‘The Big Bang Theory’: Could Season 10 Be The Last?
The Big Bang Theory wrapped up Season 9 on May 12, and according to one of the show’s stars, the next season may be the last one.
Kunal Nayyar, who plays Raj Koothrappali in The Big Bang Theory, was at the MCM London Comic Con, where he shared his thoughts about the show, as reported by Cinema Blend.
“Look – next season, as it stands on our contract, could be the last season of Big Bang Theory. To be completely honest… I know people are gonna want to know what happens after season 10. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The end may be in sight for The Big Bang Theory https://t.co/cbOx7dGf8jpic.twitter.com/pecnaSSuLo
— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) May 31, 2016
Last year, Nayyar shared that he wants the series to go beyond Season 10. “I hope to continue, but it’s not entirely up to me. Even if we do Season 11 or 12, it’s a very odd sensation this year,” he said.
The Big Bang Theory Season 1 debuted in 2007, and in 2014, the show was renewed for three more seasons, up to Season 10. Kunal Nayyar isn’t the only one thinking that Season 10 is the end for The Big Bang Theory. In an interview last year with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Steve Molaro was asked if Season 10 would be the last.
“I think so. I can’t speak to the future or on behalf of the cast or where we’ll be then but it’s certainly possible that it could go past that. The reality is that maybe Season 10 is the ending point.”
Chuck Lorre, who is The Big Bang Theory’s co-creator, also weighed in on the subject and said that he can’t presume how many seasons the show still has. “It’s ridiculous for me to guess. It’s already gone beyond my wildest dreams,” he said.
If CBS does continue airing The Big Bang Theory, the network will certainly be spending a lot of money. When the show first started, Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, and Johnny Galecki were each paid $60,000 per episode. By Season 4, each of their salaries went up to $200,000 per episode. Before Season 8 started, the stars went into negotiations and they landed with $1 million per episode each for the next three years for Seasons 8 to 10. Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar also negotiated their salaries and are now getting an amount in the mid six-figure range. In addition, supporting characters, including Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik, have been promoted to series regulars and are also getting paid more compared to when they first appeared in the series.
Avid viewers of the show are already looking into the future of The Big Bang Theory. If the show would not continue past Season 10, many are asking if a movie is possible. Kunal Nayyar said that he just couldn’t see a Big Bang Theory movie happening, according to The Mirror.
“I mean it’s a very difficult format to do for a movie, because you know we shoot in front of a live audience, a live studio audience, with four cameras. So unless the movie was a two-and-a-half hour sitcom version of The Big Bang Theory, I don’t think we could ever actually do a movie.”
If Season 10 is indeed the end for The Big Bang Theory, many fans are sure to be disappointed. As reported by TV by the Numbers, the Season 9 finale of the show was in the No. 1 spot for the most watched show in the week of May 9 to 15.
The Big Bang Theory Season 10 premiere date has not yet been released.
[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]
