After decades of dominating network television with character-driven sitcoms, Chuck Lorre is stepping far outside his comfort zone.
The television titan, 73, confirmed that his upcoming HBO Max series, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, pushes him into uncharted territory — blending sci-fi spectacle with comedy in a way he’s never attempted before.
“It’s a big swing,” Lorre admitted. “It will either be revered or reviled.”
The series follows Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman), who inadvertently triggers a multiverse catastrophe after damaging an invention built by Sheldon and Leonard. Tasked with restoring reality, Stuart becomes the unlikely hero of a cosmic adventure.
Joining Sussman are familiar faces Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie — former supporting players now promoted to center stage.
Lorre says the motivation behind the ambitious project was simple: creative discomfort.
“I wanted to challenge myself,” he explained. “I’ve spent most of my career with people sitting on couches talking. This time, I wanted action, mythology and visual effects.”
Reuniting with co-creator Bill Prady and executive producer Zak Penn, Lorre hopes to merge heartfelt comedy with epic science fiction — a fusion that could redefine the Big Bang universe once again.