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Well, this is certainly no bazinga. Nearly four years after The Big Bang Theory signed off on CBS as the longest-running multicamera live-action comedy series, it appears to be back in the form of an upcoming new series set in the same world. (What world that is…well, we’re not sure yet). The news also comes on the heels of Warner Bros. Discovery announcing that HBO Max, the streaming service that currently serves as the home of The Big Bang Theory, will be renamed Max, starting next month.
But more importantly, there are plenty of questions that need answering about this new Big Bang Theory comedy series. Is it a spin-off? Will any of the main cast return? Another prequel in the same vein as Young Sheldon? Here’s everything we know about this major news.
Is The Big Bang Theory coming back to TV?
Well, yes and no. The press release sent out by Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday, April 12, notes that Big Bang Theory cocreator and executive producer Chuck Lorre is “developing a new comedy series derived from The Big Bang Theory. The project is in the works at Warner Bros. Television, where Lorre is under an overall deal.”
So is it a spin-off?
Those details are being kept under wraps. There has been no mention of any returning cast members, and given that the main seven cast members are currently busy with other projects, it doesn’t seem likely that they’d be ready to return for a new series.
In the New York Times best-selling oral history The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series (disclaimer: written by yours truly), the cast had mixed opinions on whether they’d be up for a reunion. Kunal Nayyar, who played Raj, said that he would do a reunion if it made sense creatively, but “it still feels too soon to jump back into it.”
Meanwhile, Emmy winner Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper) said, “I think it’s impossible to imagine getting together to do any other acting version [of the show]. I mean…never say never,” before adding that the book was the real reunion, because “here, in this capacity, I have time to expand upon [the show and the experience] in a way that I might feel like it was a land mine if in front of the rest of the cast.” Galecki also concurred, saying, “I’m not really interesting in performing…but this book is a reunion. It’s an emotional reunion.”
Kaley Cuoco (Penny Hofstadter) just became a new mom and has several projects already lined up through the rest of the year and beyond, including the new Peacock series, Based on a True Story, also starring Chris Messina. In the Big Bang Theory book, the Emmy-nominated actor from The Flight Attendant opened up about her much-talked about pixie cut during season eight of the series, and why she immediately regretted it.
But what about other cast members?
This new Big Bang series could center on supporting players and regular guest stars like Stuart (Kevin Sussman) or Bert (Brian Posehn), or even be set way in the future to feature the kids of Howard and Bernadette, Penny and Leonard, and Amy and Sheldon (at least that we know of), but again, it’s all speculation at this point.
When and where will the new series be set?
Plot details are currently under wraps. All we know for sure is that Lorre will executive-produce via Chuck Lorre Productions, and the new show would be the second collaboration between Max, Lorre, and WBTV. Lorre and Nick Bakay are currently in production on the new Max Original comedy series How to Be a Bookie, starring Sebastian Maniscalco.
What does this mean for the future of Young Sheldon?
Young Sheldon is currently in its sixth season and has been renewed for one more season as part of its three-year renewal deal back in 2021. While it remains to be seen if season seven will be its last, this news should have no impact on Young Sheldon’s future. (You can catch Young Sheldon, which is the number one comedy among total viewers, every Thursday on CBS and also streaming on Paramount+.)
What else do we know?
Truly not much. Although when Lorre weighed in on a reunion in the Big Bang Theory book, he said, “It’s foolish to say, ‘No, never,’ but at the same time, I love where we left things.” However, he added that “certainly if there was a time and place where it just felt right to do something? Of course!”
Until more information is released—and we could still be months off—you can catch all episodes of The Big Bang Theory, as well as the first five season of Young Sheldon, on HBO Max (soon to be Max) in the US. And of course, to read all about the inside secrets of the series, there’s that book I mentioned, featuring all brand-new interviews and never-before-seen photos (including Kaley Cuoco’s personal Polaroids).
This post will definitely be updated as soon as new information is available.
Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the New York Times best-selling book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.
