Kunal Nayyar played the role of the awkward yet lovable Raj Koothrappali in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The actor played the role for twelve seasons and was known for his bromance with actor Simon Helberg’s Howard Wolowitz. By the show’s end, he was the only one left without a partner.
The show ended in 2019 but the universe of The Big Bang Theory lived on with the prequel spinoff show Young Sheldon. However, the prequel too will be coming to an end this year with its seventh and final season. While creator Chuck Lorre reportedly worked on another spinoff show with Georgie Cooper, Kunal Nayyar addressed his possible return to the new series.
Will Kunal Nayyar Return To The Big Bang Theory Universe?
Kunal Nayyar played the astrophysicist and perpetually awkward Raj Koothrappali in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The character was reportedly not in the first pilot that the filmmakers had created. The unaired pilot did not test well with an audience that only liked Leonard and Sheldon and hence, the makers decided to add two more geeky characters to the mix.
Nayyar’s portrayal of Raj Koothrappali was acclaimed by fans and critics alike. His selective mutism, where he was unable to talk to attractive women unless he was drunk was one of the running gags in the show. The character was also the only one in the show to not end up with a partner, although he did have a few memorable relationships.
Recently, it was announced that Chuck Lorre was developing another spinoff show based on the series after Young Sheldon. The series was rumored to be centered on Sheldon’s older brother Georgie Cooper and his fiance Mandy. While there have been no announcements regarding who would be involved, Kunal Nayyar weighed on the possibility of his return to the show to TV Line.
Kunal Nayyar mentioned that it was too soon to talk about a possible return to the series as it had only been a short while since the show had ended. He said that the show had not passed enough time to warrant a revival or a spinoff of his character. He said,
“I have not heard anything about this other than what the media has spun out. I’m not entirely sure what it’s about…Can you do a [revival] only four years after your show ends? That’s not a reunion show; that’s just another season…If [the spinoff] were to happen, we’ll see what the universe says.”
Though the actor has not outright rejected the possibility of a return, it really had been only five years since the show ended. The actor revealed in another interview that he had gotten everything about the character Raj out of his system and would not enjoy playing him anymore.
Should Kunal Nayyar’s Raj Get A Spinoff Show?
Spinoffs based on popular sitcoms have only worked a few times in the past, with Young Sheldon being one of the anomalies. The show has been going on for seven seasons, with its final season set to air in 2024. Over the years, the show has gained a steady fandom which has added more depth to Jim Parson’s beloved character in The Big Bang Theory.
After another spinoff was announced, fans began to speculate about Kunal Nayyar’s Raj Koothrappali being in the upcoming show as he was the only one in the group to not have a partner. While it would be a natural progression, the spinoff over the single friend in a sitcom has not worked in the past. Matt LeBlanc’s ill-fated FRIENDS-related sitcom Joey was a huge example of a failed spinoff.
However, instead of a spinoff based on the Raj Koothrappali character, a show continuing Sheldon’s lore could have the potential to be successful. Sheldon was confirmed to be the father of a son named Leonard Cooper in Young Sheldon and a series centered on his fatherhood could be an interesting next step for the character.
Though Sheldon’s child was not referred to in The Big Bang Theory, a That ‘90s Show-style exploration of his character as a father could be a great avenue to turn towards. Four-time Emmy winner Jim Parsons could also reprise his role in the series after a long gap, and the show could also have avenues to see every other character’s growth since fans saw them in the finale.
