Everything to Know About Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the Big Bang Theory Spin-Off

With the HBO Max comedy Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on the way, we're now hurtling toward our third new spin-off of the galactically popular CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. First came the prequel Young Sheldon, which let us peek into Sheldon Cooper's early years in the late '80s and early '90s and concluded in 2024 after seven seasons. That led directly into the 2024 Young Sheldon spin-off Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage, which is set in the mid-'90s and will return for its second season this fall. But now we're headed back to the present day for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which will focus on the continuing adventures of Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman), whose comic book shop was a key location on The Big Bang Theory for most of its run.

As the first Big Bang Theory spin-off that isn't a prequel, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe represents a big shift from the other spin-offs, both of which are set well before the events of The Big Bang Theory. And because it has a nifty sci-fi premise, the new Stuart-centric series will have the opportunity to bring in Big Bangers Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nayyar to reprise their characters — or at least versions of their characters, more on that later — all of whom were longtime friends of Stuart.

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Here's everything we know about Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe latest news

Another Big Bang Theory vet is joining the cast. Wil Wheaton, who became a significant nerd figure as an adult after playing Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation as a child, will once again play a heightened version of himself on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, judging by a brief appearance he makes in a new HBO Max sizzle reel. On The Big Bang Theory, Wheaton served as a rival for Sheldon and Leonard before becoming their friend in later seasons. 

While the clip with Wheaton is only about a second long, it's surprisingly compelling, showing Wheaton in a wizard robe seemingly casting a magic spell. That's gonna be a cool episode.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premiere date

The Big Bang Theory spinoff series will have its series premiere on HBO Max on July 23 at 6 p.m. PT, with episodes dropping weekly from there. The first season will run for 10 episodes.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe teaser trailer

The first teaser for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe makes the new series look like it'll be full of homages to popular nerdy dramas with similar multiversal premises, like Sliders and Loki and Dark, as well as more general nerd-leaning franchises like The Matrix, which it appears Stuart might actually get stuck in. And since it's an HBO Max original, as opposed to a multi-camera sitcom on CBS, this one is likely to get more niche with its references than The Big Bang Theory did. Which is cool, because co-creator Zak Penn — who's got three decades of nerdy writing credits, including six Marvel movies — has a pretty massive well of knowledge to draw from.

And if you want to check out the HBO sizzle reel that reveals Wil Wheaton's role in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, you can check that out here.

What will Stuart Fails to Save the Universe be about?

Are you ready to see an alternate universe version of Sheldon Cooper? Well, you probably will. The official logline for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is "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." Indeed, in the trailer, we see our heroes land in few different dire scenarios, like Stuart being stuck in a Matrix pod, and a trip to a version of Pasadena ruled by Kripke as a military dictator — that's not something anybody's gonna like except Kripke himself.

This obviously opens up the show to myriad other opportunities as Stuart and the gang try to get back home to their original universe. You want goth Howard and Raj? It's possible. You want nerdy Penny living next door to hot Sheldon and Leonard? It's possible. You want a universe where there's a show called Old Sheldon? It's possible! This is going to be fun.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe cast and crew

Kevin Sussman, who appeared as Stuart in over 80 episodes of The Big Bang Theory, will play the lead, obviously. He'll be joined by Lauren Lapkus as Denise, Stuart's comic-expert girlfriend; Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler, the rock-loving CalTech professor of geology; and John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke, a part-time rival to Sheldon and string theorist from CalTech. 

Ryan Cartwright, Josh Brener, and Tommy Walker have also joined the cast in "major" recurring roles, per Deadline. Cartwright will reportedly play Kyle, a comic book nerd who frequents Stuart's store. Brener will play a character named Trevor. And Walker will play Gary, who's apparently Denise's "handsome new boyfriend." (Big Bang Theory diehards will recognize Cartwright and Brener from their guest appearances on the original series — Cartwright played Cole, a British student who appeared in Season 6; Brener played Dale, who worked at the comic book store in Seasons 5 and 6 — but they'll be playing new characters here.)

And you can bet that the main cast members from The Big Bang Theory will be making cameos at some point, though no one has been confirmed yet.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe main cast:

• Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom
• Lauren Lapkus as Denise
• Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler
• John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke
• Wil Wheaton as Wil Wheaton

The spin-off series is being developed by network sitcom guru Chuck Lorre (shocking!), his Big Bang Theory co-creator Bill Prady, and X-Men: The Last Stand writer Zak Penn. 

Where to watch the previous shows in the Big Bang franchise

The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon are both available to stream in their entireties on HBO Max. Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage is available to stream on Paramount+.