Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum were big hits on DVD when the original movies debuted in 2008 … so what’s the hold-up, MGM? With 2009 rapidly passing by, the studio has yet to begin production on the third SG-1 movie and the first Atlantis movie.
Executive producer Robert C. Cooper recently told SciFi Wire just why there is a delay, echoing what he and fellow executive producer Brad Wright told GateWorld in April (interview).
“We’re ready to go,” he told the site. “We’re just waiting for the right opportunity. We want to be successful with it. The studio wants to be successful, and we really don’t want to proceed with something in the wrong climate, which I think financially it is right now.”
“We were very successful with the first two SG-1 movies,” Cooper added. “Since then, the economics have changed a little bit. DVDs aren’t selling the same way they were when we released those even just a year, and a year and a half ago.”
Meanwhile, the Atlantis set is still standing (and costing MGM rent) — a good sign that the studio plans to film the movie, eventually. The S.G.C. set was recently converted for use in the Stargate Universe premiere, and there are rumors that the real-world closing of Cheyenne Mountain may result in a relocation of the SG-1’s home base in a future film.
Wright said in April that the SG-1 movie had received a green light from the studio and would almost certainly film before the year is out (story). Whether MGM is still planning that schedule remains to be seen. The script is complete, penned by Wright and Carl Binder.
The Atlantis movie script has also been written, by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, and is still waiting for the go-ahead. Its working title is Stargate: Extinction.
Cooper said that the Atlantis film takes place shortly after the end of the final episode of the television series, while the SG-1 movie (which will feature Richard Dean Anderson as Jack O’Neill) takes place sometime in the period between Continuum and the start of Stargate Universe.
Visit SciFi Wire for the original report, and stay tuned to GateWorld for more news as it breaks!
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this makes me really happy. I’m glad to hear that MGM still has every intention of continuing the movie series. I think the Stargate Franchise is definitely booming right now
Prometheus 1 | August 12 @ 11:17 pm:( :(
no more waiting!!!
the sg1/atlantis movies would be *new*, which is a lot better than all the already-seen movies and tv series monopolizing the dvd market.
majorsal | August 13 @ 12:12 amI agree just start on it for all we know this could take a while, so you might as well just get on with the production
XEAGLEX777 | August 13 @ 12:46 amThis definitely seems short sited. The benefit of releasing something direct to DVD is that your profits are limited by ratings. They could release the movies now and they’d sell for the next few years, so I hardly think the current economic situation is going to have much impact. They wait too long and the actors will move on to other things and the movies will become impossible.
jshier | August 13 @ 12:46 amEr, aren’t limited by ratings. And even if SciFi airs the movies just before or just after the DVDs go on sale, you’re still looking at several years of sales to generate revenue.
jshier | August 13 @ 12:47 amWell I am glad to hear somthing about the 2 movies. I was beginning to worry that we would never seen those anymore or hear about it.I do have to agree with jshier here.I’m sure that the crisis is not a great thing these days,but I also dont think thats the main reason here.Was the re cut version of Children of The Gods an attempt to get more money in for at least one of the movies? And then the rumors that the real-world closing of Cheyenne Mountain may result in a relocation of the SG-1’s home base in a future film. Um I am sure there clever people who will create something so that it will not have no influence on future stories for a movie or a series. So I dont think that this must be a problem either.A real problem could be that actors are moving on and have new jobs and they cant make them selfs free to be in the movie on time, and time flies.And MGM pays rent for the Atlantis set that is still standing thats not a great thing while I thought I hard MGM itself is having financial problems or it this solved?Anyway glad that they still want both movies and they did gave the green light. I say dont wait but get starting to make the movies now! The longer you wait the harder it get, and then I guess there realy will be problems. Dont wait to long or people also will loose interest in it because of all promises but nothing comes.
Jazz | August 13 @ 3:06 amI’ve been waiting all summer to hear some news about the movies… Please make them, and do it fast! =)
Gaia | August 13 @ 3:07 amEconomy? That economy didn’t prevent them from sticking 20+ mil. more into SGU. I would believe that if SGA’s S5 didn’t sell more copies in its first three weeks than SG-1’s S10 did in its first three weeks – and that DESPITE bad economy.
katikatnik | August 13 @ 5:39 amMeh? This makes me sad but not surprised, shame that the SG1 set had to be destroyed to make way for the SGU set, more reason to hate that show if it’s not perfect.
kzap333 | August 13 @ 7:08 amI doubt we’ll get many more SG1 movies, I reckon we’ll get 2 more SG1 films tops and 3 SGA and then they will be gone forever.
the fans would purchase the dvds no matter what the economy. they are expending all of their time, energy and money on SGU.
rylett | August 13 @ 7:57 amI don’t believe that they have any scrips written they have been to busy pouring all their time and money into SGA’s replacement and their new baby.
