Chuck Lorre’s Big Bang Theory Spinoff Brings Back the Original Sheldon & Leonard—But There’s a Twist

The Big Bang Theory‘s upcoming spinoff will feature what could have been the flagship’s version of Sheldon and Leonard. Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady’s sitcom about genius social outcasts dominated broadcast ratings in the 2010s until it wrapped up in 2019. Beyond that, it remains ever relevant with The Big Bang Theory being the most-binged show on streaming in 2024. Expanding the universe, which already has Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage as prequels, in the modern day, however, is important, as it allows the franchise to bring back some of the most recognizable faces in the flagship.

None of the Pasadena gang will be a series regular for Lorre’s next The Big Bang Theory show. The Young Sheldon finale flashforward established that Sheldon and Amy have moved out of their apartment. They remain friends with the rest of the group, which offers an easy narrative opportunity to reunite them for an actual sequel, but it’s still unlikely to happen due to other factors. Regardless, at least the upcoming The Big Bang Theory spinoff will see the original Sheldon and Leonard pairing had Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki passed up on the respective roles.

John Ross Bowie & Kevin Sussman Almost Played Sheldon & Leonard

The Big Bang Theory Eventually Brought Them As Kripke & Stuart

It’s no secret that Lorre and Prady had work to do on the original The Big Bang Theory pilot before the show got the greenlight. Before that, however, the creative team behind the series went through a rigorous casting process. That included John Ross Bowie and Kevin Sussman potentially playing Leonard and Sheldon, respectively. Obviously, none of those panned out the way that both actors wanted, as Galecki and Parsons were eventually chosen for the parts, and considering how successful The Big Bang Theory had become, it’s difficult to argue with the decision.

That being said, Lorre still found roles for Bowie and Sussman as Barry Kripke and Stuart Bloom, respectively — two of the best-supporting characters in The Big Bang Theory. Technically, they weren’t part of the Pasadena gang, but they were often involved in some of their funniest storylines. Kripke used to be entangled with his hilarious rivalry with Sheldon at Caltech, while all of the boys frequented Stuart’s comic bookshop.

Chuck Lorre’s The Big Bang Theory Spinoff Will Feature Stuart & Kripke In Main Roles

Stuart & Kripke Are Going To Be Front & Center

5 years after The Big Bang Theory ended, Lorre is revisiting the nerd-centric sitcom with a new show. Despite still being untitled, casting reports have revealed that Stuart and Kripke would be two of the show’s leading characters. Specific plot details about the project are still tightly under wraps, but they would be joined by Denise, Stuart’s girlfriend, and Bert, another Caltech employee.

At this point, however, Bowie and Sussman’s characters will likely be the face of The Big Bang Theory project, simply because they have stronger ties to the original sitcom. Whether that changes in the future is uncertain, but because they are poised as leads, interactions would be inevitable, if not frequent despite their weak connection in the flagship. This would allow The Big Bang Theory spinoff to show how Sheldon and Leonard’s relationship could have looked like if they ended up winning those roles.

Ultimately, this proves that Lorre has a sense of loyalty when it comes to his talents. He has brought back so many actors that he has worked before and cast them for bigger roles. That’s what happened when Lance Barber played George in Young Sheldon despite initially portraying a different role in The Big Bang Theory as Leonard’s high school bully. Meanwhile, Billy Gardell, who was Herschel Sparks in Young Sheldon went on to spearhead his own series via Bob Hearts Abishola. This time, it’s Sussman and Bowie’s turn to be at the forefront of Lorre’s comedy empire.

Who Else From The Big Bang Theory Might Appear

The Pasadena Gang Can Pop In For Cameos

Because so much is unknown about The Big Bang Theory spinoff at this point, it’s very difficult to predict what kind of story that Lorre is telling. As previously mentioned, no one from the original Pasadena gang will be series regulars — at least based on what’s known thus far. Jim Parsons has been vocal about retiring from the role of Sheldon, even though he’s still very beloved in it, while Johnny Galecki is on a hiatus from acting altogether. Melissa Rauch, on the other hand, is busy with Night Court, and so is Kaley Cuoco with other projects.

That being said, some of them have openly expressed their desire to step back into the sitcom universe, even for a cameo. Cuoco says she’s open for a The Big Bang Theory reunion but is also interested in any way that she could play Penny again. Mayim Bialik said the same thing. It’s curious if Lorre is considering all these while sorting out the next story for Stuart and Kripke’s brand-new spinoff sequel, but if not much has changed since The Big Bang Theory ended, it would be weird not to have any kind of reference to the original cast.

Stuart & Kripke’s The Big Bang Theory Spinoff Still Has Big Challenges Ahead

Following Sheldon & Leonard Is No Easy Road

Lorre expanding the only successful The Big Bang Theory franchise makes his job a little bit easier. People are already familiar with the universe, which has somewhat sustained its popularity even years after the flagship wrapped up. Bringing back 2 of the most prominent supporting characters from The Big Bang Theory will also help it get its footing quicker than most shows that start from scratch. That being said, this doesn’t mean that the endeavor is already a guaranteed hit. It still has some major hurdles to face, including presenting Stuart and Kripke as worthy leads after Sheldon and Leonard.

Both characters were beloved in The Big Bang Theory because Sussman and Bowie were fantastic in their roles. However, they were also used sparingly, mostly as a foil to the Pasadena gang. The pair barely even had any interactions on their own. Coming into The Big Bang Theory spinoff, the actors need to have a strong chemistry that their new project can lean on, just like how the mothership did with Parsons and Galecki. The good news is that since they were almost cast as Leonard and Sheldon, the actors likely already have some kind of working rapport going on.