Summary

  • Chuck Lorre clarifies that the Big Bang Theory spinoff may not happen at all unless the story is worth telling - and that no plans are in place at Max.
  • Lorre expresses his hesitation for spinoffs, stating that it needs to feel fresh and different for him to consider moving forward.
  • According to Lorre, it's important to do something worth doing, rather than continuing to dig in the same mine for the same precious minerals. Greed isn't a good enough reason to pursue a spinoff.

Big Bang Theory will continue with a planned spinoff for the Max streaming service. It was mentioned that the new show will be from Lorre, also the executive producer of The Big Bang Theory. There have been no plot details regarding the project so far.

During an interview on the TV's Top 5 podcast to promote his new comedy Bookie, Lorre was asked about the Big Bang Theory spinoff. The executive producer responds by clarifying that the new show is not necessarily planned for Max, adding that the spinoff may not happen at all unless the story is worth telling. Lorre's remarks, included below, contradict a previous press release that confirmed “a Max Original comedy series derived from The Big Bang Theory” as part of the rebranded streaming service's future content offerings.

Nothing’s wound up at Max, first of all. I don’t know what you were told. But we have nothing in place at Max. Zero, nothing. No one knows anything about what this is, other than the people that have been working on it with me. And so nothing has been pitched, nothing’s been placed. So it’s all very prenatal.

So, there's a chance it could be for CBS?

Or it could be for no one, I don’t know. We haven’t presented this to anyone. I’m not a big fan of spinoffs or stuff like that, unless it just feels like… wonderful, fresh. This could conceivably be very different and also very funny. That’s the reason to go forward, not to keep digging in the same mine for the same precious minerals. It’s about doing something worth doing. Otherwise, it’s greedy. There’s no reason for that.

This Update Is A Good Thing For The Big Bang Theory

Johnny Galecki as Leonard, Melissa Rauch as Bernadette, Jim Parsons as Sheldon, Kunal Nayyar as Raj, Kaley Cuoco as Penny, Mayim Bialik as Amy, and Simon Helberg as Howard all toast with champagne around a table in The Big Bang Theory

Dating back to The Big Bang Theory's ending in 2019, Lorre has long maintained that he wouldn't want to revisit the show unless there was a story to justify it. Young Sheldon proved to be just that, eventually, anchored by Iain Armitage's lead performance. Because of its single-cam comedy format, the series has been at times significantly more dramatic and varied in its themes than its predecessor. It's not just repeating what made Big Bang a success.

That distinction is all the more notable during a time when reboots, revivals, remakes, and spinoffs of popular franchises are increasingly sought after. These efforts rarely match the success of the original, with many that fail to succeed even on their own . Young Sheldon is already a streaming success for Netflix, after a licensing agreement, and it's been a ratings hit for CBS. It accomplished that, in part, by standing on its own. Lorre wants the same for the next Big Bang Theory spinoff, whatever it turns out to be.

Although it is the case that people who've watched The Big Bang Theory for years would like it to continue, especially considering how Young Sheldon will end after season 7, it is better for the franchise to exit on a high rather than move forward with a third series that might not have the same reach or resonance. Lorre states that he's operating along the same lines.

Source: TV's Top 5