The Big Bang Theory fans want to see Micheal Keaton to play an older version of character Sheldon Cooper and now Jim Parsons has responded.
The actor, who starred as the theoretical physicist on the long-running series and also serves as an executive producer and narrator for its spinoff Young Sheldon, responded to news of the fan-casting on The Tonight Show earlier this week (April 8).
Host Jimmy Fallon brought up a side-by-side image of young Keaton and Iain Armitage, who plays young Sheldon in the show.
“It is interesting. There’s definitely a resemblance,” Parsons agreed. “The one thing I will say is Michael Keaton — that really looks like Michael Keaton still, doesn’t it?”
When Fallon mooted the idea that fans wanted an ‘Older Sheldon spinoff “with the actual Michael Keaton playing Sheldon,” Parsons quickly shot down the idea.
“Let me tell you this: I doubt that’s going to happen,” he said. “But I would be so excited to have Michael Keaton added to the lineage of Sheldon portrayers. I would be amazed.”
Parsons went on to say he’s a huge fan of Keaton. “Oh, I’ve admired that man my entire life, starting with Mr. Mom,” he explained. “I mean, what a great guy. He’s a wonderful actor.”
You can watch the interview here:
Last month, it was revealed that two stars from The Big Bang Theory will reprise their roles for the series finale of Young Sheldon.
To celebrate the event of the series coming to an end after a seven-season run, Parsons and his co-star Mayim Bialik will return as the adult version of Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler on the show’s final episode which will air on May 16.
Speaking about Young Sheldon‘s final season, executive producer Steve Holland said: “There are certain things we know happen in Sheldon’s life at 14. We started talking about the future of show and what it looked like. This is the right time for this story to come to an end, knowing that at 14, he goes off to Cal Tech. It felt like the right time to end it strong while it was on top,” (per The Independent).
The appearance of the two stars will also mark the first time that Parsons and Bialik will be seen together since the finale of The Big Bang Theory in 2019. The following year, A producer on sitcom revealed that the show had planned to continue for another two years before Parsons quit.
The Big Bang Theory first aired in 2007 and ran for 12 seasons, ending in 2019. The series also starred Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg.
Young Sheldon is available to stream on Netflix in the UK.
