CBS has given a green light to it's "Big Bang Theory" prequel, "Young Sheldon," with a straight-to-series order for the comedy that will focus on the life of a young Sheldon Cooper, played in the original series by Jim Parsons. John Favreau will direct and executive produce the pilot.

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Earlier this month, it was announced that Iain Armitage (“Big Little Liars”) was cast as the titular star of "Young Sheldon," with Zoe Perry (“Scandal”) playing Sheldon’s mother, Mary Cooper. Joining the cast will be Lance Barber as Sheldon’s father, with Raegan Revord and Montana Jordan filling the roles of Sheldon's siblings.

“Big Bang Theory” co-creator Chuck Lorre is writing the series with showrunner Steve Molaro, and co-creator Bill Prady is also attached. The comedy has been described as “‘Malcolm in the Middle’ but with a young version of Sheldon,” who is played by Jim Parsons on the original series. The actor is on board as an executive producer and none of the original cast of “Big Bang Theory” are scheduled to have on-screen roles.

“Sheldon” will differ from its predecessor “Big Bang Theory” by being a single-camera comedy instead of multi-camera. During “Big Bang Theory”‘s run on CBS, there were many references to Sheldon’s childhood growing up as a gifted student with a religious mother. The comedy is said to “give the writers a lot of material to work with given Sheldon’s history — as well as a structure to follow.”

(via Deadline)