The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco on whether she would be open to returning in a potential spin-off.
Amid ongoing discussions surrounding a new Big Bang Theory spin-off, Kaley Cuoco has addressed whether she would be open to reprising her role as Penny. The sitcom, which enjoyed a successful 12-season run from 2007 to 2019, has already inspired spin-offs like Young Sheldon.
With showrunner Chuck Lorre revealing that a new spin-off set in The Big Bang Theory universe is in development, speculation has been rife about possible storylines, including one centered around Penny and Leonard. While details of the project remain under wraps, Cuoco recently stirred up excitement as she reflected on the possibility of returning as Penny.
Kaley Cuoco Addresses the Possibility of Returning as Penny
Kaley Cuoco, who started her acting career early in her teens, gained widespread recognition with her role as Penny in The Big Bang Theory. And the character still holds a special place in her heart.
“I spent 12 years playing that role, and it really set off my career,” Cuoco recently told People as she reflected on her time starring in the hit CBS sitcom. She further stated,
I owe a lot to that character, to that show, to [creator] Chuck Lorre — It was some of the best years of my life, and some of the most fun I’ve ever had.
And, when asked if she would be open to reprising her role for future potential opportunities, she said, “I would absolutely reprise that role,” before adding, “100%… I love that character, and I always will.”
The original sitcom ran for over a decade and was a massive success, earning 10 Emmys. The show extended into a spin-off based on Jim Parsons‘ character Sheldon Cooper, Young Sheldon, which has launched another spin-off series Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
With a new Max spinoff of the popular sitcom currently in the works, many fans have been hoping to see Penny and Leonard following the events of The Big Bang Theory, and Cuoco’s willingness to return as Penny has certainly caused some anticipation for the same.
What the New Big Bang Theory Spin-off Could Be About?
Last year, Chuck Lorre announced a new spin-off for The Big Bang Theory, leading to several specualtions about who the new series would focus on. While some are hoping for a show centered around Kunal Nayyar’s Raj, others are anticipating a storyline that follows Penny and Leonard’s life with their children.
However, following Jim Parsons’ appearance in the Young Sheldon finale, there have been specualtions about the latter, keeping in mind Johnny Galecki’s unofficial retirement from acting.
Speculation suggests that the new show could focus solely on Kaley Cuoco’s Penny, possibly exploring a storyline where she and Leonard have divorced, or where Leonard has passed away due to his various health issues and allergies from the original sitcom.
It would not only explain Galecki’s absence but would also offer a fresh start for Penny in the new series. While fans have been eagerly anticipating the new spin-off following Penny, and hopefully Leonard as well, its odds have come into doubt amid recent reports.
Deadline recently reported that Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, and Brian Posehn have recently signed talent-holding deals with Warner Bros Television. Kevin Sussman portrayed Stuart Bloom, while Lapkus was introduced as Denise, Stuart’s love interest in the last two seasons of the sitcom.
Brian Posehn portrayed Bert Kibbler, a geologist at Caltech with a crush on Mayim Bialik’s Amy. No explicit detail surrounding their potential involvement in the spin-off has been revealed, so far.
However, it has led to specualtions that the new spin-off could focus on their respective characters, and potentially on Stuart and Denise and their relationship. However, the series is still in its early development stages and has yet to be officially greenlit.
