards.
The definition of racism needs to change. But it has to do with the systemic relationship to power. And since white people have been in power for much of history, you can’t be racist towards them. That’s the idea of reverse racism.
It’s not about reverse anything.. it’s about making sure that what is good for one side is good for all sides. If you want to be FAIR than all rules must apply TO all. If you dont think white people have been targets than you aren’t looking closely enough. If we find it racist to have a white male play an Indian CARTOON character than a white female should play the voice of a white female CARTOON – or it should be retooled. She is cashing in on a ready made brand (Scooby Doo) as she is also an EP. She should hire someone else (namely Mindy Cohn) for the voice – especially since she is a member of the “minority” who just asked white actors to stop acting as Indian.
The rules haven’t applied to white people for centuries but now that society is shifting all you white people suddenly demand “equality.”
Oh okay John so how long should we let POC have an advantage over white people so that our oppressions “equal out?” A couple years? Centuries? What do you think would be a fair amount of time?
Preach Staci! I don’t understand the double standard! Love Mindy Kaling, however!
yes, it’s ok. b/c it’s not a dominant group appropriating a minority culture.
So Mindy Kaling actually CAN voice a white character. Thought it was a huge no no, but once again, it’s obviously one-way street.
Shut up
“Thought it was a huge no no” — Sure you did. No doubt you made TONS of posts over the years objecting to Hank Azaria voicing Apu.
.
Of course, there is an obvious solution: Make Velma Asian. There’s no particular reason she needs to be white.
No, the recasting is a recent trend, that’s the point. Your Apu argument makes zero sense. As of right now, PoC can voice anybody, white actors can only voice white characters. So once again, equality isn’t really a goal here, just an excuse for cancel culture.
As a massive Scooby Doo fan, I fully plan on watching this. However, I am saddened that they greenlight this and seemingly have cancelled any future for Infinity Train.
I’m very confused by this casting choice because I feel like there would be an huge uproar if an Indian or other POC character was being voiced by a white actress… I guess my definition of equality is different from Hollywood’s.
There would be.. but we’re not alowed to use logic when feelings are involved.
Excuse me, since when Velma became indian-american? I guess it’s okay for you cast non-white actress to voice white character? Yeah, that’s definitely not double standarts…
So you think they’ll make the “Velma is a Lesbian” thing “official” finally? None of this speculation we’ve had for decades :)