Wil Wheaton Reveals How His Real Octopus Tattoo Became a Magic Weapon in STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE
Prop master details a 30 pound device with six versions built for the show's magic multiverse.
Wil Wheaton detailed how his own octopus tattoo was transformed into an elaborate magical weapon for his sorcerer character in an episode of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, discussing the process on Episode 3 of the show's official podcast alongside prop master Sarah Snyder and host Felicia Day. The episode, titled 'Spoiler: Bert Is Magic,' turned Wheaton's character into what he described as a fireball-throwing enforcer, and he walked through how the tattoo effect required surprisingly expensive execution to pull off on screen.
Wheaton also spoke about pitching a Vulcan salute during his character's battle with Bert and the reaction he hoped it would draw from fans, along with the shift from the multicam comedy rhythm of The Big Bang Theory to the single-camera fantasy style of this new series. He credited Jim Parsons with helping him understand the musical rhythm behind Big Bang Theory's brand of comedy, a skill he drew on while adapting to the new format.
Snyder joined partway through the conversation to give a behind-the-scenes look at the show's handmade props, including the Quantum Interference Device, a 30-pound piece built in six different versions. She also pointed to smaller details built into the world, including a hidden newt, two-headed pigeons, handmade Books of the Dead, and a recreated clipboard from The Big Bang Theory tucked into the production design.
The podcast episode follows the pattern set by Lauren Lapkus's earlier appearance on the same podcast, where she and director Kyle Newacheck unpacked another episode's production details with Day and Wheaton. Both installments dig into how the multiverse premise of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe gets built out through practical effects and callbacks to its Big Bang Theory origins.
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