MGM and Syfy Channel went big with the Stargate franchise at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, the biggest fandom event in the world! An estimated crowd of more than 4,000 people packed in to see the cast and producers — the official coming out party for Stargate Universe, the new spin-off series which premieres October 2 on Syfy in the U.S. For the cast, it was their very first convention and their first opportunity to meet Stargate fans face-to-face.
Here are some highlights from today’s panel!
- Executive producers Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper started out by praising the cast and acknowledging the fans that have kept Stargate strong for 15 years on television. They also said that at this point in their careers, they wanted to do something that is different from what has come before.The new series will also be accessible to those who have never seen Stargate SG-1 or Stargate Atlantis.
“It is quite a different feel,” Wright said. “It will reintroduce what the Stargate is. It will give you a whole new sense of what Stargate is. … But it will very much reward the SG-1 and Atlantis viewer.”
“It really is still Stargate,” Cooper said. “I think we tried to bring that element back into the series. It had gotten to the point where everybody was a superhero and a genius. Not that these people [the SGU characters] aren’t smart! But [we are] trying to make the characters identifiable [and to] create situations where they could really face challenges and deal with the incredible experiences of exploration.”
- Cooper called it “the most exciting experience of my career.”
- DVD special features producer Ivon Bartok is shooting something like 40 features this year.
- In answer to one fan question, Robert Carlyle (“Nicholas Rush”) talked about the difference between his work on SGU and his feature film career. The producers wanted him for the part because they wanted an actor who would play a character who is atypical for the franchise: not the hero, not the villain, but someone who is flawed.
- Ming-Na talked about Camille Wray as “a strong, intelligent lesbian,” which won cheers and laughter from the crowd (following a bit of controversy when that tidbit first came out – story). She said that while Stargate is new to her, she herself is a huge sci-fi fan.
- David Blue (“Eli Wallace”) revealed that he’s not only a fan, but he’s watched every episode of SG-1 and Atlantis. he said that joining the franchise brings “pride in being a part of it, but also an immense responsibility in every scene.” Wright joked that with David they got not only an actor, but also a technical adviser for their own show.
- Wright and Cooper told the crowd that they are proud of Atlantis‘s 5-year run, and didn’t feel it was premature to end it when they did. But they are also trying to keep all the elements of the franchise alive.
- The producers discussed the more serialized nature of SGU, as opposed to SG-1 and Atlantis‘s more episodic style. But Wright said that the casual viewer who hasn’t seen what has come before will still be rewarded. Cooper added that what makes it serialized is the emphasis on telling stories from the points of view of these characters.
- “Big things are going to happen very quickly,” Cooper said, as in the first 10 episodes. “You are going to find that if you do skip an episode you might miss something huge. There will be major revelations in terms of what’s going on with these characters and the storylines.”
“There is still a Stargate, and we’re still going to go through that Stargate and have adventures, and meet alien races,” Wright said.
“The first thing we did was make a blood pact that we would not have rubber-faced, English speaking aliens in the first season!” Cooper said. “Because it takes place out on the frontier, it’s about exploring the universe — galaxies we have never been to — we really wanted that experience to feel somewhat realistic — find aliens or alien life forms that you feel you might find out in space.” He said that the first season will include some very “alien” aliens.
- Wright and Carlyle both praised the sets and production designer James Robbins. Carlyle said that it is like being on a feature film set.
- Jamil said that when he landed the role, his mom told him, “You’re going to be the next LeVar Burton!”
- Ming-Na and Brian praised the crew of Stargate as some of the most skilled, dedicated, laid back and funny people they have worked with.
- With a nod to Janet Fraiser and Carson Beckett, the producers joked that “we killed the doctor right away in this one!”
After the panel the SGU team signed autographs for fans.
SciFi Wire is expected to post the panel video in the next few days, for you to watch for yourself!
Don’t miss GateWorld’s continuing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con this weekend and on next week’s edition of the podcast! Stargate Universe airs Friday, October 2 at 9 p.m. (8 Central) on Syfy, and soon after on Sky1 in the U.K. and SPACE in Canada.
You can read more about the show in GateWorld’s SGU Launch Center.
Did they talk about the SG1 or SGA movies at all?
Not specifically, no.
[…] Gateworld […]
You know this series looks to be prety sweet. I wonder if we will get to see the 4th race that never got an episode before. It would be sweet to see some furling action. But the new release trailer has gotten me so pumped for this show. Can’t wait.
