Velma showrunner Charlie Grandy recently revealed there's a chance that Harley Quinn could appear in the upcoming HBO Max animated series at some point in the future.
Grandy discussed the possibility of Quinn, who headlines her own hit HBO Max series, guest-starring in Velma in an interview with ComicBook.com. "If [Velma] is a success or does take off, there will absolutely be talks about doing something," he said. "Again, that honors the original show, and we want to honor the original [Scooby-Doo animated series] as much as we can. So that's baked into the DNA of the original. So we'll look for ways to do our take on that." Grandy's comments presumably refer to the Scooby-Doo franchise's tradition of linking up with other properties, including multiple crossovers with the wider Batman franchise of which Harley Quinn is part.
Grandy's response also hints at the current uncertainty surrounding Velma's reception, as the show represents a marked departure from the Scooby-Doo franchise's more family-friendly roots. The new Velma teaser trailer recently spotlighted the series' mature content and themes, featuring an extended homage to Scream that ends with a graphic shot of a blood-splattered window. The teaser also poked fun at the online backlash surrounding the changes to Velma's titular protagonist, with Velma shown venting her outrage over alterations made to Judy Jetson's character in a non-existent Jetsons spinoff.
Velma Star Responds to Backlash Towards the HBO Max Show
Velma star Mindy Kaling previously addressed complaints from some Scooby-Doo fans that her version of Velma Dinkley is South Asian and not Caucasian, saying she's not bothered if this change upsets people. "[Y]ou've hopefully noticed by now my Velma is South Asian," she said. "And if people freak out about that, I don't care. No one's imaginations ever had a problem with a talking dog solving mysteries. So a brown Velma is fine. I think we can all handle it. In any case, you won't want to miss this, coming to HBO Max."
Velma's ethnicity in Velma isn't the only major development in the teenage sleuth's characterization of late, either. New animated film Trick or Treat, Scooby-Doo recently confirmed that Velma is gay, portraying her as visibly attracted to criminal mastermind Coco Diablo. It's worth noting that Trick or Treat, Scooby-Doo is set in a different continuity to Velma, which means it's currently unclear whether Velma's LGBTQ+ portrayal will carry over to the HBO Max series.
Velma arrives on HBO Max in 2023.
Source: ComicBook.com