The latest episode of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe took a deep dive into the comic book roots of the franchise, but fans may be surprised to learn that a major DC hero was almost part of the action. The showrunners originally wanted to feature Green Lantern, but HBO had other plans.
The episode, titled "Spoiler: We Couldn't Get Green Lantern," follows Stuart (Kevin Sussman), Denise (Lauren Lapkus), Bert (Brian Posehn), and Kripke (John Ross Bowie) as they navigate the DC Comics universe, searching for The Flash to find their way home. The title itself hints at the behind-the-scenes struggle to secure the Emerald Knight.
In an interview with Deadline, co-creator Zak Penn revealed that the initial plan was to include Green Lantern in the crossover. However, HBO informed the team that the character was off-limits because of the upcoming live-action series Lanterns. "They told us we couldn't have him because of [HBO's live-action series] Lanterns, which I understood," Penn said. "Chuck [Lorre] was a little grumbly about it, but Bill and I pointed out to him that Flash was actually perfect."
The switch to Golden Age Flash, played by Andy Ridings, turned out to be a creative win. "If we needed something that's going from dimension to dimension, Flash worked even better than Green Lantern," Penn explained. "It was half opportunity and half what they encouraged us, but Golden Age Flash appealed to us a lot, just because he's kind of silly. No offense to Golden Age Flash."
This isn't the first time a DC property has faced similar hurdles. For instance, Seth Rogen's Green Hornet flop had its own production challenges, and essential Green Lantern comics offer a deeper dive into the character's lore for those curious about what could have been.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe serves as a sequel to The Big Bang Theory, following Stuart and his friends as they travel across alternate universes created by a malfunctioning machine built by Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard. The series has been well-received, earning a 77% critics score and an 81% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Season 2 was greenlit midway through Season 1, though a release date hasn't been announced yet.
For fans of the original show, the spin-off offers a nostalgic yet fresh take, with familiar faces like Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) appearing in new roles. The series is available to stream on HBO Max, alongside Lanterns, which is also in development.
The decision to swap Green Lantern for Flash highlights the complexities of shared universes and licensing, but it also showcases the creative problem-solving that can lead to unexpected storytelling opportunities. As Penn noted, sometimes the best ideas come from constraints.
For more on the spin-off's success, check out our review of the series. And if you're curious about other shows that blend sci-fi and comedy, Chuck offers a similar vibe.
