Since he’s probably best known for his big-screen superhero spectacle features for Marvel Studios and his low-budget indie horror features, fans likely don’t realize that James Gunn is credited as the writer for both early-2000s live-action “Scooby-Doo” feature films. And recently, on social media, he revealed that his earliest script for “Scooby-Doo” featured the first on-screen version of Velma as a lesbian. That is, until the studio got a hold of it.
On Twitter, Gunn was urged by a fan to make a new “Scooby-Doo” film that featured the character of Velma, who has long been presumed to be gay but never overtly outed in the franchise, as an open lesbian. And according to the writer, that was his intention nearly 20 years ago, but that was quickly dashed by the studio.
He tweeted, “I tried! In 2001 Velma was explicitly gay in my initial script. But the studio just kept watering it down & watering it down, becoming ambiguous (the version shot), then nothing (the released version) & finally having a boyfriend (the sequel). ????”
In the 2002 feature, “Scooby-Doo,” the role of Velma is portrayed by actress Linda Cardellini. However, over the years, there have been a number of actresses who have either played the character on screen or voiced her in other projects. However, the sexuality of the character has only been hinted at and never fully explained. Most recently, fans were able to see a new version of Velma in the animated feature, “Scoob!”