There has arguably been no bigger sitcom in the 21st century than The Big Bang Theory. The Office might be more quotable, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia might be the longest-running, and Schitt’s Creek might be the most acclaimed, but when it comes to consistent viewership for a show that ran for 12 seasons, the series about a group of nerdy scientists still holds a massive footprint in pop culture. Understandably, when the time came for the series’ stars to move on, Warner Bros. Television didn’t hold back when it came to extending the concept.

The most well-known expansion of the original series was Young Sheldon, which explored the early years of Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper. Being played by Iain Armitage, there was apprehension that the prequel wouldn’t live up to its predecessor, only for this spin-off to similarly earn major ratings. The spin-off train continued when Young Sheldon ended, as George & Mandy’s First Marriage took its place. Earlier this summer, the first sequel series debuted on HBO Max, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Despite only being halfway through the debut season, HBO Max confirmed that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will return for a Season 2. Given that the series focused on comic store owner Stuart (Kevin Sussman), who was largely just a supporting character in the original program, audiences were surprised to learn that he would be anchoring his own spin-off. However, after securing a 77% positive “Certified Fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes, it seems there’s more to the spin-off than some audiences initially believed there to be. “We’re delighted with how this hilarious, genre-bending show from Chuck [Lorre], Zak [Penn], and Bill [Brady] has connected with the audience, both devotees of The Big Bang Theory and new fans alike,” Amy Gravitt, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO & HBO Max Comedy Series, shared in a statement. “Along with everyone else, we can’t wait to see the worlds they conjure for these beloved characters next season.”

HBO

While previous spin-offs Young Sheldon and George & Mandy’s First Marriage are comedies that largely mirror the humor of the original series, what makes Stuart Fails to Save the Universe stand out from the crowd is that, rather than being an outright comedy, it is a sci-fi multiversal action-adventure series. The creators could have easily used Stuart as a stand-in for one of the original characters and attempted to replicate the initial premise, and instead got much bolder with the narrative’s direction. “Chuck, Zak, and Bill delivered something truly special with Stuart Fails to Save the Universe — a completely original take on one of the most beloved franchises of all time that captures the unique essence that made The Big Bang Theory so special,” Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks, added. “It’s been an absolute joy to see audiences embrace this next iteration so passionately, and we can’t wait to continue exploring the multiverse in Season 2.”

There is no current timeline announced for when we can expect Season 2 of the series to premiere. New episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe debut on Thursdays on HBO Max.