The Big Bang Theory is easily the biggest sitcom of the last 20 years. Its success led to two prequel spin-offs, Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Two spin-offs are impressive for any comedy, but the universe isn’t done expanding just yet. Max is in early development on a third offshoot of The Big Bang Theory. Set in the present day, it will reportedly follow side characters Stuart, Denise, and Bert from the original series. While there’s no formal order yet, casting these three returning actors is a good sign — also, anything Big Bang-related is almost guaranteed to be a massive success.
The odds of this latest Big Bang entry landing a series commitment are pretty high. But then, what could we see? Given the cast announcement, it’s likely that the series would be set at Stuart’s comic book store. Since it’s not a prequel, alums from The Big Bang Theory could stop in and visit the new setting. Who wouldn’t want to see where our favorite nerds ended up half a decade after the original show ended? So, let’s look at where it is in the production process and what type of story we could see.
The Power of the ‘Big Bang Theory’ Franchise
The Big Bang Theory was one of the longest-running multi-camera comedies in network television history, lasting for 12 seasons and 279 episodes. That’s a feat that will likely never again be matched in the franchise. Young Sheldon enjoyed a long lifespan of its own, with an additional seven seasons and 141 episodes. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is only around halfway through its first season, but it will likely be around for some time as well. The Big Bang Theory has never really ended. Young Sheldon took over after running alongside Big Bang in its final two seasons. And after Young Sheldon wrapped, Georgie & Mandy debuted. There’s been at least one Big Bang-universe series on CBS for the last 18 television seasons.
The Big Bang Theory was possibly the last true old-style network sitcom, so continuing its world on streaming seems strange, especially since it’s on Max and not CBS’ own Paramount+. But if the new series is picked up, that’s exactly where the next chapter will unfold. The series was first announced to be in the early stages of development in April 2023.
It landed at Max thanks to Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre’s deal with Warner Bros Television, which also distributed the three existing franchise series. No new information was revealed after that April 2023 announcement. In January 2024, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage was announced, leading some to believe that the Max spin-off had morphed into this new prequel. However, it was clarified that they were indeed separate projects when the returning cast for the Max series was revealed in October 2024.
The Plot and Cast of the New ‘Big Bang Theory’ Spin-Off
The sequel series brought back original stars Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, and Brian Posehn as Stuart Bloom, Denise, and Bert Kibbler, respectively. Stuart was the owner of the Big Bang gang’s favorite comic book store hangout, and Denise joined as his love interest in the final two seasons. Bert was a coworker at Caltech who initially harbored a crush on Amy. These three don’t seem like the most likely pairing, but Stuart and Bert in particular were fan favorites in the original show.
Plot details are scarce, but it’s believed that Stuart’s comic book shop will be a central feature. The original show loved its sci-fi guest stars, so maybe we could see some big names visit the store. This concept differs from the initial April 2023 announcement, which highlighted that the series would run for an hour and feature mostly new cast members. Sitcoms don’t run for an hour, so the original pitch pointed more toward drama or comedy/drama. That’s not something most viewers would associate with Big Bang Theory, so this possible shift is a welcome change. Further information in December 2024 revealed that the show would copy Young Sheldon’s model and take the single-cam route. That is likely for the best as well, as fans overwhelmingly favor no laugh tracks over the familiar canned studio audience of Big Bang Theory and Georgie & Mandy.
It seems like many of the pieces are coming into place for the potential fourth Big Bang Theory series. The cast and crew have been optioned, with Zak Penn joining EPs and co-writers Lorre and Bill Prady (via Deadline). But there’s still no formal order in place. So should we expect a series commitment in the near future? Likely yes. Hollywood loves its reboots and sequels, and there’s no more reliable sitcom franchise than The Big Bang Theory. The original series and Young Sheldon were the top sitcoms on television at one point during their runs, with Georgie & Mandy ranking as this season’s number-one new comedy.
It seems like everything The Big Bang Theory touches turns to gold, and Max will certainly want a piece of the action. So it’s reasonable to expect more news about this still-untitled fourth entry in the near future. Stars like Mayim Bialik and Kaley Cuoco have publicly stated their desire to reprise their roles. And as the only offshoot to not be a prequel, maybe some familiar Big Bang Theory faces will stop by. The Big Bang Theory is streaming now on Max.
