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A new "Big Bang Theory" spinoff is in the works and they appear to be taking a big creative swing

By Chris Morgan | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 5:34 PM ET

"The Big Bang Theory" was a massive hit and there is a good chance it will go down as the last majorly-successful multi-cam sitcom. Unsurprisingly, it has yielded spinoffs. "Young Sheldon" is easy to make fun of. What if Sheldon was young? It was a success, which is in no way a shocker, because it's about the simplest bit of spinoff I.P. mining possible. A new "Big Bang" spinoff has been announced that is coming to HBO Max. However you feel about the original CBS sitcom, we will say this: This time, they are taking a huge swing in terms of the premise.

The show, which was first announced as going into development in 2023, is called "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe." Front and center is the comic book shop owner Kevin Sussman, a secondary character in the "Big Bang Theory" world. Also in the cast are Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn, and acclaimed character actor John Ross Bowie. Seems pretty straightforward to this point. Now, let's get to the premise:

Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Sussman) is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon. Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise (Lapkus), geologist friend Bert (Posehn), and quantum physicist/all-around pain Barry Kripke (Bowie). Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from "The Big Bang Theory." As the title implies, things don’t go well.

Yeah, "Young Stuart" this is not. "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe" is a multiverse comedy adventure. That is interesting, at the very least. It's worthwhile, as far as spinoffs go. It could also fall completely flat, but at least this is a swing and it has ambition. If nothing else, we're interested enough to check it out to see how it looks.

(h/t Variety)

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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