Warner Bros. TV and CBS are in the early stages of developing a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory that would revolve around the Sheldon Cooper character as a young man.
The project is nearing a script deal & Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon on the hit series, is attached to executive produce the spinoff along with Chuck Lorre and Big Bang showrunner Steve Molaro. Big Bang co-creator/exec producer Bill Prady is likely to be on board as an exec producer as well.
Molaro will write the script focusing on Sheldon, the idiosyncratic and neurotic genius, as a youth growing up in Texas. The character’s colorful family and formative years in the Lone Star state have often been referenced on Big Bang Theory. Laurie Metcalf earned an Emmy nomination this year for her recurring guest star role as Sheldon’s mother, Mary Cooper.
Big Bang Theory is television’s top comedy, a major feat for a show in its 10th season. Warner Bros. and CBS are expected to begin discussions soon about a renewal deal that is anticipated to take the show through another two or three seasons. A prequel spinoff would give CBS a shot at extending the valuable franchise.
Renewing Big Bang is an expensive investment, as the core cast members — Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco — currently make $1 million per episode for their 24-episode seasons. A new series would come with a lower cost structure but capitalize on the built-in fan base.
This is still in the early stages however so things could change with the development of the show.