Sylvia, why would they talk about SGA, they dont think it exists anymore, lets face it they are really trying hard to bury it under the carpet, they have there nice new shinny, now ever so smutty as well,little toy, now an thats all they care about :-( An doesnt Carlyles character remind you of Balter, actually it really is a BSG clone, well it displaced my thoughts of any comparisons to any of the Treks now at least ” ha ha”. How many seasons did BSG go, coz I guess this the next one. I’m now done with Stargate,… Read more »
The Heck with this child-like substitute for Stargate Alantis. Is there even a script? Are they scouting locations for filming. More important, do they all the main cast signed?
SGU is the one that is mostly pitiful. I feel really sorry for the case unlucky enough to follow on the heels of the much beloved SGA. This show doesn’t have a chance. I only hope it isn’t taking time and money away from what really matters. Then new SGA movie.
“Wright and Cooper told the crowd that they are proud of Atlantis’s 5-year run, and didn’t feel it was premature to end it when they did.” Erm, there was also the thing: when they were asked about SGA’s cancellation, Wright ducked out refusing to answer and Robert Cooper said that Wright “flipped a coin” when it came down to the decision if they should keep or cancel the show. Might have been a joke, in any case it was a poor taste and showed more disrespect and lack of understanding of their fanbase. In any case, the trailer was visually… Read more »
I heard the SGA movie got canned already.
it’s not that they didn’t want to do it, it’s that Joe Flanningan asked for WAY too much money, and was unwilling to renegotiate.
@syfyguy I hardly think you are a reliable source when you can’t even spell the guy’s name correctly!
@syfyguy, that sort of hearsay and rumor-mongering is just not appropriate. Unless you have a source, I suggest you not pass on that kind of statement you “heard.”
And I hate to say it, cause Shep is my favorite character, but if they really wanted to make a SGA movie they could find a way to make it without him if they needed to; have it be a search for the mising Lt.Col. or something, they have to have enuf file footage to pull it off. So I hardly think that one character not showing up is a deal breaker for the movie. (Even if would be incredibly less enjoyable to me)
I hope SGA and SG1 have not been canned. That being said I have mixed feelings about the new show. All the trailers and producer comments seem to have a BSG’ish feel to them. Similar to the Caprica trailers. I hope this is not true. Peyton Space is not why we watch stargate and sci-fi (oops Sy-Fy).
I really don’t understand the unbridled hate this show is garnering. 5 years for any Sci-Fi show is pretty great. Ask any Farscape fan if they’d have been happy to get just one more year to make it to 5. I loved SGA and was sad to see it go but I think hating SGU because you think it “killed” SGA is a tad on the childish side and usually leaves you missing out on something great. So what if they are borrowing BSG principles? They’d be dumb not to try and somewhat emulate a Peabody-winning show. Most Sci-Fi is… Read more »
i don’t know where else to leave this comment, so… i’m just *very* disappointed that no word has been given on when the 3rd sg1 movie is going to be filmed. i can’t believe not even one fan asked (or so it seems), but still, none of the producers or no one from mgm commented on it?…
i understand the economy is down and that dvd sales are down, but they still had enough money to remix an old episode and put it onto dvd, and to make a brand new series… just saying. :(
The old saying (don’t try and fix what’s not broken) really fits hear SGU is a sensationalized “hope I spelled that right” version of any SG venue. It just was not needed! At all! I hate that it has this jazzed up SEXED up child like Ora. I probably will watch the first episode due to RDA, but it wont be real time and Im pretty sure that any thing other than new SG1/SGU movies SG is done for me. I guess after 12 years I have gotten to used to good clean SG!
airborn, I hear what your saying an agree, why does sex an titillation have to come into everything these days, whats so wrong with firty banter, the odd innuendo some passing remake even if its a bit near the mark, to hint at something IS WAY more sexy IMO. I dint think SGU could become even less intersting but with the addtion to the “sexy bit” IT HAS. I really just dont understand why Atlantis was axed, not only axed but the PROMISED movies “where” same as SG1 “where”. They axed Atlantis on fact going out on top, moving to… Read more »
The trailer raised my hopes for SGU. Thinking back to when the days before I got into Stargate, I would have to say the more alien aspect of SGU would have appealed to me more since I had originally had some incorrect connection of SG-1 with more fantasy (than sci-fi) plotlines.
Now, we just need the SG-1 and SGA movies to be greenlit soon. Recession be damned.
I think SGU looks promising, but I can’t fairly judge it until I have actually watched it, so I will. In regards to the SG-1 movie (featuring RDA), bring it on. In regards to the SGA movie, I would love to see it right on the heels of the SG-1 movie. Here to hoping the recession/depression doesn’t totally kill these options.