Velma show runner explains why ‘Scooby-Doo’ is not in HBO Max series

Velma will be there, but Scooby Doo will not be.

Scooby-Doo won't be a part of the upcoming, significant return of the "Scooby-Doo" universe. Longtime viewers of the animated series who wish to combine their nostalgia with a more sophisticated sense of humor can enjoy "Velma," a new adult animated comedy in which Mindy Kaling voices the title character.

It includes adult versions of the mystery machine's crew, but Scooby won't be making any appearances to make sure Velma is the star of the show.

Showrunner Charlie Grandy noted that the choice to leave Scooby-Doo out of the series was made in an effort to set the adult program apart from the kid-friendly source material, according to an appearance on a panel for the show at New York Comic-Con (via Insider).

“When we were going into the show and thinking about adapting it, we wanted to be respectful,” Grandy expressed.

“We didn’t want to just kind of take these beloved characters and put them in outrageous or gross situations and say, ‘Isn’t it crazy you did that to Velma?'”

The creative team contemplated adding Scooby-Doo to the show, but they were unable to strike a balance between the two sensibilities.

“We couldn’t get a take on it that was like, ‘How do we kind of do this in a fun, modern way?'” he said. “That felt like what made it a kid show was, Scooby-Doo.”

Grandy also made it clear that the new series continues to take place in the same universe as the venerable canine detective, even though Scooby-Doo won't be making an appearance.