The closer that we get to the big premire of there new show they will continue to drop these little bits of hope for SGA fans in hope that we will watch it.
It would be very funny if SGU sinks after taking the place of a show that rose up from the ocean and into our hearts.
I am still very bitter about the treatment of SGA I do hope SGU sinks. Everyone that I know has said they are not going to watch.
Hey just think if you guys trim that huge cast of sgu down you might just have enough money to make the movie.
Buddybear | August 13 @ 9:05 amThanks for bringing up that interview with BW last April, Darren. Personally, I think there’s more going on here than worry over DVD sales. Whatever it is, I’m hoping they get these movies going soon while the fans still care.
vss | August 13 @ 11:03 amUnbelievable truly unbelievable, what’s so different now to what it was like a year ago like when they cancel SGA, nothing that’s what, so they axe SGA with a pack of lies about it going to movies JUST so they could spend all the money plus some on SGU!
I agree vss there is far more going on here, than just the economy worries, because the economy hasnt stopped then throwing money at SGU has it! This is just so wrong on so many levels!
Atlantis Rocks | August 13 @ 12:22 pmBoo! If they have the scripts and the budget, then make the damn movies. Stargate viewers will come up with the money one way or another for the DVDs.
Gateman2000 | August 13 @ 12:47 pmWell, that just sucks!
Sylvia | August 13 @ 1:24 pmThey certainly have enuf money to throw at SGU, and there is no evidence that the SG1 movies and SGA Season 5 DVDs did poorly, in fact they have all done quite well. So I don’t buy that argument for a minute. They are so wrapped up with lust and love for their newest baby they have no time for the many previously loyal fans of their previous shows.
A pox on their house, I say!
If I ever thought I might give SGU a chance (and I was beginning to lean that way), this has destroyed any interest I might have had.
You know, I cannot believe how angry I still am at how they cancelled SGA and have been dismissing SG1 and SGA.
What a complete load of drivel, jeus christ how much crap are they going to try an spin us. Found the money for SGU didnt, SGA going to movies YEAH RIGHT it was never gonna happen thats plain to see,this just sucks, I knew this all along but keep hoping that I might be just overeacting an might just be reading more into things an that things were stated out of context BUT NO this is just, “orr so anrgy” cant type what I really want to say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well thats it for me, no movies, no fan, goodbye
shepsgirl4ever | August 13 @ 2:24 pmMy God… the people on here are such doom and gloom about everything.
When they have a new series taking up the entire production department with a set deadline fast approaching, they just don’t have the manpower until production wraps on Season 1! In fact, it’s amazing they went ahead and wrote the scripts already! People, they will come. Be patient and enjoy that you have ANY Stargate on the horizon.
AscendedTauri | August 13 @ 3:20 pm@AscendedTauri from my point of view, I don’t have ANY Stargate on the horizon, seeing as I won’t be watching SGU.
Sylvia | August 13 @ 3:40 pm@AscendedTauri, you may have a new Stargate to look forward to to, an I hope you enjoy I really do. But spare a thought for those that dont have a new show to look forward, as SGU is about as appealing as watching paint dry this is just IMHO for me Stargate died 1 year ago with the axing of SGA, so I couldnt give a fig fart about SGU not watching an dont care. The only reason I am still even bothering with this site is for SGA movie news, nothing more nothing less, so please forgive if there is no postive comments.
Atlantis Rocks | August 13 @ 4:43 pmWTF, this is crap, another excuss, that just dosnt do it, the only word I can think of is CRAP! only want to hear about SGA an maybe SG1 as no new Stargate to revel in, yes another one also not watching.
Spaceballs | August 13 @ 5:07 pmIf they make these movies now, the DVD’s won’t come out til next fall. Who knows what the economy will be like then. Just make them. I’ll buy them. That’s 50 buck, get started.
jermdavid | August 13 @ 6:16 pm@buddybear: YES, they have actually written the scripts, BOTH of them.
What really grinds me about the ‘doom and gloom’ is it’s all I hear. Last year, every Atlantis news story was all “I hate Woolsey” “bring back Weir” “I liked Season 1″ “what happened to Carter?” “the acting is bad” “the writing is bad” “they’ve run out of ideas”
suddenly… Atlantis isn’t on and it’s like a rainbow suddenly opened up in people’s eyes about how glorious everything was.
About SGU: I’m SICK of people being all pi$$y about a show they havn’t even seen yet! And then, reading people’s comments, it’s like the don’t know the first thing about what’s really been developed for the new show.
Ya know what helps? Read Mallozzi’s blog. Even if ya don’t like the guy, it’s the BEST source for information on allll aspects of Stargate (like for instance, the NUMEROUS discussions about both these movie scripts).
My whole point is: be patient, but also be informed and reasonable.
AscendedTauri | August 13 @ 8:11 pm