Stuart Fails to Save the Universe has featured cameos from several The Big Bang Theory alums — but not every cast member has made their triumphant return to the small screen.
The HBO Max spinoff follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom, who “is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon,” according to the official synopsis.
Stuart “is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke. 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.”
Kevin Sussman, Brian Posehn, Lauren Lapkus and John Ross Bowie were tapped to headline the show. They will all reprise their roles from the original series, with Posehn returning as a geologist at Caltech. Sussman’s Stuart owned a comic book store and found love with Denise (Lapkus).
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the fourth project in the Big Bang Theory universe. CBS’ hit sitcom aired from 2007 to 2019 and starred Jim Parsons, Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch as a group of scientists and their significant others.
CBS later launched the Young Sheldon prequel, which focused on Sheldon’s life (Iain Armitage) as a child prodigy growing up in Texas. Viewers met Sheldon’s brother, Georgie (Montana Jordan), which paved the way for his love story with Mandy (Emily Osment) to inspire another spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
Keep scrolling to see who is — and isn’t — on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe:
Kevin Sussman
After appearing on The Big Bang Theory, Sussman is back as the lead of his own spinoff.
Johnny Galecki
Galecki a.k.a Leonard hasn’t appeared — yet.
Jim Parsons
Parsons, who hasn’t been on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, previously expressed his preference not to play Sheldon Cooper again.
Kaley Cuoco
Cuoco has been booked and busy since playing Penny and hasn’t appeared on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.
Simon Helberg
Helberg, who played Howard, isn’t in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe so far.
Kunal Nayyar
Nayyar, who is best known for playing Raj Koothrappali, returned in the series premiere of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.
Mayim Bialik
Bialik hasn’t confirmed a return on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.
Melissa Rauch
It is unclear if Rauch will be on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe in season 1.
