The next The Big Bang Theory spinoff series continues to inch towards an official greenlight from Max. The cast of the spinoff, which includes four returning Big Bang Theory stars, recently reunited for an informal table read put together by franchise co-creator Chuck Lorre.
John Ross Bowie, who is reprising his role as plasma physicist Barry Kripke from the original series, shared on Instagram two behind-the-scenes photos of the spinoff’s main quartet. Joining Bowie in the photo are The Big Bang Theory alums Kevin Sussman, Brian Posehn, and Lauren Lapkus, who are set to reprise their roles in the potential spinoff as comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom, geologist Bert Kibbler, and Stuart’s girlfriend/co-worker Denise. A third photo featured a sign for the Stuart Fails to Save the Universe (SFTSU) table read.
Despite Bowie’s caption on the post reading “And so it begins…,” Deadline has noted that the spinoff, which recently received its official title of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, has yet to be picked up to series by Max. Instead, it was Lorre who assembled the cast for a table read of the two finished scripts, which were written by the Big Bang Theory co-creator, veteran screenwriter Zak Penn, and fellow co-creator Bill Prady. Deadline states that the informal table read was being used “to workshop the scripts for a final polish before they are submitted to Max for series pickup consideration.”
The Big Bang Theory Universe Continues to Expand
First announced in April 2023 by Warner Bros. Discovery, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will be the third expansion in The Big Bang Theory franchise, after Young Sheldon in 2017 and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage in 2024. While plot details are being kept under wraps, some fans have speculated that the series may be set at Stuart’s comic book store, given the involvement of Sussman and Lapkus, whose characters are both employed there. With the spinoff being named after Sussman’s Stuart, it’s now clear that he is being considered the main focus of the offshoot.
The Big Bang Theory Universe has been a consistent ratings performer for CBS, which has been the home of the franchise since 2007. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will be the first installment in the franchise to not air on broadcast television, instead going straight to streaming. If Max does pick up the spinoff series, it will mark the first time since 2019 that two Big Bang Theory series have been on the air at the same time. For Young Sheldon’s first two seasons and The Big Bang Theory’s last two, new episodes were released back-to-back as part of CBS’ Thursday lineup. CBS renewed Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage for a second season in February 2025, keeping the Young Sheldon sequel spinoff series on the air until at least May 2026.
