The Big Bang Theory Sequel Confirms Its Howard Replacement (in the Worst Way)

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The new show, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, seems to have found a character who perfectly embodies the less-liked aspects of Howard Wolowitz from The Big Bang Theory. Seven years after The Big Bang Theory ended its 12-season run, creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady are returning to the world of Pasadena with a new story. While Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage were both successful, this is the first series in the franchise that takes place after the events of The Big Bang Theory. However, don’t expect this to be a straightforward continuation of the original show – it’s quite different.

As a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory, I’m really intrigued by this Stuart Fails to Save the Universe spin-off, but also a little worried. It feels like a big gamble for the creators, Lorre and Prady, because it’s doing a lot differently than the original show. For one thing, it won’t be on regular TV like CBS – it’s going straight to HBO Max. And it’s leaning into a more outlandish, less realistic vibe, which is a shift for the series. So far, it doesn’t sound like any of the original Pasadena crew – Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, or even Raj – will be showing up, though the show has made some connections to their stories. Apparently, they might appear as caricatures, but don’t expect any real cameos. It looks like they’ve found a new character to fill Howard’s role, but it’s probably not the way fans were hoping for.

South Pasadena Kripke Is Reminiscent Of Classic The Big Bang Theory Howard

With the premiere of the show fast approaching, HBO Max has increased its promotional efforts, beginning with the release of the trailer for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. The trailer highlights how different this new series will be from previous iterations, and also gives viewers a good look at returning characters from The Big Bang Theory and their roles in Stuart’s adventure across the multiverse. Some characters clearly mirror those from the original series – for example, Lauren Lapkus’ Denise is similar to Penny. But the biggest surprise is that John Ross Bowie plays an older version of Howard in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

The trailer for The Stuart Fails to Save the Universe features several memorable moments, but the introduction of Barry as the self-proclaimed “Supreme Leader of South Pasadena” really stands out. This scene shows an alternate reality where Bowie’s character leads a group of followers and is portrayed as a military leader. While initially appearing humorous, Barry’s suggestive comment about Denise echoes the early, overly-sexualized humor surrounding Howard Wolowitz in The Big Bang Theory. The creators of that show, and even actor Simon Helberg, later expressed regret over that portrayal. It’s therefore noteworthy that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe seems to be revisiting that same style of comedy.

Why Howard Had To Change In The Big Bang Theory (& What This Reveals For SFTSTU’s Kripke)

Look, I’ve been hearing the concerns, and let me assure you, Stuart Saves the Universe isn’t completely falling back into the old, problematic patterns of The Big Bang Theory. Honestly, the show has actually grown comedically. Remember how Penny was often treated early on? Kaley Cuoco gained more control over her character, and thankfully, the writing reflected that. And Howard Wolowitz? He went through a real transformation. What started as some seriously uncomfortable behavior gradually evolved into a genuinely sweet family man, especially after he met Bernadette. It’s actually pretty neat – he was the first of the group to get married, which signaled a real shift in the show’s direction.

This suggests there might be another explanation for how Kripke is portrayed in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Given the new series explores alternate versions of characters, this version of Bowie’s character could be even more unlikeable than the original. Seeing a worse version of himself in the Big Bang Theory sequel might push the original Kripke to improve. Although he wasn’t part of the core group and often clashed with Sheldon, the original series showed Kripke could be unpleasant, and this could be a way to give him a chance at redemption.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe drops all 10 episodes on July 23, 2026, on HBO Max.

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2026-05-21 19:40