Family Guy spin-off: Stewie at the center of a new series

There will soon be a spin-off of Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy". The new animated comedy series "Stewie" will focus on the Griffin family's eponymous baby, as reported by Deadline. Two seasons have already been commissioned. It is not yet known how many episodes there will be. However, it is assumed that there will be slightly fewer than 15 episodes per season. The planned launch is during the 2027-28 TV season on the US channel Fox, with the respective episodes to be streamed the following day on Hulu and worldwide on Disney+.

Since the start of "Family Guy" 27 years ago, Stewie has been one of the most influential characters in the successful animated series. This is partly because he is a diabolical, occasionally megalomaniacal genius - even though he still wears diapers. On the other hand, his wonderfully unconventional love-hate relationship with the cultivated family dog Brian also contributes to the character's cult status.

What Stewie will be about

In the spin-off "Stewie", however, the little hero is initially left to his own devices. Stewie is kicked out of pre-school and is now sent to a new school that doesn't exactly meet his expectations. There, he not only has to get used to his new classmates, but also to a 75-year-old turtle who also belongs to his class. Neither Stewie nor the other children are particularly happy at school. So, without further ado, he digs out a few devices with which he can overcome time and space - and transform every boring school day into an absurd adventure.

It is not yet entirely clear how the new spin-off will relate to the original series "Family Guy", which is running in parallel. According to Deadline, however, it is to be expected that the events in "Stewie" will not influence the plot of "Family Guy". It is also assumed that Brian will occasionally appear in the spin-off.

Developed by Seth MacFarlane

"Stewie" was developed by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, together with long-time "Family Guy" writer Kirker Butler, who is responsible for the new series as showrunner. MacFarlane and Butler will also serve as executive producers alongside Kara Vallow. MacFarlane will also voice Stewie, as he did in the original series. In a statement, MacFarlane thanks the broadcaster with a wink:

"I'd like to thank Fox for this incredible opportunity, and I'm excited to start pretending I'm collaborating closely with them on the show."

More than just Family Guy

"Family Guy" is probably MacFarlane's best-known creation. In the animated series, which has been running since 1999, he tells the story of the quirky everyday life of the American Griffin family with biting humor. With "American Dad!" in 2005, he created another animated series about a family that is anything but conventional. In addition, the less successful "Family Guy" spin-off "The Cleveland Show" ran from 2009 to 2013 and was canceled after just four seasons.

In addition to his animated series, MacFarlane has also made a name for himself with live-action productions. In 2012, he directed "Ted" , a comedy movie in which a boy's teddy bear comes to life and becomes his best friend - for life. The sequel "Ted 2" followed in 2015. MacFarlane has also appeared in front of the camera. Firstly, as the lead actor in the western comedy "A Million Ways to Die in the West" , which he directed. Secondly, as the captain of a spaceship in the TV series "The Orville", in which MacFarlane pays homage to the legendary science fiction franchise "Star Trek".