Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the highly-anticipated spin-off of The Big Bang Theory, has confirmed its release window. And in even better news, we have a first look at some returning stars.
The upcoming comedy series sees Kevin Sussman reprise his role as Stuart Bloom, the awkward and shy comic book store worker who had a more prominent role as the beloved sitcom progressed.
After being formally announced in October 2024, the spin-off is now preparing to launch in July, and we now have our first look at Sussman alongside fellow returning cast member John Ross Bowie (who plays Barry Kripke).
HBO
colin remas brown//HBO
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They are joined in the main cast by Brian Posehn, who had a recurring role in The Big Bang Theory as geologist Bert Kibbler, and Lauren Lapkus, who reprises her role as Denise. Ryan Cartwright and Josh Brener, meanwhile, are supporting members.
The spin-off sees Stuart, Barry, Bert and Denise go on a multiverse adventure after an accident, with the quartet tasked with restoring reality to its natural order. Along the way, they might get a surprise in a plethora of alternate universes.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe has been co-created and co-written by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, who both worked on the original sitcom. They have some help this time around, with Zak Penn also being a co-creator and co-writer.
Lorre, who also serves as an executive producer, had previously teased elements of the spin-off, saying: “There’s a lot of special technical stuff that – you know, for me in my career, a big production number was two people sitting on a couch, drinking coffee!
“This is different. This is trying to incorporate some of that world of sci-fi and fantasy into a comedy. I’m completely out of my element, which is what I wanted [and] was hoping to do – something that I had no experience with. Maybe I can learn as we go.”
colin remas brown//HBO
colin remas brown//HBO
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“We set out to make this insane show, which lives in a universe created by Chuck and Bill,” added Penn, while Prady – who said the creative process was “damn fun” – predicted that “joy will come through the screen”.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the third offshoot from the main series, which ran for 12 seasons before concluding in 2019. Prequel series Young Sheldon had seven seasons before ending in 2024, while Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage premiered the same year.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will premiere in July.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. Â His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
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