Stuart Fails to Save the Universe brings Big Bang back to Comic-Con
HBO Max previewed the Big Bang Theory spinoff at San Diego Comic-Con, with surprise cameos and a new single-camera style.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe brought The Big Bang Theory franchise back to San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, as HBO Max showed fans the first episode of its upcoming spinoff before its release later that night, Variety reported.
The panel put Kevin Sussman front and center as Stuart Bloom, the comic book store owner he played on The Big Bang Theory. Felicia Day hosted the session, joined by Sussman and cast members Lauren Lapkus, John Ross Bowie and Brian Posehn.
Lapkus plays Denise, Bowie returns as Barry Kripke and Posehn plays Bert. Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn and Bill Prady, who are co-creators, executive producers and writers on the show, also appeared at the panel.
The screening came with a few Comic-Con treats. Variety reported that the first episode included surprise appearances from several Big Bang Theory cast members, and Prady told fans more familiar faces are coming during the season, including smaller characters from the original show.
What is Stuart Fails to Save the Universe about?
According to HBO Max’s logline, Stuart breaks a device made by Sheldon and Leonard and ends up triggering a multiverse crisis. He then has to try to put reality back together with help from Denise, Bert and Kripke.
The show also sends the group into contact with alternate-universe versions of characters from The Big Bang Theory. The title gives away the mood of the mission: things do not go smoothly.
The spinoff marks a format shift for the franchise. Variety reported that it is the first Big Bang Theory series made as a single-camera show rather than in the four-camera sitcom style used by the original.
Lorre said at the panel that a four-camera audience sitcom works like staging a play each week, which limits the action beyond characters sitting together and talking. He said the answer for this story was to shoot it “like a movie.”
There was also a comic book flourish for the Comic-Con crowd. DC Comics’ Jim Lee appeared at the panel to discuss his cover art for an exclusive Stuart Fails to Save the Universe comic book.
How does the spinoff fit into The Big Bang Theory universe?
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the fourth series tied to The Big Bang Theory. The original CBS comedy ran for 12 seasons before ending in 2019.
It was followed by the prequel Young Sheldon, which ran for seven seasons. That show then spun off George & Mandy’s First Marriage, which has been renewed for a third season.
The new series comes from Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Kyle Newacheck is an executive producer and directed multiple episodes, according to Variety.
HBO Max plans to release new episodes weekly on Thursdays at 6 p.m. PT.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.