The Big Bang Theory Sequel's Character Return Has A Major Leonard Connection

The news that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will officially bring back a major member of The Big Bang Theory’s cast comes with an even more exciting link to Leonard. Although Sheldon’s love interest, Amy, reappeared in the Young Sheldon finale, the rest of the Pasadena Gang’s older selves were conspicuously absent. Sheldon’s failure to mention Leonard even set the internet ablaze with theories of his friend’s potential off-screen death.

Two years later, the sitcom franchise has still never confirmed what happened to the original show’s heroes after The Big Bang Theory’s series finale in 2019, outside of Amy and Sheldon. On the one hand, this is something of a shame, as it would be fun to get an update on Howard, Raj, Bernadette, Leonard, and Penny, especially when Young Sheldon’s ending already provided one for Amy and Sheldon. On the other hand, it is understandable that they have gone unmentioned.

It has only been seven years since The Big Bang Theory ended, meaning it is too soon for a reunion or a revival of the original series. Moreover, Young Sheldon and its spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage effectively pivoted the sitcom franchise’s focus from the entire Pasadena Gang toward just Sheldon and his family, with the latter barely even mentioning Sheldon and mostly centering on his estranged brother. However, the upcoming spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, now seems determined to remind viewers of the show’s original heroes.

Christine Baranski’s Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Return Links The Spinoff to Leonard

The cast of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe in a still, as Stuart looks afaird

A daring reinvention of the franchise, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is a sci-fi comedy that sees Kevin Sussman’s titular meek comic book store owner travel across the multiverse after inadvertently ending the world. According to the HBOMax spinoff’s synopsis, Stuart comes into possession of an experimental device invented by Sheldon and Leonard and accidentally causes the apocalypse, prompting him to team up with The Big Bang Theory’s original supporting stars Denise, Kripke, and Bert to undo this disaster.

While Sheldon effectively predicted Stuart Fails to Save the Universe with his absurd emergency preparedness drills in the original show, the spinoff has remained tight-lipped about the prospect of character comebacks from the Pasadena Gang members. However, the most recent trailer features a glimpse of Christine Baranski’s character, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, meaning there is finally a solid link between Johnny Galecki’s original show hero and the new series.

How Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Can Bring Back Beverly Without Leonard

Beverly and Leonard from The Big Bang Theory — Beverly hugging Leonard in The Big Bang Theory.

An overbearing psychologist whose highly regarded work on child-rearing was ironic thanks to Leonard’s blatant neuroses, Baranski’s Beverly made around a dozen appearances in the original series. Along with Laurie Metcalf’s Mary Cooper, she was one of the most often-seen parents of the Pasadena Gang, and she shared a lot of screen time with Penny and Leonard alike as well as a brief, unlikely romantic dalliance with Sheldon.

While Stuart Fails to Save the Universe seems determined to leave Sheldon and the gang aside for good, Beverly’s presence could indicate that Leonard will appear in at least one of the show’s many alternate realities. However, this isn’t necessarily guaranteed to be the case. After all, Beverly was a notable psychologist in her own right in the original series.

As such, there is a chance that the new show will bring her character back, but won’t use this as a setup to reintroduce Leonard. Furthermore, there is always the possibility that Baranski will play a new, unrelated character in the spinoff, since Young Sheldon was known to have actors from the original series play new characters in the prequel. Thus, it is tough to tell whether Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is hinting at the return of The Big Bang Theory’s Leonard just yet.