The US studio Warner Bros has moved to secure the longevity of its most powerful programming asset: the sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
The comedy, which has been a top-rater for the Nine Network in Australia for almost a decade, is one of the most successful television programs in the world.
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But it is in its 10th season and the studio has not renewed it past that point.
Instead, they are developing a prequel series which will tell the pre-Big Bang life story of the show's breakout character, physicist Sheldon Cooper.
The new series will be overseen by The Big Bang Theory's creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady.
According to US media reports, none of the main cast of The Big Bang Theory would appear in the new series.
The series has, however, introduced members of Sheldon's family, including his twin sister Missy (Courtney Henggeler) and his mother Mary (Laurie Metcalf).
There is already speculation that Metcalf, who has starred in the sitcoms Roseanne and Getting On, could take a major role in the proposed prequel.
![Not so super ... the cast of The Big Bang Theory.](/web/20161108032143im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/y/z/i/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsk58r.png/1478551933180.jpg)
In the narrative of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon's father died when he was 14-years-old.
The proposed sequel has been described as a variation on Malcolm In The Middle, an earlier hit comedy about an angst-ridden teenage kid in high school.
![Sheldon Cooper, lead character of The Big Bang Theory.](/web/20161108032143im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/y/s/1/m/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsk58r.png/1478551933180.jpg)
The series would be offered first to CBS, which airs The Big Bang Theory.
In a departure from The Big Bang Theory's three-camera "sitcom" format, the prequel would be a single-camera comedy.
The news comes as the studio is in negotiation with cast of The Big Bang Theory for an 11th season and beyond, so it is possible the announcement of the prequel has been timed as a negotiating tactic.
The series stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.
Though the Nine Network has aired the series since its launch, rival Seven acquired repeat rights to the series in 2015.