The upcoming The Big Bang Theory spinoff series has taken another promising step towards receiving an official greenlight from Max. The in-development spinoff series has just been given an official title.
According to Deadline, the potential third expansion in The Big Bang Theory franchise has been titled Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, revealing that Kevin Sussman’s Stuart Bloom will likely be the main focus of the offshoot. First announced in April 2023 by Warner Bros. Discovery, the spinoff series is also slated to bring back Brian Posehn as geologist Bert Kibbler, Lauren Lapkus as Stuart’s girlfriend Denise, and John Ross Bowie as plasma physicist Barry Kripke. As the project is without an official greenlight at this time, all four actors have signed a WBTV talent holding deal for the proposed offshoot.
As noted by Deadline, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe continues the trend of every Big Bang Theory spinoff being named after its lead character(s), following in the footsteps of the Sheldon Cooper prequel series Young Sheldon and its sequel spinoff series Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which focuses on Sheldon’s older brother Georgie Cooper and his first wife Mandy.
Could More Big Bang Theory Stars Appear?
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. At this time, none of the main cast members from The Big Bang Theory are expected to star in the new series, although guest appearances haven’t been ruled out just yet. Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny, shared in October 2024 that she would “absolutely reprise that role” in the new spinoff, while Mayim Bialik confirmed in January 2025 that she would “100% reprise Amy [Farrah Fowler]” if asked.
The Big Bang Theory was a major hit during its 12-season run on CBS. For its final six seasons, the sitcom ranked as either the No. 2 or No. 1 most-viewed series on broadcast television. The Chuck Lorre and Billy Prady-created sitcom originally centered on physicists Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and their next-door neighbor Penny (Cuoco) as well as their co-workers/friends Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar). As the sitcom grew in popularity, new characters were added to the main ensemble, such as Bialik’s Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler and Melissa Rauch’s Bernadette Rostenkowski, both of whom would go on to marry Sheldon and Howard, respectively, before the series’ conclusion in 2019.
Not just a ratings success, The Big Bang Theory was also well-received by critics, with the long-running sitcom being nominated four times for Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys. Parsons also won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series four times. This makes him one of only four actors to win that many times in the category, with the other three being Michael J. Fox (Family Ties and Spin City), Kelsey Grammer (Frasier), and Carroll O’Connor (All in the Family).
