Kevin Sussman reprises his role as Stuart Bloom, the perpetually anxious comic book store owner, in the new HBO Max spin-off, "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe." The series, which premieres July 23, sees Stuart thrust into an unlikely heroic role after he accidentally breaks a device created by Sheldon and Leonard, leading to a multiverse Armageddon. Sussman, 55, joked about his character's inherent "multi-level failure" but noted that the new circumstances ironically align with Stuart's natural state of panic, making him a reluctant hero.
The show, described as a sitcom-sci-fi hybrid, features Stuart, his girlfriend Denise (Lauren Lapkus), geologist Bert, and Kripke, as they travel through various alternate realities trying to restore their own. Executive producers Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, along with Zak Penn, crafted a story where the quartet must save the space-time continuum. The premise centers on the question of whether they can return to the reality of "The Big Bang Theory," with the show concluding once they succeed.
The series expands on the foundation of "The Big Bang Theory," focusing on characters who were often in the background but developed a strong following. It aims to offer both comedy and sci-fi elements, especially through its exploration of the multiverse. The cast, including Sussman and Lapkus, expressed surprise at the spin-off's development, with Lapkus noting that actors typically move on after a show ends. Lorre, however, had long envisioned Sussman's Stuart as a potential lead for a new series.
