As "The Big Bang Theory" wound down, creator Chuck Lorre pitched an unconventional spinoff centred on comic-book store worker Stuart, played by Kevin Sussman, sending him through a dimensional portal into an action-adventure sci-fi comedy. Studio and network executives initially rejected the concept, preferring a more conventional spinoff built around the original show's main cast, but Lorre persisted with the idea over several years, and it has now become HBO Max's "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe".

Lorre eventually brought in "Big Bang Theory" co-creator Bill Prady and sci-fi writer Zak Penn, known for "The Avengers" and "The Incredible Hulk", to help develop the concept and script, while Sussman was kept on standby throughout the years-long process. The resulting series is a 10-episode season premiering on HBO Max on 23 July 2026, marking a significant genre departure from its sitcom origins.