The Big Bang Theory spinoff series on Max is starting to take shape. Three alums from the original series, Kevin Sussman, Brian Posehn, and Lauren Lapkus, have signed talent holding deals with the studio behind the hit comedy franchise, Warner Bros. Television, with the intention to star in the proposed offshoot.
This is the first new development since the project was announced a year and a half ago with no details beyond the fact that it comes from The Big Bang Theory franchise steward Chuck Lorre, co-creator/executive producer on the mothership series and all of its spinoffs to date.
Sources caution that the project remains in early stages of development with no green light yet as the script is still being written. A rep for WBTV declined comment.
From the moment the untitled spinoff was unveiled in April 2023, there has been speculation that it may revolve around Stuart Bloom (Sussman) and his comic book store. The holding deals, that would keep the three actors available to reprise their roles, backs that theory since Lapkus played the comic book store’s quirky assistant manager and subsequently Stuart’s girlfriend on Big Bang. Posehn played another standout secondary character from the show, geologist and guitar enthusiast Bert Kibbler.
Sussman, Posehn, and Lapkus are believed to be headlining the proposed spinoff which had been rumored to have three leads, two male and one female. That would mirror the initial setup of the mothership series, which started with three leads, played by Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco, before evolving into a true ensemble comedy.
The Big Bang Theory debuted on CBS in 2007 and was the number one comedy on TV when it ended in 2019 as the longest-running multi-camera series in television history, with 279 episodes over 12 seasons. Like that series and the other offshoots, Young Sheldon and the upcoming Georgie And Mandy’s First Marriage, the Max show is from Chuck Lorre Productions in association with WBTV, where Lorre is under an overall deal.
Sussman’s kind-hearted Stuart was introduced in Season 2. He quickly became a popular recurring character who stayed on throughout the sitcom’ run, with Sussman becoming a series regular Seasons 8-12 (as well as part of Season 6) Posehn guest starred in Seasons 6 and 7 before returning as a recurring in Season 10. Lapkus recurred on the last two seasons.
