The Big Bang Theory continues to do its own thing on CBS, but more adventures are coming in this universe. Specifically, Young Sheldon is set to debut next week, and the Sheldon Cooper-centric prequel series will shine a never-before-seen light onto the fictional genius' backstory. Now it seems that Jim Parsons has had a chance to watch young actor Iain Armitage portray a younger version of himself, and the typically stoic Sheldon actor apparently found himself overcome with emotion upon seeing the young actor's performance. Jim Parson's explained:
Watching Iain bring this young version of this character to life that I've been working on for a decade of my own life, it was really moving. I felt such a sympathy for this little guy. It was kind of mind-blowing to see him brought to life through Iain.
Based on Jim Parsons' comments to EW about his experience watching Iain Armitage perform as Sheldon Cooper, it sounds like he has nothing but good things to say about the young actor's version of his decade-old character. Although Sheldon is typically seen as a more stoic character on The Big Bang Theory (aside from his recent proposal), the move to his early years in Young Sheldon (along with the omission of traditional sitcom tropes like the laugh track) has allowed Armitage to deliver an incredibly moving performance that has impacted Jim Parsons in a major way. All it took was a fresh take on the character.
That said, it also doesn't sound like continuity will play a huge role in the Young Sheldon narrative. Although it's technically a prequel to The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons made a point to acknowledge that the upcoming single-camera is designed to stand on its own. Knowledge of who Sheldon Cooper will eventually become likely helps the viewing experience, but brand new audiences will be able to experience it without diving into the entire Big Bang universe first.
If you want to get a better idea of how Iain Armitage's version of Sheldon Cooper stacks up against Jim Parsons' original version of the character, then take a look at a clip from Young Sheldon below!
Young Sheldon will premiere on Monday, September 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS and the series will then move to Thursday nights at 8:30 p.m. ET on November 2. If you happen to be on the lookout for more information about the rest of the highly-anticipated shows set to debut this fall -- such as Stranger Things Season 2, The Walking Dead Season 8, or Arrow Season 6 -- then take a look at our comprehensive fall TV premiere guide and get your television-viewing calendars filled out accordingly!
