Wil Wheaton Returns to The Big Bang Theory Universe in the Wildest Way Yet

Wil Wheaton is back in the Big Bang Theory universe, but this time he isn't simply playing Sheldon's longtime nemesis. He's a wizard.

For years, Wheaton's fictionalized version of himself was one of the show's most entertaining recurring characters.

He was the seemingly friendly celebrity who somehow became one of Sheldon's greatest enemies.

Now, in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the franchise has found a completely new way to use him.

And this time, there isn't much science involved.

Wil Wheaton Becomes a Wizard

The episode takes Stuart, Bert, Denise and Kripke into one of the strangest alternate realities yet.

In this universe, magic is real.

Science, meanwhile, is forbidden.

Scientists are hunted for practicing what would normally be perfectly respectable academic disciplines, creating an absurd reversal of the world fans know from The Big Bang Theory.

Naturally, the group immediately finds itself in trouble.

And somehow, Stuart makes everything considerably worse.

Melissa Rauch's Bernadette Is Back Too

The chaos becomes even more ridiculous when the group encounters an alternate version of Bernadette.

Melissa Rauch once again brings her unmistakable voice to the character, but this isn't the Bernadette fans remember.

This version is a powerful demon capable of growing to an enormous size.

It's the kind of bizarre transformation that could only happen in a multiverse story.

And it sets the stage for Wheaton's equally ridiculous return.

Wheaton Plays a Wizard for the Guild

Rather than returning as the familiar Wil Wheaton audiences remember, Wheaton appears as a representative of the Wizards Guild of America.

His mission?

Deal with Stuart's latest mistake.

What follows is one of the most outrageous sequences the franchise has attempted.

Wheaton and Bert find themselves in a full magical confrontation, throwing spells and fireballs at each other using exaggerated heavy-metal-style hand gestures.

And because apparently ordinary magic isn't enough, the battle eventually involves a shark.

Yes.

A shark.

Even the comic book shop becomes collateral damage.

Wil Wheaton Didn't Even Know What Was Coming

Perhaps the funniest part of the story happened before filming.

Wheaton has explained that he received the script without much context.

He hadn't watched the other episodes of the series, which made the bizarre storyline particularly difficult to understand.

Then came the costume fitting.

That's when he realized something important.

He was playing a wizard.

The script apparently became considerably clearer after that.

The Fireball Scene Sold Him Immediately

When Wheaton reached the section of the script describing the magical battle, he reportedly couldn't resist sharing it with Bill Prady.

He photographed the page and sent it directly to the show's co-creator as a way of saying thank you.

It wasn't simply another guest appearance.

Wheaton had been given the opportunity to do something completely ridiculous with a character who had already become one of the franchise's most recognizable recurring figures.

And he clearly understood the assignment.

From Sheldon's Nemesis to Multiverse Wizard

Wheaton's relationship with The Big Bang Theory has always been unusual.

His original appearance transformed the real-life actor into an exaggerated fictional version of himself.

That version became a recurring source of frustration for Sheldon.

Over time, however, the character became something much more complicated.

Wheaton's fictionalized persona could be arrogant, manipulative and occasionally cruel, but he also became an important part of the show's extended universe.

Now the multiverse premise has given the franchise permission to completely reinvent him.

No longer simply Sheldon's enemy.

No longer simply himself.

Now he's a wizard throwing fireballs at Bert.

The Big Bang Theory Universe Has Gone Completely Multiversal

What makes the appearance so entertaining is how far removed it is from the original sitcom.

The original series was built around theoretical physics, scientific debates and everyday life in Pasadena.

Now its extended universe can take those same characters and place them in worlds where magic exists, demons roam the streets and wizards fight inside comic book shops.

It's an enormous creative departure.

And Wil Wheaton may have received one of the strangest roles of all.

Final Thoughts

Wil Wheaton spent years playing one of Sheldon's greatest enemies.

Now he's returned to the franchise as something nobody could have predicted.

A wizard.

A magical battle.

Fireballs.

A shark.

And a destroyed comic book shop.

It's exactly the kind of completely unexpected madness that the multiverse concept makes possible.

Sheldon may have hated Wil Wheaton.

But the multiverse apparently loves him.