EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Cartwright (Kevin Can Wait), Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) and Tommy Walker (Danger Force) are set for major recurring roles on HBO Max’s upcoming The Big Bang Theory spinoff series Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, which stars the mothership series’ Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie.
Like Sussman, Lapkus, Posehn and Bowie, Cartwright and Brener also are Big Bang alums. Unlike the trio, they will not be reprising their roles: Cartwright did a one-off guest spot in a Season 6 episode as a British student in Penny’s (Kaley Cuoco) history class at Pasadena Community College, who makes Leonard (Johnny Galecki) jealous; while Brener appeared in two episodes — one in Season 5 and one in Season 6 — as Stuart’s (Sussman) friend and co-worker Dale.
Set in the future, SFTSTU, from The Big Bang Theory co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady and The Avengers’ Zak Penn, centers on comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Sussman) who is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.
Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise (Lapkus), geologist friend Bert (Posehn), and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke (Bowie). Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well.
Cartwright will be playing Kyle, believed to be a comic book nerd and a daily patron of Stuart’s book store; Walker will play Gary, said to be Denise’s handsome new boyfriend; while Brener plays Trevor in the series produced by Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Starting with his guest-starring role on TBBT, Cartwright has become a Chuck Lorre universe repertoire player. He also guest starred in the prolific comedy showrunner’s Bob Hearts Abishola and recurred on Mom and B Positive.
Cartwright’s TV series credits include series regular roles in CBS’ Kevin Can Wait and Syfy’s Alphas. He is repped by manager Susan Calogerakis, Realm Talent, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.
Brener was recently seen in the movies Saturday Night and Carry-On and guest starring on 3 Body Problem. He is repped by Artists First and The Kohner Agency.
Like Cartwright and Brener, Walker also is part of the Chuck Lorre universe — he guest starred on the veteran comedy showrunner’s Netflix series The Kominsky Method. He is repped by Stewart Talent Agency and Zero Gravity Management.
