Jim Parsons reacts to Big Bang Theory fans wanting Michael Keaton to play Older Sheldon in spinoff: ‘I would be amazed’

Jim Parsons would be just as excited as fans to see Michael Keaton play an older version of his Big Bang Theory character Sheldon Cooper.

The actor, who starred as the theoretical physicist on the beloved CBS series and serves as an executive producer and narrator for its spinoff Young Sheldon, addressed the recent fan casting while visiting The Tonight Show on Monday after host Jimmy Fallon presented a side-by-side comparison of young Keaton and Iain Armitage, who plays young Sheldon. Parsons expressed his amazement over how similar they looked.

“It is interesting. There’s definitely a resemblance,” Parsons agreed. “The one thing I will say is Michael Keaton — that really looks like Michael Keaton still, doesn’t it?”

When Fallon floated the idea that fans want him to create an “Older Sheldon” spinoff “with the actual Michael Keaton playing Sheldon,” however, Parsons quickly shot down the idea.

“Let me tell you this: I doubt that’s going to happen,” he said. “But I would be so excited to have Michael Keaton added to the lineage of Sheldon portrayers. I would be amazed.”

As it turns out, Parsons is a huge fan of Keaton and his work. “Oh, I’ve admired that man my entire life, starting with Mr. Mom,” he said. “I mean, what a great guy. He’s a wonderful actor.” He added that he’d met Keaton “in passing” at “some stupid industry event” before, but noted that it was just a “quick hello and goodbye!”

While Keaton may not be joining the Cooper family anytime soon, Parsons did confirm that he and Mayim Bialik will be reprising their characters in the upcoming Young Sheldon finale. However, it wasn’t as easy to tap into their legendary roles as they’d initially thought.

“The only thing that was weird was the first time she and I got on set, we did our first rehearsal, and it was like, ‘huh.’ And we were walking back to the dressing room and she goes, ‘I really thought I’d feel more confident,’” Parsons recalled. “And that nails it. I don’t know what it is.”

“It wasn’t like riding a bike, it was like, ‘Oh! Ah! God!’” He joked, noting that it originally “felt weird,” but “then you get into it and it was really nice.”

Watch Parsons discuss Keaton’s fancasting — and whether or not he’s married to Rihanna — in the clip above.