New Stargate Series Only Months Away
Wednesday October 29, 2008
Concept art for an airlock door from the Ancient ship to be featured in Stargate Universe, the third Stargate series.
© Sci Fi/MGM
Executive producers Brad Wright and Robert Cooper have already sent the network some story ideas and even some early concept art, and are expecting on hand in a first draft of the pilot script by the end of this year. Production should then get under way in February, with the now-standard two-hour premiere debuting on Sci Fi in mid-2009.
Cooper has previously announced that Stargate Universe will stand alone from the two previous entries in the franchise, rather than being a direct spin-off, and will be set primarily on a ship originally designed by the Ancients rather than on a base. The premise involves a human task force that encounters the abandoned ship, the Destiny, and end up becoming trapped aboard it as it takes them to the furthest regions of unknown space. (Though I'm willing to bet they'll have Douglas-fir trees there.)
Wondering about casting? Some ideas have been floated, but nothing about either characters or cast has been made public officially. An unofficial breakdown of characters was leaked to Gateworld, led by a Colonel Everett Young; Young is described as "like the Jack O'Neill of ten years ago, but Young's edges have tended to sharpen over time." According to Gateworld, a "name" actor is being sought for this role.
The character breakdowns for the rest of the cast emphasize youth and physical attractiveness, and the apparently superficiality of this generated some fan concern. But then, Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks weren't cast for SG-1 a decade ago without consideration of their youth and good looks, either. My question is, why does there always have to be a sarcastic, slacker techno-genius? Every show on TV has one. Does Vancouver have an oversupply of these guys, or what?
Anyway, Atlantis executive producer Joseph Mallozzi warned fans recently that they shouldn't expect the "shallow confection" they've extrapolated from the character descriptions. "It's a series that will delight veteran fans, but also appeal to newcomers who may not necessarily know the difference between an Alteran and an Asuran," he promised, and hiring sexy male and female talent that also happens to have the chops is part of the game of bringing in the new viewers.
The show's conception as separate from the previous two series suggests that the cast will be largely or entirely newcomers to the franchise, though the contemporary setting certainly makes it possible for one or two old hands to sign on. It's certainly inconceivable that the premiere won't include guest appearances from Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, or both. (I'd lay odds we'll see Amanda Tapping, just as a hunch, but we'll see.)
The show was officially greenlit on Aug. 22 – not coincidentally, at the same time the decision was made to cancel Stargate Atlantis (Mallozzi admitted that the decision came down to a first season of Universe being cheaper than a sixth season of Atlantis for funding partners MGM, which owns the Stargate franchise, and NBC Universal, which owns Sci Fi). The last episodes of Atlantis have already been filmed, though (production wrapped in September), so unless they decide to do some pick-ups we shouldn't expect to see any detailed set-up for Universe in Atlantis's last days.
Comments
Okay, maybe I’m missing something, but isn’t this basically Stargate: Voyager? I’m not enthusiastic about the notion of them being stuck on a spaceship in the distant reaches of the galaxy.
I have enjoyed watching Atlantis and SG1 for the past 13 years so I am willing to give The powers that be the benefit of the doubt. I will be tuning in to at least give this new show a chance.
As lovely as Amanda Tapping is I would much rather see some of the other cast from SG1 for a change or even better non at all.
Sorry, won’t be watching this one. The young lusty babes lost-in-space concept is irritating, aggravating and insulting.
I loved Atlantis till the McKeller Show took over this year, and Universe sounds like a bunch of Keller Clones.
So nope, I think my SciFi days have pretty much ended.
Well, I do miss SG1, and I will miss Atlantis. I too hope the new show will be as good as the above two series. I for one would have no problem with some carry over, but do hope for mostly new cast members. Though maybe carry over of Dr Keller or Tayla wouldn’t disappoint me too much. So far I have enjoyed both series a lot, have all the released dvds and hope that all episodes and be spruced up for release in Blu-Ray. Heres hopping for a GO UNIVERSE!!!
@andrew: heh, that was actually my first thought too, and my main cause for concern (much more than the lusty babes in outer space thing, though Voyager had that problem too).
Sorry, I’m just not watching. Atlantis and it’s increasing ratings were sacrificed for teens in space, the “young and desperate” explorers and their starship the ship “Destiny”. Give me a break!!! Loyalty only goes so far. After twelve years of steady viewing from Showtime to Sci-Fi, I”m finished with the franchise.
