News / TV

Before “The Big Bang,” CBS orders up spin-off prequel “Young Sheldon” to series

As season 10 of the CBS hit sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, nears its conclusion (with the cast in final negotiations for another two-year contract extension), the Peacock Network is confident enough in the future (or hedging its bets with a plan B) to order a spin-off prequel, Young Sheldon, before even making the pilot.

Iain Armitage will play the 9-year-old version of Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper protagonist, with the series following his exploits as a child attending a Texas high school. Zoe Perry will play his religious mother (played in Big Bang by Laurie Metcalf). You’ll still hear plenty of Parsons. Bazinga! Parsons will narrate as adult Sheldon via voice-overs, and he’ll executive produce the spin-off along with Big Bang creators Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro, plus Todd Spiewak. Lance Barber, Raegan Revord and Montana Jordan will round out the cast.

Young Iain is a prodigy himself, having started reviewing Broadway shows online when he was a wee little one. You currently can see him on HBO’s Big Little Lies.

No premiere date nor episode order mentioned with today’s announcement; both likely determined depending upon the renewal of The Big Bang Theory.

The other broadcast networks also are looking at spin-offs and revivals for 2017-2018. NBC already has announced a reunion of Will and Grace, while ABC is making pilot spin-offs this spring for both The Goldbergs (set in the 1990s) and black-ish (focused on the Johnson family’s eldest daughter, Zora — Yara Shahidi).

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

View all posts by Sean L. McCarthy →