Alright, stop us if you’ve heard this one: a nerdy comic book store owner, a quirky geologist, a snarky Caltech antagonist, and a sweet assistant manager walk into a spin-off. No, no…it’s not a bad joke—it’s the lineup for Chuck Lorre’s forthcoming The Big Bang Theory spinoff, and we’re already feeling the excitement build up like a chemistry experiment gone right (or wrong, depending on the day).
Well, we’re sure the idea of the return of those characters— the ones that made us roll our eyes, laugh hysterically, and sometimes cringe— is enough to make any fan of the original show do a double-take.
So who’s back in this The Big Bang Theory Spinoff? Lorre knows how to pull the right strings— whether it’s heartstrings or, in this case, the strings of nostalgia. The good news? Some beloved characters from The Big Bang Theory are coming back to center stage in this new project. But don’t expect the entire gang to show up on day one.
Back in October, familiar faces Kevin Sussman (Stuart), Lauren Lapkus (Denise), and Brian Posehn (Bert) all inked deals to star in the upcoming spinoff, locking in their return to the beloved The Big Bang universe. Then, just a few months later in February, John Ross Bowie (Barry Kripke) hopped on board, securing his own holding deal to join the growing cast. Let’s know more in detail.
4. Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman)
Let’s start with the man who truly deserves a comic book for his own story: Stuart Bloom, the quirky comic store owner with more than a few personal struggles. We all remember Stuart as the guy who constantly teetered between being an endearing underdog and a bit of a tragic figure.
In Chuck Lorre’s The Big Bang Theory, Stuart was always there, quietly in the background, offering a much-needed voice of reason (and sarcasm) to the gang. But let’s be extremely honest: The guy deserved more attention than he ever got, right? Now that he’s part of the spinoff, we’re hoping we finally get to see more of him, his relationship with Denise, and whatever else his nerdy life might bring.
Kevin Sussman’s portrayal of Stuart was both hilarious and oddly relatable, which makes him a perfect candidate for a bigger role. Whether the spinoff dives deeper into his comic book store chaos, or explores his attempts at moving on from past relationships, we think there’s a lot of untapped potential here. Plus, considering the friendships and awkward situations he was often tangled up in on The Big Bang, we’re sure the spinoff will continue to mine the comedic gold we’ve come to love.
3. Denise (Lauren Lapkus)
Ah, Denise—Stuart’s girlfriend and assistant manager at the comic book store. While she was more of a sidekick in The Big Bang Theory, we always felt like she had more to offer. Enter Lauren Lapkus, who’s proven she’s more than capable of handling the spotlight in shows like Orange Is the New Black and Drunk History. Now, Denise is stepping into a larger role, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what happens.
In the original show, Denise’s storylines mostly revolved around Stuart. But with the spinoff, we have our fingers crossed for a little more character development. Could we see her navigate life outside of Stuart’s orbit? Maybe explore her own quirky passions, or even have her own misadventures? The possibilities are endless.
2. Bert Kibbler (Brian Posehn)
Next up is Bert Kibbler (played by Brian Posehn), the lovable, nerdy geologist who has always been one of those characters who is never quite the main event but always manages to leave a mark. Bert wasn’t a mainstay on the show, but every time he popped up, it was guaranteed to be memorable. His interactions with the Big Bang gang—especially with Howard and Raj—were often gold.
Remember when he showed up for the guys’ band practice or when he accidentally destroyed Howard’s scooter? Pure comedy gold.
Now, Bert is coming back for the spinoff, and we’re genuinely curious about how they’ll flesh out his character. Given that he’s always been associated with Howard and Raj, could this spinoff finally offer some closure on his relationships with them? Will we get more funny (and possibly awkward) moments with the gang? Bert’s return has a lot of potential, especially with Posehn’s impeccable timing and unique brand of humor. It’s definitely a “come for the laughs, stay for the rock-solid rock talk” type of situation.
1. Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie)
Finally, we can’t forget about the one and only Barry Kripke (played by John Ross Bowie). If anyone could make Sheldon Cooper’s life even more challenging, it was Kripke—the Caltech antagonist with a laugh that could only be rivaled by the sound of nails on a chalkboard. Seriously, Barry’s sarcastic, often downright cruel personality made him a standout villain in The Big Bang Theory. But what about in the spinoff? What role could he possibly play here?
Given that Barry’s always had a major chip on his shoulder (mostly toward Sheldon), we can’t help but wonder if he’ll continue that same antagonistic energy in the new show. Sure, Barry isn’t exactly the warm-and-fuzzy type, but he could add some much-needed tension and comedic spice to the cast.
And considering that he’s still working alongside Bert (who doesn’t exactly have a warm-and-fuzzy personality either), their dynamic could provide endless comedic possibilities. We’re hoping for some hilarious back-and-forths and maybe a few surprising moments where Kripke shows some unexpected depth—if that’s even possible!
[fw_auto id=”1079709″As a Big Bang Theory fan, we can’t help but feel excited about this spinoff. Will it have the same magic as its predecessor? Only time will tell. But we think this ensemble of quirky, lovable characters has the potential to make it a fun ride. Sure, we won’t have Sheldon, Leonard, or Penny, but who says we need them? The supporting characters—Stuart, Denise, Bert, and Barry—are enough to build something fresh, funny, and just the right amount of bizarre.
Needless to say, these characters deserve the spotlight, and we can’t wait to see what they do with it. Here’s hoping this spinoff proves that some of the best stories come from the characters you least expect.
Zak Penn (The Avengers, Free Guy) will take the reins on the script, teaming up with original series co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady to bring the project to life (per TV Line). If it works out, we may just be witnessing the ‘nerd uprising’ we didn’t even know we needed.
The release date of The Big Bang Theory spinoff is yet to be announced.
The Big Bang Theory is streaming on Max.
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