CBS’ The Big Bang Theory spinoff Young Sheldon is skipping the pilot stage, with the network announcing it has given a straight-to-series order for the single camera comedy for the 2017-2018 season.
Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Jungle Book) has signed on to direct the first episode, and will also executive produce alongside Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Todd Spiewak and Jim Parsons, who of course plays Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory.
Parsons will also serve as a narrator on the show, which has Iain Armitage (Big Little Lies) portraying a 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper. Zoe Perry and Lance Barber will play Sheldon’s parents, with Raegan Revord and Montana Jordan as his siblings.
Young Sheldon is described as being in the vein of Malcolm in the Middle, and will follow Sheldon as he lives with his family in East Texas and attends high school. It is likely to air alongside The Big Bang Theory, assuming the hit comedy gets its new two-season renewal, which is reportedly close to a done deal.