Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros. Animation
Topics: TV And Film, Warner Bros
Scooby-Doo prequel Velma has been cancelled by streaming service Max after just two seasons.
The TV series hasn’t exactly had the smoothest run.
It’s the first project in the Scooby-Doo franchise not to feature the titular hound, although I’m not sure that’s exactly why it debuted to an overwhelmingly negative response.
In fact, Velma - starring Mindy Kaling - quickly became the worst-rated animated show in iMDB history, so the fact that it was renewed for a second season feels like a small miracle.
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While some viewers genuinely took issue with the series’ storytelling, feeling it lacked the magic of the Scooby-Doo franchise’s previous outings, I can’t say that’s the main reason why Velma was so poorly received.
You see, the series both changed Velma’s race - with the character being South Asian in this particular iteration - and includes LGBTQ+ themes.
That shouldn’t be any reason for concern but, as much as it saddens me to say so, the internet is the internet and so the series was quickly review-bombed by those less open-minded and accepting.
Unfortunately, Velma’s second season wasn’t able to escape the ‘controversy’ enough to succeed.
HBO’s The Last of Us has a second season on the way. You can take a look at the trailer below.
After airing its second season earlier this year, Velma has now been formally cancelled.
“Over the past two seasons, Mindy [Kaling] and Charlie [Grandy] have created an incredibly fun and fresh world within the iconic whodunit franchise,” said a spokesperson at Max (via Forbes).
“While we won’t be moving forward with another season of the series, we thank them for their compelling coming-of-age storytelling, unrivalled clues, and hilarious hijinks.”
It’s a shame as I’m a big Scooby-Doo fan and have always felt that the franchise has room for something with a more mature take on the characters.
Velma provided that but alas, this chapter draws to a close.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera attempt another mature series. I’m certainly hoping that they do.