- Primary Subject: The canon status of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe in relation to The Big Bang Theory
- Key Update: The Big Bang Theory co-creator Bill Prady addressed whether the new spinoff series is officially part of the canon.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 16, 2026
- Quick Answer: No, it is not canon. Co-creator Bill Prady confirmed the spinoff takes place in an alternate universe, meaning it is not a direct continuation.
With the upcoming release of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, fans are wondering whether it is still part of the official canon of The Big Bang Theory, given its multiversal storyline.
The world of the iconic sitcom is expanding with a new spinoff series that will focus on Stuart Bloom and other fan-favorite supporting characters' multiversal adventure. It remains to be seen whether the main characters from The Big Bang Theory will appear, but considering the concept of the series, the possibility is out there.
Is Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Canon in The Big Bang Theory?
In an interview with TVLine, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe co-creator Bill Prady sets the record straight on whether the series is still canon in The Big Bang Theory, considering its multiversal story.
He confirmed that, while it deals with the multiverse, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is still essentially in the same timeline as The Big Bang Theory, and the events take place years after the series ended.
"We start in an alternate universe, but it would be contemporaneous with a continuous timeline, so it picks up years after the events of The Big Bang Theory. We start in the wrong world with instructions on how to set things right. That is the mission," Prady explained.
However, when asked whether the spinoff is canon to the main series, the co-creator dismissed the idea, and he doesn't want fans to see it as a direct continuation of The Big Bang Theory.
"No. It's just not possible. It's not logically possible because we're meeting them in a different universe, so they have a different path [or] a point of earlier divergence.... You get updates on where they might have gone, but none of them are updates on where those characters actually are," Prady said.
This should settle the confusion among fans about whether Stuart Fails to Save the Universe should still be considered canon to The Big Bang Theory due to being a multiverse story.
While this may sound convoluted for some fans, what we can safely say is that the upcoming spinoff series is not necessarily a revival of The Big Bang Theory and, despite seeing some familiar characters, it won't serve as a direct continuation.
What Is Stuart Fails to Save the Universe About?
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe 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.
Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert, and quantum physicist 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.
The main cast includes Kevin Sussman (as Stuart Bloom), Lauren Lapkus (as Denise), Brian Posehn (as Bert), and John Ross Bowie (as Barry Kripke).
The series will premiere on July 23 at 9:00 pm ET on HBO Max. New episodes will be released weekly every Thursday. The first season will consist of ten episodes.
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