Oh, and Amanda Tapping was 32 years old when Stargate began. Way too darn old for Universe.
A silly premise that I won’t be wasting my time watching. Not only do they cancel a great show, Atlantis, and then coldly introduce their new show Universe before it’s body is even cold, but they also brilliantly manage to insult a large population of fans in the process!! Way to go Rob and Brad!
Hey age 30 and over: You are not the demographics we are looking for!
I just love all you people who already know that Stargate Universe is going to be a bad show when they haven’t even filmed one episode. At least give it a chance. You never know, you might actually like it.
Sadly, this is going to bomb big time.
Stargate SG-1, following on from the film, began with a brilliant *original* concept – the Stargate. Visit other planets in seconds, spend most of the episode actually doing something *interesting*, and then be back in time for tea.
Stargate Universe sounds just like a bog-standard space soap opera filled with boring romances between various crew members as they drift through space. Yawn, yawn, yawn, yawn, yawn, yawn, yawn.
This is not original.
This is not interesting.
THIS IS NOT SCI-FI.
Oh, and don’t forget, that many sci-fi fans are not in the desired 18-35 male demographic.
Go to any Stargate convention and you’ll find the majority of people there are 35+ year old females. They’re the ones with the dedication and the cash for merchandising.
Ignore us at your peril.
–
I have a feeling that it is going to be hard to say goodbye to a series like SGA. I have seen a lot of shows come and go in my 50+ years and I have never found a show that has captivated like SGA.
I loved SG-1 and have seen most all the shows and I have seen all the movies but I have went as far as to order some missed SGA episodes on DVD and I have never done anything like that before and this last season I have not missed one episode, If I could not be home for the broadcast I would record it.
I only hope that SGU can hold a candle to it’s predecessors. I know they say they want it to be a stand alone show but it needs to fill this empty void where SGA used to be.
This is like saying goodbye to an old friend that I know will be missed.
I still don’t understand why a series that is so well liked has to end.
Love you SGA so long and as for SGU I just want to say, You better bring it!
I can’t begin to express how dissapointed I am that SGA is cancled. I loved both SGA and SG-1. I have been a big fan of both and in my 50+ years I have never been devoted to a series as much as I have these two.
I to have my doubts but I am willing and anxious to give SGU a shot.
All I can say is SGU, You better bring your
A game!!!
yes i agree.. the whole concept of a ship lost in space.. with episodes is boring and been done numerous times.. also goes against the science of the existing sg unverse either they have a hyper drive and can get places even other galaxies quick or they dont and wont be able to get anywhere but empty space with sublight engines.. … piece of crap concept
I’m extremely disappointed that SGA was cancelled. SG-1 and SGA are probably my favorite shows of all time. I will give this new “Startrek” SGU show a chance, but have my doubts.
You know, I would have liked to see a collaboration between Battlestar Galactica and the Stargate teams. Think about it, Battlestar Galactica was looking for Earth because of ancient writings. It would have been great to have the Stargate teams ( SG-1, Atlantis) to have bumped into the Battlestar fleet. They could’ve made Galactica an advanced society that was looking for Earth and found the Atlantis or SG-1 teams in an alternate reality and then brought them back to assist against the Wraith, Oris, or the Go’auld. It would’ve been great. Galactica searching for the ancient Earth and finding Atlantis? I hope somebody from Sci-Fi reads this. They could’ve made an awesome and epic series.
sounds like your named actor needs to be captain jane way
“and end up becoming trapped aboard it as it takes them to the furthest regions of unknown space”
This worked in Voyager coz of the whole slow travel thing, but don’t they come up with new ways of travelling massive distances in the span of a add brake every other week in the SG universe? are they characters just going to go ‘O NO!! hyperspace is broken! ..lets go get something to eat”
In saying that the program might be fine, just wish they didn’t have to kill off Atlantis for it
i for one will give this knew show a chance but i was wondering if dr. keller would be joining the cast? she is one of the few people that i would not mine seeing again.
I don’t know about all of you people but Stargate Atlantis has nothing on SG-1 never mind this new series.
You will never beat the original storyline or cast.
The actors in Atlantis are trying too hard to be as good as SG-1 and it is just not possible.
Without SG-1 I am going to find it very hard to watch this new series, but I am not saying I wont give it a chance.
It is just going to be hard to replace SG-1, Atlantis couldn’t do it for me so I am very weary about Universe.