HBO has shared a first-look at Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, its upcoming multiverse spinoff from The Big Bang Theory that stars comic book store owner Stuart Bloom.
The bizarre-sounding series will debut its first episodes via HBO Max this summer, when viewers will see Stuart break a new invention made by The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon and Leonard — with multiverse-destroying consequences.
Stuart features as the show’s lead, aided by a trio of other supporting characters introduced in The Big Bang Theory: his comic book store colleague and girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert Kibbler, and annoying physicist Barry Kripke.
Described as a “sci-fi action comedy”, Weekly episodes will the new gang try (and fail) to fix reality while meeting multiverse versions of other The Big Bang Theory characters (which sounds like a good way to get certain favorites back, even if their original actors are unavailable). Will we see an alternate universe Sheldon, then? The chances seem very likely.
HBO’s first photos show the series’ main quartet holding Sheldon and Leonard’s reality machine, and a look at Stuart’s familiar comic book store. There’s also a couple of looks at the characters in what appears to be a war-torn setting with armed soldiers, as well as a focus on Stuart and Denise in a quieter moment by a pond.
Will this latest spinoff from The Big Bang Theory and creator Chuck Lorre work? While the concept seems far-fatched, there has been huge interest in seeing more from the original sitcom’s setting and characters, seven years after the series’ finale. The Big Bang Theory’s first spinoff, Young Sheldon, ended a hugely-popular seven-season run in 2024, spawning its own spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which has already been renewed for a third season.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will begin airing its first episodes via HBO Max in July.
Image credit: HBO.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
