CBS has decided to skip the pilot cycle for Young Sheldon and has ordered it direct to series.

If you’re unfamiliar with TV terminology, typically a series shoots a pilot and then the network decides whether or not to move forward with a show. If it is ordered to series that means the network has decided it can forego the pilot and just tell the creators to get to work because they have a secured spot on the schedule for the next season.

On Monday CBS decided to move forward with Young Sheldon which will be a prequel series to The Big Bang Theory. The new show will be a single-camera series that follows the adventures of nine-year-old Sheldon as he attends high school. (This makes sense to those who follow the show) Jim Parsons – the actor to originate the role – will serve as an executive producer on the series as well as narrate the new episodes.

All of this is happening int he midst of new negotiations with the seven leads of the mother series for seasons 11 and 12. I wouldn’t read this, however, that things are going poorly there, this is just a way to double down on a popular property.

In an unexpected twist, it was also announced that Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Elf) will direct and executive produce the pilot episode. Traditionally the person to direct the pilot episode will receive a residual on all episodes of a series as they are the ones to set the tone for how it is directed. In other words, Favreau could be looking at a lot of checks in his future.

Young Sheldon should appear on the CBS schedule for next fall when it is announced in the coming weeks.