Remakes and reboots are quite common in the movie and TV industry these days. However, it doesn’t matter if you want to recreate a beloved classic or create something completely new and fresh, every movie buff thrives on a little nostalgia. One of the greatest franchises in cartoon and live action history has to be Scooby Doo. We all remember the Scooby Doo franchise as a group of mystery-solving friends, the Mystery Machine and a charming talking dog. Well, time to get ready for a new take on a childhood favorite.
The animated show Velma, created by and starring comedian Mindy Kaling, takes on this challenge straight away. The show is an attempt to make a more mature show for the audience that grew up watching this show years ago and will be a sort of origin story for the beloved character. Although met with some controversy surrounding the decision to Scooby not included! this show is teeming with curiosity about what could come out of it, as well as the creative choices in casting and plot. The show will air its first season on HBO Max in 2023. In the meantime, let’s meet some of HBO Max’s cast Velma.
Mindy Kaling as Velma
The iconic role of Velma has been played and voiced many times in the past. But in this new series Mindy Kaling takes it by storm. Kaling is an actress and comedian best known for her starring role in the comedy series The Mindy Project. She also gained recognition in the entertainment industry with her role as Kelly Kapoor on NBC’s The office. Kaling is credited with making this show come alive from the change of Velma’s race to the prospect of this show being more mature than the character’s original portrayals. From what we know about Kaling as an actress and comedian, we expect this show to be incredibly entertaining and laughably funny.
Glenn Howerton as Fredo
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The character Fred in the original Scooby-Doo franchises is seen as the “leader” of the group of meddlesome kids and their dog. In this kind of Velma origin story, Fred is voiced by Glenn Howerton. Howerton is an actor and screenwriter you may recognize from movies like 2020’s The hunt and the 2008 horror thriller The Strangers. He also played Dennis Reynolds in the sitcom It’s always sunny in Philadelphia. Now we’re more than excited to see his take on Fred in this upcoming animated series!
Sam Richardson as Shaggy
Beloved character Shaggy, who is Scooby’s right-hand man in the franchise, is getting a minor rebrand in the new show. In VelmaNorville Rogers, AKA Shaggy, will be Black, and the character will be voiced by the one and only Sam Richardson. Richardson is an actor and comedian known for his role as Richard Splett on HBO’s political comedy show Veep. He also plays roles in movies like We are the Millers, good guys, Ted Lassoand Meet.
Constance Wu as Daphne
Constance Wue is our Daphne in Velma! Wu is just another name added to this incredibly diverse cast, and her voice in this role will be very exciting. Wu has become a household name in the industry with her roles as Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asiansinto fate Hustlersand as Jessica in the sitcom Hot off the press. If you’re a fan of Wu’s work like us, her addition to this cast is a win anywhere!
Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch is a masterful display of a phenomenal comedic presence in modern entertainment. As a personality in this industry, Lynch has built a reputation for being absolutely hilarious, and for an adult remake of a much-loved children’s franchise, Lynch fits the bill. Lynch is best known for her role as the dominating presence and cheerleading coach Su Sylvester of William McKinley High School in cheerfulness. Along with a plethora of movie and TV credits behind it, we’re more than excited to see the role she’ll play in Velma next year.
Wanda Sykes
The impressive list of well-known comedians in this cast is befitting of how big this project will be. So many eyes are on this series, and with the inclusion of stand-up comedian and actress Wanda Sykes, excitement is a given. Sykes is an incredibly distinguished person in entertainment and has won a Primetime Emmy Award for her writing contributions to The Chris Rock Show along with multiple film and TV roles throughout her career.
Rare Al Yankovic
Where do we start? Rare Al Yankovic the building has entered! Yes, you read that right. Yankovic is an actor, singer, songwriter, musician and producer who has taken the entertainment world by storm. To say he is an iconic figure in pop culture is a huge understatement. His eccentric career and aesthetics have propelled him to stardom, and he’s also set to get his own starring biopic Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe.
Debby Ryan
Debby Ryan was also recently announced as a member of this star-studded cast. Although the character she plays Velma has yet to be made public, her acting credentials are enough to grab our attention. Ryan is part of a group of Disney Channel alumni and she keeps things going in her acting career. Ryan stared as Bailey on the Disney Channel show Suite Life on Deck as well as starring in some series, including Disney’s jessie and Netflix’s Insatiable.
Karl-Anthony Towns
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Now, if you recognize Karl-Anthony Towns, it probably has nothing to do with the movie and TV industry. Towns is an incredibly gifted and respected player in the NBA. In addition to being the star of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Towns has apparently begun pursuing other endeavors off the field. Cities will be part of the cast for Velma and whatever the role, the eyes will be on this athlete in more ways than one.