About
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is a new Max Original sci-fi comedy series starring Kevin Sussman as comic book store owner Stuart Bloom. Set in The Big Bang Theory universe, the single-camera series follows Stuart after he accidentally damages a device built by Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter, triggering a multiverse catastrophe.
Tasked with restoring reality, Stuart is joined by his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert Kibbler, and quantum physicist and all-around pain-in-the-ass Barry Kripke. Their mission sends them through disturbing new realities and post-apocalyptic nightmares, bringing them face-to-face with alternate-universe versions of familiar characters from The Big Bang Theory.
The first season is currently airing on HBO Max, with the show already renewed for a second season.
Cast and Characters
Kevin Sussman returns as Stuart Bloom, the owner of The Comic Center of Pasadena. Stuart was introduced in the second season of The Big Bang Theory and joined the main cast in later seasons.
Lauren Lapkus reprises her role as Denise, Stuart’s girlfriend and co-worker at the comic book store. Denise was introduced in the final two seasons of The Big Bang Theory.
Brian Posehn returns as Dr. Bert Kibbler, the gentle giant of Caltech’s geology department.
John Ross Bowie reprises his role as Dr. Barry Kripke, the Caltech physicist and longtime frenemy of Sheldon Cooper and the gang.
The series also features Ryan Cartwright, Josh Brener, and Tommy Walker in recurring roles as newly created characters Kyle, Trevor, and Gary. Kyle and Trevor are regulars at the comic book store, while Gary is Denise’s handsome new boyfriend.
Guest Cast
HBO Max has teased that Stuart’s multiverse journey will bring him face-to-face with alternate-universe versions of familiar characters from The Big Bang Theory. Kunal Nayyar returned as Raj Koothrappali in the first episode, which also featured magicians Penn Jillette and Teller. Kaley Cuoco guest starred as Penny in the second episode, alongside Big Bang Theory guest stars Riki Lindhome (Ramona Nowitzki), Brian Thomas Smith (Zack Johnson) and Christine Baranski, appearing as herself.
Melissa Rauch appeared as Bernadette in the third episode, with Wil Wheaton also returning as a version of himself. Mayim Bialik reprised her role as Amy Farrah Fowler in the fourth episode.
Crew
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe was created by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn and Bill Prady, who serve as writers and executive producers. Lorre and Prady co-created The Big Bang Theory, while Penn is known for sci-fi/adventure films including Ready Player One and Free Guy. The series is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Theme Song and Opening Credits
The theme music for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe was composed by Danny Elfman, who is known for his work on films including Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and Batman, as well as TV themes including The Simpsons and Desperate Housewives.
The show features an animated opening title sequence with on-screen messages that change every week. The credits start with a sign urging viewers not to use the "Skip Intro" button found on streaming services. The animated sequences are based on scenarios from the show, including episodes that have not yet aired. Elfman’s theme music also varies slightly from week to week.
The opening and closing credits have attracted attention from viewers who suspect some of the animated scenes may have been AI-generated. Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed garbled background text and inconsistent objects in some sequences.
Music
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe makes more frequent use of licensed music than The Big Bang Theory. The show often features at least one track per episode, sometimes playing over the end credits. Artists featured so far include Beastie Boys, R.E.M., Willie Nelson and The Carpenters. A full list of music featured on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is available in our music guide.
Development
Chuck Lorre has since said the idea goes back to the final season of The Big Bang Theory, when he pitched Warner Bros. on a comedy adventure built around Stuart discovering a portal to other universes in the back of the comic book store. “No one really liked the idea,” he has said, explaining why the concept didn’t go anywhere at that time.
Reports of a new series “derived from” The Big Bang Theory first emerged in April 2023, when Chuck Lorre was said to be developing a spin-off for HBO Max. Development slowed during the 2023 Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes.
Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, and Brian Posehn joined the project in October 2024, with John Ross Bowie joining in February 2025. The title Stuart Fails to Save the Universe was revealed in March 2025.
By June 2025, Lorre said ten episodes had been written and described the project as a “significant departure” from his earlier sitcoms, citing its heavy use of CGI and its blend of comedy, science fiction and fantasy.
After HBO Max ordered the series to production the following month, Lorre explained he wanted to do something “radical” and outside his comfort zone, while Prady described it as “incredibly satisfying” to place characters from The Big Bang Theory into the kind of complex science-fiction mythology that those characters love.
Filming on the first season began in Los Angeles in September 2025, with production taking place on both the Universal and Warner Bros. lots. The season was completed in January 2026.
Promotion
In April 2026, HBO Max announced at CCXP Mexico City that the series would premiere in July 2026. The event featured appearances by Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn, and John Ross Bowie, along with concept art and first-look images from the show. An official Instagram account, @stuartfails, was also launched alongside the reveal.
The first teaser was released in May 2026 during Warner Bros. Discovery’s Upfront presentation in New York, followed by the official trailer in June. The trailer showcased the show’s alternate realities, including apocalyptic landscapes, militarized worlds, a dragon-filled marketplace, and a universe where Kripke has become the dictator of South Pasadena.
On its premiere day, the series was featured at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 with a Hall H panel, a cast and creators signing session, and an off-site fan experience based on Stuart’s comic book store, The Comic Center of Pasadena. The Hall H panel featured an advance screening of the premiere followed by a discussion with creators Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady and Zak Penn, and stars Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie. Felicia Day moderated the panel.
Release and Streaming
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premiered Thursday, July 23, 2026 on HBO Max. The first season consists of 10 episodes, with new episodes streaming each Thursday at 9 p.m. ET through September 24.
On August 14, 2026, HBO Max renewed Stuart Fails to Save the Universe for a second season. An episode count and release date have not yet been announced.
Official Podcast
HBO Max has also launched the Official Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Podcast, hosted by Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton. New episodes are released Thursdays after the show, with Day and Wheaton breaking down the latest episode’s biggest moments, comic book references, multiverse theories, and behind-the-scenes details.