AlthoughThe Big Bang Theory’s spinoffStuart Fails To Save the Universewill center on characters from the original show, creator Chuck Lorre’s comments make it clear that this will not be a straightforward sequel series.The Big Bang Theory’s series finalearrived too soon for some fans, who wanted to see more of the Pasadena gang as they raised their kids and navigated family life. The show’s first two spinoffs,Young SheldonandGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, instead went back in time to explain the backstory of Sheldon and his family.

As such, the demand forThe Big Bang Theory’s sequel seriessteadily grew, although debate rages online over whether it is still too soon for a reunion. The announcement ofThe Big Bang Theory’sspinoffStuart Fails To Save the Universeseemed tailor-made to split this debate further, as the show will feature characters from the original show, but not the main gang. Instead, the comic book store owner Stuart, his love interest Denise, Sheldon’s old workplace nemesis Barry Kripke, and the geologist Bert Kibbler will be the show’s heroes.

Chuck Lorre Said Stuart Fails To Save the Universe Involves “A Lot of CGI”

The Upcoming Big Bang Theory Spinoff Will Incorporate Sci-fi/Fantasy Elements

WhileThe Big Bang Theory’s focus shiftedfrom Leonard and Penny to Sheldon over the years, the show was still always sure of its main heroes. Howard, Raj, Sheldon, and Leonard didn’t miss a single episode of the series, and Kaley Cuoco’s Penny was only absent for two due to a serious horse-riding injury. As such, if the original show’s approach is anything to go from, viewers can be certain thatStuart Fails To Save the Universe’s Stuart, Denise, Kripke, and Bert will be its main characters.

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Since this means the show will have a lineup of four socially awkward, nerdy men and one female love interest, it is not hard for viewers to come to the conclusion thatStuart Fails To Save the Universecould simply feel likeThe Big Bang Theorywithout the original heroes. However,Varietyreports that Lorre commented on the spinoff while speaking at the Banff World Media Festival, and his claims prove that this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Lorre told the conference thatStuart Fails To Save the Universeinvolves “A lot of CGI”as the show is “Trying to incorporate some of that world of science fiction/fantasy into a comedy.” Lorre co-wroteStuart Fails To Save the Universe’s first ten episodes with screenwriter Zak Penn, perhaps best known for his contributions toFree Guy,Ready Player One, and his story credit for 2012’sThe Avengers. Penn also contributed toX2andX-Men: The Last Stand, as well as doing uncredited rewrites on 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk.

Lorre’s Comment Suggests That Stuart’s Spinoff Will Be Different From The Big Bang Theory

Stuart Fails To Save the Universe Will Not Just Be A Big Bang Theory Sequel

While areunion ofThe Big Bang Theory’s heroessounds fun, it is exciting to hear thatStuart Fails To Save the Universewill feel profoundly different fromThe Big Bang Theory. A sci-fi-focused fantasy comedy with lots of CGI could not sound less like the original show, which relied on a small handful of sets and practically reveled in its traditional sitcom setup. Even the rare dream sequences seen inThe Big Bang Theory, like Sheldon’s nightmares of Morlocks invading his apartment or Leonard and Penny building a sex dungeon, had a comically lo-fi quality to them.

Although Lorre’s comments fly in the face ofThe Big Bang Theory’s established style, they are also somewhat fitting.The Big Bang Theoryproved a huge mainstream success despite its status as an atypically straightforward multi-camera sitcom in the era of network sitcoms likeCommunity,30 Rock,It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and evenHow I Met Your Motherconstantly playing with the familiar format’s storytelling style.The Big Bang Theorykept things very basic and traditional when other shows broke the fourth wall and twisted their timelines, and this strategy paid off.

FromThe ConnerstoShifting Gears, network TV has plenty of sitcoms that look likeThe Big Bang Theory, soStuart Fails To Save the Universegoing for a completely different, risky style makes the spinoff more interesting.

Ironically, the straightforward approach ofThe Big Bang Theorywas so successful that itssecond spinoffGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagebrought back the laugh track, and the traditional sitcom style is no longer a rarity in 2025. FromThe ConnerstoShifting Gears, network TV has plenty of sitcoms that look likeThe Big Bang Theory, soStuart Fails To Save the Universegoing for a completely different, risky style makes the spinoff more interesting.

Stuart Fails To Save the Universe’s New Approach Is Great News For The Series

The franchise has already had some success with reinventing its style, as evidenced byThe Big Bang Theory’s first spinoff.Young Sheldonbenefited from a new approach when the show switched fromThe Big Bang Theory’s multi-camera setup to a single-camera format, dropped the laugh track, moved to a period setting, and added a narrator. All these changes meant thatYoung SheldonresembledThe Goldbergsmore than the original show in terms of tone and visuals, despite sharing some ofThe Big Bang Theory’s characters. However, this paid off judging by the show’s ratings success.

From his early work onRoseannetoThe Big Bang TheoryandTwo and a Half Men, to later hits likeMomandBob Hearts Abishola, Lorre has cracked a consistent formula that works.

That said,Stuart Fails To Save the Universe’s ambitious changes could prove extremely, expensively risky. Lorre’s most successful shows to date were all relatively grounded and, by his own admission, the sitcom legend has never done anything like this. From his early work onRoseanneto his big breakthrough hitDharma and Greg, to his most famous shows,The Big Bang TheoryandTwo and a Half Men, to later hits likeMomandBob Hearts Abishola, Lorre has cracked a consistent formula that works. Now, he is leaving his comfort zone entirely.

This could make Stuart Fails To Save the Universe his best show yet, as Lorre may thrive under pressure. Certainly, The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff has the potential DQWDq to redeem underused characters from the original show, and its CGI-heavy style implies the series will bring a totally new style to the universe of the series. However, only time will tell whether Stuart Fails To Save the Universe will completely reinvent the world of The Big Bang Theory, or end up straying too far from the straightforward sitcom thrills that made the original show so successful in the first place.