When The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019 after 12 years, fans wondered why the immensely popular series didn’t continue. Jessica Radloff’s book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, sheds light on why season 13 never materialized, despite initial hopes that it might.
In 2018, Warner Bros. announced the series would conclude with season 12. While fans were surprised, the real shock came when it was revealed that Jim Parsons, who played Sheldon Cooper, had decided to leave. Parsons’ decision impacted the entire cast and crew, including co-stars Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco, who expressed their disappointment over the news.
For Parsons, the decision to leave was deeply personal. After losing his dog Otis, who represented stability in his life, Parsons felt ready to close the Big Bang chapter and explore new paths. “I was ready to get out of the security of the show to fully find out what was next for me,” he explained.
Interestingly, Parsons had confided in co-star Simon Helberg (Howard Wolowitz) about his plans. Helberg shared that he, too, felt it was time to move on after season 12, even though he knew it could mean the end of the series. “I was aware that Jim felt ready to move on, and we did talk about it,” Helberg said. “We felt like season 12 was the end of the run.”
Could The Big Bang Theory have continued without Sheldon? While some shows have persisted after losing main characters, the show’s creators, including Chuck Lorre and writer Lee Aronsohn, didn’t think it was possible. Aronsohn expressed that losing Parsons would be irreplaceable, saying, “Without Jim Parsons, there is no Big Bang Theory.”
As filming on season 12 began, Lorre had the difficult task of informing the cast that the show would end. He recalled that he didn’t handle the announcement as smoothly as he might have liked, admitting that he “basically made Jim shoulder the weight of the announcement.” This approach caused emotional moments for the cast, especially for Cuoco, who was visibly heartbroken.
Parsons and Helberg later shared that they were uncomfortable with how the news was delivered, feeling it placed undue responsibility on Parsons for ending the show. “Jim didn’t cancel our show,” Helberg said, “He just finished the run of our show as we all did, contractually.”
Despite the emotional toll, the cast eventually came to terms with Parsons’ decision. Radloff’s book reveals that while they wished the announcement had been handled differently, they respected Parsons’ need to move forward. Today, all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory continue to captivate fans, available for streaming on Max.
