CBS is moving forward with its “Big Bang Theory” prequel.

    The network has handed out a straight-to-series order for the 2017-18 broadcast season for “Young Sheldon.” The news comes as the comedy created by Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro had been casting ahead of production on the pilot this month. This is the first time that the network and producers Warner Bros. Television have confirmed the project. An episode count has not yet been determined.

    “Young Sheldon” recently cast its star, setting “Big Little Lies” actor Iain Armitage as the young version of Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper, with Zoe Perry taking on the role of his mother, Mary Cooper, who was originally played by the actress’ mother, Laurie Metcalf.

    In picking up the comedy to series, CBS has also released “Young Sheldon” formal logline, filled out its cast and set the pilot director. The project will revolve around a 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper (Armitage) as he lives with his family in East Texas and attends high school. The concept was originally described as “Malcolm in the Middle” with a young Sheldon. Lance Barber, Raegan Revord and Montana Jordan have also joined the cast. Details on their roles are being kept under wraps, though sources said that Revord will play a young version of Sheldon’s twin sister Missy; Barber will play George, Sheldon and Missy’s father and Mary’s husband; and Jordan will play George Jr., Sheldon’s older brother.

    “Young Sheldon” hails from “Big Bang Theory” creator Lorre and showrunner Molaro. Fellow “Big Bang Theory” co-creator Bill Prady is not attached to the prequel series. Jon Favreau is set to direct and executive-produce the pilot. Parsons will narrate the comedy as adult Sheldon. Lorre, Molaro, Parsons and Todd Spiewak will exec-produce the single-camera series (marking a change from “Big Bang Theory,” which is a multicamera comedy). A premiere date has not yet been determined.

    During the 10-season run of “Big Bang Theory,” many references have been made to the childhood of Sheldon, who grew up a gifted youngster in Texas with a religious mother. A prequel series gives the writers a lot of material to work with given Sheldon’s history, as well as a structure to follow. “Big Bang,” unlike most series on TV, does not plot out its arcs and seasons ahead of time — the writers take it episode by episode.

    The “Young Sheldon” series pickup comes as the pricey contracts for the seven lead stars of “Big Bang” expire at the end of its current 10th season. A new two-year deal is said to be in the works, as new deals with the cast are being drafted.

    “Young Sheldon” is one of multiple spinoffs underway this season. ABC is also prepping a 1990s-set spinoff of “The Goldbergs” as well as a college-focused offshoot of “Black-ish,” starring Yara Shahidi. In an era of dwindling mass-audience TV hits, spinoffs are seen as a proven way to keep bankable franchises going. CBS is also looking to “The Good Wife” for its All Access spinoff, “The Good Fight.”

    (SD-Agencies)