James Gunn reveals he tried to make 'Scooby-Doo' character gay

In case it’s still up for debate, Velma from Scooby-Doo is gay. Not only has Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated supervising producer Tony Cervone confirmed as much in a recent Pride-themed Instagram post, but now writer James Gunn is confirming that his version of the character in the 2002 live-action flick was also “explicitly gay.” Or at least she was until the studio interfered.The Guardians of the Galaxy and Suicide Squad writer/director spilled tea on social media recently after a fan asked him to “make our live-action lesbian Velma dreams come true” in a potential third franchise film. “I tried! In 2001 Velma was explicitly gay in my initial script,” he replied. “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).”

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). ? https://t.co/Pxho6Ju1oQ

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 13, 2020

Gunn also added that if you go back and look at some of the deleted scenes of the initial movie, or if someone were to look at his original script, they’d see that he tried to write Velma as a gay woman. At time of press, Warner Bros. hadn’t commented on why it didn’t want to commit to that version of the character, who was played by Linda Cardellini in both the 2002 movie and the 2004 follow-up, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.Despite the fact that Gunn’s intended character never made it to the screen, fans were still all over his reveal on social media.

VELMA IS CANONICALLY A LESBIAN THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME pic.twitter.com/l3f1wZLqIr

— alex (@loventhunders) July 12, 2020

Ahahhh I wish I wish it actually happened. pic.twitter.com/Fek33WREXv

— Martyn Kempster (@martykempy) July 13, 2020

Too bad -- the only thing that could have improved a masterpiece ?

ahh well, all art needs a flaw... :)— ICantBelieveItsNotBetter (@fergie432uno) July 14, 2020

When the original film hit box offices it was an instant success, pulling in $257 million worldwide. The movie stared Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred. Unfortunately the sequel, which reunited all four actors, didn’t fare quite so well. That movie only made $180 million at the box office, and any plans for a third iteration were scrapped. Until now, that is. Fans have been clamouring for a new film recently, hoping to get the gang back together. "I am shocked by how much the grown Scooby fans have increased their presence over the past year or so," Gunn added on Twitter.Perhaps the renewed interest has everything to do with the fact that the franchise was supposed to make its big-screen return this year. SCOOB!, an animated look at how the Mystery gang got together, was originally supposed to hit theatres earlier this year. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic Warner Bros. gave it a digital release instead.So would Gunn work on a third live-action film sometime in the future? He didn’t say, but the fact that he’s interacting with fans about his creative visions could be a good sign. For now fans will just have to be content following his writing skills on the upcoming Guardian of the Galaxy and Suicide Squad films, which are currently scheduled to hit theatres next year.[video_embed id='-1']BEFORE YOU GO: Cat has epic battle with persistent windshield wiper[/video_embed]