At the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con, Brad Wright, co-creator of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis (and now Stargate Universe), asked the crowd who hadn't seen SG-1 or Atlantis. According to Brad Wright, "about 7 people" raised their hand. The audience booed and hissed and one woman behind me asked why anyone that hadn't seen either of those shows would be there. I sheepishly lowered my hand and sat back to let Brad Wright, Robert Cooper (co-creator of Stargate Universe), Robert Carlyle, Brian J. Smith, David Blue, Alaina Huffman, Jamil Walker Smith and Ming-Na convince me why I should be watching their new show, Stargate Universe.
First, watch this:
After seeing that trailer, I was pretty convinced this show was going to be pretty good. Brad and Robert were very clear in letting this die-hard group of fans that this new installment of the Stargate franchise was going to be different. I was intrigued. I had seen the original "Stargate" film, way back in 1994 and thought that the movie didn't come through on what the trailer promised. When I'd heard they were making a show, with Richard Dean Anderson no less, I was intrigued, but not enought to tune in. After 5 seasons on Showtime, SG-1 made a home at the Sci Fi Channel and continued there for 6 seasons. With Stargate SG-1 ending in 2007 and Stargate Atlantis ending its 5 season run in 2009, Wright and Cooper felt that it was time for the franchise to head into another direction. They received the greenlight from SyFy, who are big fans of the franchise (and I'm sure of the insane amount of merchandising money they make from the show) and off they went.
Wright and Cooper knew that this installment would have to be different; from the writing to the way the film is shot. Robert Cooper mentioned that they all had a different expectation for this show. Stargate Universe is going to be more serialized than the other installments of the Stargate Franchise, but not enough to the extent where you can't just jump in at any point in the show. Cooper mentioned that this Stargate was going to be far more grittier and darker than previous installments. The characters are all complex and you're not sure who will be good or bad.
The prime example of a complex character is their lead, Dr. Nicholas Rush, played by none other than Begbie himself, Robert Carlyle. This is the first TV series that Robert Carlyle has done, and he said himself that he doesn't really see a difference between acting for features and a TV series and that he's looking forward to doing something that's completely out of left field for him. When first asked to do the series by Wright and Cooper, Carlyle was reticent. He didn't see himself as a sci-fi kind of guy, but relented when he read the script.
The script was good enough for all of the actors attending the panel that day, most highly regarded by Brian J. Smith. He was especially appreciative of the complexity of the script; something that was agreed upon by all cast present. Smith also talked about how he enjoys doing research for playing a soldier, 1st Lt. Matthew Scott.
In the end, it's really about the human element in Stargate Universe. Wright and Cooper talked about how, after 300 episodes of SG-1 and Atlantis, they'd done just about everything they thought they could. That is, until they realized that they could write some interesting, complex characters and thrust them into situations that are beyond their control.
If you are new to the franchise, this would be a perfect time to jump in. Wright and Cooper also explained that if you're old hat to the franchise, not to worry, there will be plenty of old mythology thrown in. When asked directly about the 9th Chevron and if it will ever be revealed, Cooper said simply, "Yes" and Wright said, "No". Being new, I wasn't sure what the 9th Chevron was, but I'm really curious to find out.
Stargate Universe premieres on October 2nd.
I'm so glad you wrote this up Adam.nbsp; I've never been a hard core fan of the other Stargate series either, though I loved the movie, and did watch the series occasionally.nbsp; Anyway, they have a Star Wars reference in there, so that's a good sign.nbsp; :)
Great read.nbsp; Can't wait for SGU
I am a loyal fan of Stargate the movie, SG1 and Atlantis. I've seen all the episodes multiple times over the years and have all the DVDs. I gave SGU a chance hoping it would be as good as the originals. I am very disappointed. SGU is more like Battlestar Galactica/Lost(two shows I hate). SGU is too dark(literally and figuratively), gritty, depressing and boring. The characters are so unlikeable, I was hoping the ship would fly into that sun and disintegrate into oblivion. I think the writers and producers slammed the door on all the fans of SG1 and Atlantis, going over to the dark side to lure fans of Battlestar Galactica. I actually feel betrayed. And it isn't surprising that non-fans of SG1 and Atlantis love SGU; it is completely opposite to what we loved for all those years. And I wouldn't doubt that the majority of the fans of SGU are Battlestar Gal. fans as well. So the writers and producers evidently don't care how the fans of SG1 and Atlantis feel. Maybe they think Battlestar was better?? Then why did they work on SG1 so long? Do they think Battlestar fans will spend more money than SG1 fans?? Normally, there's some profit motive involved. I don't know; I don't understand and I don't care for SGU.
I’m so glad you wrote this up Adam.nbsp; I’ve never been a hard core fan of the other Stargate series either, though I loved the movie, and did watch the series occasionally.nbsp; Anyway, they have a Star Wars reference in there, so that’s a good sign.nbsp; :)
Great read.nbsp; Can’t wait for SGU
I am a loyal fan of Stargate the movie, SG1 and Atlantis. I’ve seen all the episodes multiple times over the years and have all the DVDs. I gave SGU a chance hoping it would be as good as the originals. I am very disappointed. SGU is more like Battlestar Galactica/Lost(two shows I hate). SGU is too dark(literally and figuratively), gritty, depressing and boring. The characters are so unlikeable, I was hoping the ship would fly into that sun and disintegrate into oblivion. I think the writers and producers slammed the door on all the fans of SG1 and Atlantis, going over to the dark side to lure fans of Battlestar Galactica. I actually feel betrayed. And it isn’t surprising that non-fans of SG1 and Atlantis love SGU; it is completely opposite to what we loved for all those years. And I wouldn’t doubt that the majority of the fans of SGU are Battlestar Gal. fans as well. So the writers and producers evidently don’t care how the fans of SG1 and Atlantis feel. Maybe they think Battlestar was better?? Then why did they work on SG1 so long? Do they think Battlestar fans will spend more money than SG1 fans?? Normally, there’s some profit motive involved. I don’t know; I don’t understand and I don’t care for SGU.
Thanks, Bryan.
Apparently, David Blue was a huge fan of the first two series; Robert Cooper even made a comment that he knew more about the Stargate than they did. He was a "technical advisor" of sorts.
Thanks for the comment and keep on reading for more news!
Thanks, Bryan.
Apparently, David Blue was a huge fan of the first two series; Robert Cooper even made a comment that he knew more about the Stargate than they did. He was a “technical advisor” of sorts.
Thanks for the comment and keep on reading for more news!
Sometimes it pays to be older.nbsp; You have your facts wrong, Robert Carlyle has made a couple of TV serires in the UK.nbsp; He started out starring as a Scottish policeman in a very popular series called Hamish MacBeth.
Sometimes it pays to be older.nbsp; You have your facts wrong, Robert Carlyle has made a couple of TV serires in the UK.nbsp; He started out starring as a Scottish policeman in a very popular series called Hamish MacBeth.
I'll take that first statement as a compliment, Margaret. ;)
And yes, I was wrong, but I do believe this is his first American TV show. I think the systems of making films here and there are different enough that this is still a new experience for him.
Thanks for reading!
I’ll take that first statement as a compliment, Margaret. ;)
And yes, I was wrong, but I do believe this is his first American TV show. I think the systems of making films here and there are different enough that this is still a new experience for him.
Thanks for reading!