HBO’s upcoming R-rated Velma series features more than the titular character’s story and the origins of how the Scooby gang came to be. Shaggy’s backstory, as his real canon name appeared in the poster, is going to play a huge part in the series, a never-seen-before side to the original characters.
While this adult Scooby-Doo spinoff will be missing the iconic Mystery Inc. van and even Scooby himself, it’s a different take on perceiving the beloved characters, an exploration of each of their individuality. Warner Bros. executive Tom Ascheim explained that this re-imagining is set ‘in a different world’ and features the other ‘four key characters through a different lens’ (via The Mary Sue).
Velma will be voiced by co-creator Mindy Kaling since the show will primarily focus on her, as seen by the title, but will still include Fred, Daphne, and Shaggy, the last of whom will be a little less recognizable in both appearance and name.
One of the show’s changes to the canon is the portrayal of Shaggy as a person of color as well as his real name: Norville Rogers. Hardcore fans would beg to disagree with the revelation as this had been revealed in Marvel’s Scooby-Doo comics in the late 1970s, a decade after the franchise began (1969), and has been canon in the cartoon since 1983.
His first name, Norville, first appeared in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, which was the late 1980s animated series that depicted the Mystery Gang as young children. It was producer Tom Ruegger who picked Shaggy’s real name, which was based on Oliver Norvell Hardy, one-half of the iconic comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.
As for why Shaggy doesn’t go by his real name, Norville Rogers, it’s safe to say that ‘Shaggy’ suits his character better. After all, who would Shaggy be if not for his signature green v-neck shirt with the brown bell-bottom pants, his insatiable appetite, and the shaggy hair, goatee, and baggy clothes?
Perhaps by the time the Velma series premieres, we get to dive into how Shaggy got his nickname, in a different light.
Also Read: Google Celebrates Scooby-Doo's Velma with Lesbian Pride Flag Easter Egg
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