The Big Bang Theory franchise has bounced between sitcom styles over its long history, and the new spin-off, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, will shake things up once again. The original series was a multi-cam sitcom shot in front of a live studio audience, which occasionally moved to a dramedy format for one-off scenes. The two spin-offs, Young Sheldon and George & Mandy’s First Marriage, were both shot as domestic comedies. Chuck Lorre, the franchise’s creator, who returns to helm Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, recently revealed some key details about the upcoming project, and fans will no doubt be divided.
Chuck Lorre recently appeared at the Banff TV Festival (via Deadline) and gave a major update on the upcoming The Big Bang Theory spin-off, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. In the spirit of his hit nerdy show, Lorre also took a swipe at DC and Warner Bros.’ failed Green Lantern movie in the process. The biggest revelation was that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will feature a “lot of CGI,” which may surprise many fans. The Big Bang Theory occasionally used CGI for gags, like when Sheldon pretended to be The Flash and ran to the Grand Canyon. But Lorre seems to be taking things to the next level with the new show.
“There’s a lot of special technical stuff,” he said of the show’s development process. “For me, in my career, a big production number was two people sitting on a couch drinking coffee. This is different. This is trying to incorporate some of that world of science fiction, fantasy, into a comedy. I’m completely out of my element, which is what I wanted, which is what I was hoping to do, something that I had no experience with, and maybe I can learn as we go.”
Chuck Lorre Slams DC’s Green Lantern
The Big Bang Theory fans will remember Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman) as the owner of the gang’s local comic book shop. The setting was where many of their nerdiest conversations took place, and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will undoubtedly be no different. During the panel, Chuck Lorre recalled one conversation with Warner Bros. about a Green Lantern joke in the series.
“We had an argument with them recently,” he began. “They’re very protective of the Green Lantern. All of a sudden, we were making fun of the Green Lantern in scripts, and it’s like, really the Green Lantern? Even when I was 10, I knew that stunk.” While Warner Bros.’ 2011 movie starring Ryan Reynolds might have “stunk,” according to everyone who watched it (and Ryan Reynolds), Warners is looking to reinvent the characters’ image in the upcoming HBO series, Lanterns.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is still in the development stage at HBO Max. However, Lorre confirmed that ten episodes of the series have already been written. Alongside Kevin Sussman, the series also stars Lauren Lapkus (Denise), Brian Posehn (Bert), and John Ross Bowie (Barry).
