Cheer up Stargate fans, the long-running franchise, which began with a film in 1994, then became a TV series (Stargate SG-1: 1997-2007) and another series (Stargate Atlantis: 2004-2009 ) is getting a new spin off. MGM and SCI FI have announced that a go-ahead has been given on Stargate Universe. The new show will kick off with a two-hour movie in 2009, followed by a regular weekly run in the summer. Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, co-creators of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, will serve as executive producers and writers on the new series. The news comes just a day after the confirmation that Stargate Atlantis would not be renewed for a sixth-seasonorder. The two-hour movie that was also confirmed yesterday will still go forward.“We’ve had great success with ‘Enterprise’ repeats on Monday night, and there’s clearly an appetite for space opera as ‘Battlestar’ goes away,” Sci Fi president Dave Howe said. “There’s an opportunity to keep the space opera as part of our programming strategy.”
“This is an opportunity to reinvent this franchise and make it relevant to a new generation,” Howe said. “We really don’t want to be more of the same. It’s going to build clearly off the existing franchise but with a cast that gives it a younger vibe.”
Said co-creators Wright and Cooper: “In ‘Universe,’ we plan to keep those elements that have made the franchise a success, such as adventure and humor, while breaking new ground in the relationships between mostly young and desperate explorers, thrust together and far from home. Above all, we believe the Stargate itself remains an enduring icon with infinite potential as a jumping-off point for telling stories.”
Here’s a complete description of the new series (and click after the jump for the full press release):
After unlocking the mystery of the Stargate’s ninth chevron, a team of explorers travels to an unmanned starship called the Destiny, launched by The Ancients at the height of their civilization as a grand experiment set in motion, but never completed.
What starts as a simple reconnaissance turns into a never ending mission, as the Stargate Universe crew discovers the ship is unable to return to Earth, and they must now fend for themselves aboard the Destiny.
The crew will travel to the far reaches of the universe, connecting with each of the previously launched Stargates, thus fulfilling the Destiny’s original mission. Challenges will arise though as the ship comes into range of Stargates placed centuries ahead of the Destiny and the crew is unable to control the ship’s navigational schedule. If someone is left behind, there is no way to go back for them, adding to the drama of encountering new races, enemies and adventures.
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i sure hope they don’t mess this stargate serie up like they are maybe doing to Atlantis. Atlantis was and is the best stargate series of all time and i will hate to see the end off Atlantis and how they are gonna mix film whit a show they have done it whit sg1 but for me that made a big cap between the shows and the movie i had hard time finding my self im the movie after i had watched seasons of st1 i found that to be a mistake or they should have found another way to make this happen anyways whit grate sorrow in my heart as i watch my Atlantis shows knowing they are coming to an end i pray that they will not mess this up and then make this stargate series good and hopefully learn from there mistakes if they mess my dear Atlantis series
as a fan and hope i speak for more fans this is more to me than a break up this is almost like thoughts of something dieing for me
whit sadness and a little hope i say cya on the year 2009 when all will ………………………… change!!!! for the great Stargate series
I dont know about everyone else but….. being stranded on a ship, going towards an uncertain goal, scrounging for survival, not being able to go back for others…Im beginning to see Battlestar Gallactica, for some funny reason. whats the point. people love SG1 + SGA they are the bewst tv programs on these days. they say they are bringing in a new cast for the next generation. I dont know about the writers and producers but this generation likes HUMOUR and JACK O.NEILL has loads of that. LTCOL SHEP has sarcasm. they both made the series what they are today and you can never replace them or get half better.
And i agree what HOKKI says. PERIOD
It is too bad they couldn’t continue the two previous series along with the upcoming Stargate Universe series. The first two each have their own unique charm and appeal. I don’t believe SGU will replace SG1 or SGA, speaking for myself. Hopefully it will be worthy of watching on its own merit. I’m excited that it’s coming, especially since SG1 is gone and SGA is coming to an end. I need my scifi fix! :-)
I have been a huge fan of Atlantis and SG-1 (I own them all) from the beginning and am sad to see Atlantis go. I believe it could have had several years more and still be strong enough to go to the movies. I am somewhat disappointed in the idea behind Universe. With the idea that they will be using a ship the entire time the show will no longer be centered around the Stargate. Additionally the plot is all to familiar. They are on a ship that gets sent to a distant galaxy (quadrant) where they are lost and need to find their way home. I’m sorry, but it sounds like the show would be more aptly named, Stargate Voyager.
We won’t Stargate Atlantis back!!
Hmmm… I don’t know. The big draw for me with Atlantis was the continued crossing and mixing of both series,even after SG1 was canceled. I still can’t figure out why they canceled Atlantis. The budget thing is a pretty WEAK excuse, since the budget hog BSG will be gone in a few months. But I digress, with this new story, there will be no ties to the original series or Atlantis, no crossing of familiar faces and old enemies. I think they would have been best off keeping Atlantis since BSG is out, and making Atlantis it’s top gun show.
But good luck with “Universe”, I’ll watch it anyway.
so when does it begin?
we want stargamte back
All of the above and more. SG1 can never be copied. Atlantis was beautiful. I thought with the new S G I stuff being used on Sanctuary that budget was’nt a concern anymore. I can see the potential here with SGU but I guarantee you, if it starts to fail, you will see Carter or Teal’q or D. J. or Rodney appearing as a dream sequence or a hologram or a time traveler or something else to help save the day. Hey it’s cool, but also predictable. Remember on Voyager when Barkley started showing up? Or heck Kirk even helped move along a script for Picard. The formula works. It’ll work here.
bring back atlantis
i had to buy the sg1 and atlantis collections. i am very upset that atlantis was cancelled already. i hope that universe will live up to its predacessors.