The Big Bang Theory universe just got a whole lot weirder — in the best way possible. HBO Max has unveiled new footage from its upcoming spin-off Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, and the results are nothing short of wild. Gone are the days of dimly lit comic shops and sitcom soundstages — this thing looks like a cross between The Big Bang Theory and Loki, with a multiversal makeover and a shockingly cinematic budget to match. HBO Max also released the official logline:
“Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon. Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert, and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke. Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well.”
Yes, you read that right: Stuart Bloom starts a multiverse crisis. For a franchise that’s always reveled in nerd culture, this may be the most delightfully on-brand premise imaginable.
A First-in-the-Franchise Timeline
Originally announced in April 2023, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe marks the first Big Bang Theory spin-off set after the flagship show’s finale. Unlike Young Sheldon or Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which explored prequel territory, Stuart Fails fully launches the franchise into the future.
And judging by the footage HBO screened in their buzzy YouTube reel today, the show is swinging big. The effects, sets, and visual style reportedly dwarf anything from the previous BBT spin-offs, leaning hard into multiversal spectacle. Think interdimensional portals, alternate Pasadena timelines, and versions of familiar characters you definitely haven’t met before. It takes the premise of The Big Bang Theory and veers off wildly into total sci-fi, which is actually quite a bold move when you think about it.
The cast of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is led by Kevin Sussman returning as comic shop owner–turned–accidental multiverse destroyer Stuart Bloom, alongside Lauren Lapkus as his girlfriend Denise, Brian Posehn as geologist and loyal friend Bert Kibbler, and John Ross Bowie as quantum physicist and perpetual headache Barry Kripke. The series also includes Ryan Cartwright as Kyle, a comic book–obsessed regular at Stuart’s store; Josh Brener as Trevor; and Tommy Walker as Gary, Denise’s extremely handsome new boyfriend who complicates just about everything.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premieres on HBO Max in 2026.