The new spinoff, ‘Stuart Fails to Save The Universe,’ will follow Kevin Sussman’s ‘Big Bang’ character, comic book store owner Stuart Bloom
NEED TO KNOW
– Three new actors are joining Stuart Fails to Save The Universe, which is the upcoming Big Bang Theory spinoff series
– Ryan Cartwright, Josh Brener and Tommy Walker have all been cast in the show, which will follow Kevin Sussman’s character, comic book store owner Stuart Bloom
– Both Cartwright and Brener are something of alums as they both made brief appearances on The Big Bang Theory
There are more familiar faces joining the latest Big Bang Theory spinoff.
HBO Max greenlit Stuart Fails to Save The Universe, a series that will follow comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman), last month.
On Wednesday, Aug. 13, PEOPLE has confirmed that three new people have joined the cast of the spinoff, including two stars who made appearances on The Big Bang Theory.
Ryan Cartwright, Josh Brener and Tommy Walker are confirmed for major recurring roles in the spinoff.
Both Cartwright and Brener previously appeared in The Big Bang Theory. Cartwright starred briefly as a student in class with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) in season 6, while Brener appeared in two episodes as a friend and co-worker of Stuart’s.
In the spinoff, Cartwright will play comic book nerd and regular customer of Stuart’s store, Kyle, and Brener will play Trevor, per Deadline.
Walker, on the other hand, is a new addition to the Big Bang Theory world. He will play Gary, the handsome new boyfriend of Stuart’s ex.
Deadline was the first to report the news.
Several other Big Bang Theory alums are also confirmed to return for the new show.
Lauren Lapkus is returning to play Stuart’s girlfriend, Denise, whom she played in seasons 11 and 12 of Big Bang.
Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie are also returning. Posehn played geologist Bert while Bowie played quantum physicist Barry Kripke, and both characters will be back.
Per the show’s official logline, Stuart 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,” the logline continues. “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.”
Stuart Fails to Save The Universe is the first Big Bang spinoff since Young Sheldon.
Young Sheldon concluded after a seven-season run exploring the younger life of Jim Parsons’ character in May 2024.
Star Iain Armitage told PEOPLE ahead of the series finale that he “couldn’t have asked for a better way to grow up,” as he was just 9 when he booked the role.
“It’s been half my life, which is kind of wild to think about, but just so fun, so wonderful,” he said. “Every single person I get to work with, I feel so honored to get to be working with and get to be their costar or … get to be part of their work and part of their livelihood.”
The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon can be streamed on HBO Max.
