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majorsal
majorsal
10 years ago

darren, you just broke my heart. i AM one of those fans that love the characters as much, if not more, than the actual idea of stargate. i didn’t like the movie. i enjoyed it, but when they went through the gate and it looked like just an every day desert, i lost some interest. i found the movie ‘alright’… so when i found out a new series was going to be made based on that movie, i was meh. and then i tried it (because it was on before or after my then favorite show), and was very quickly… Read more »

CorranH96
CorranH96
10 years ago

How can someone be a “franchise fan”? Just slap a “Stargate” name on something and it’s supposed to be good? I absolutely loathed and hate-watched Stargate Universe for a season and half because I hated the characters and didn’t care a bit whether they lived or died (I started to come around towards the end of the show). What difference does it make if the characters and plot of a story invoke no emotional connection to the viewer? If they’re going to produce a bunch of crappy movies with no connection to anything that has been done previously and with… Read more »

DataMeister
pixelstuff
10 years ago

A reboot is the lazy way forward.

I would much rather see new theatrical movies that acknowledge the past content and take it further (even without any returning characters) instead of restarting from the beginning. There’s not much from an effects stand point that “needs” to be redone. The original movie and the TV shows are still fairly impressive in that regard.

There should be a mandatory 40 year ban on any reboot of a popular franchise.

Sylvia
Sylvia
10 years ago

I’m not a franchise fan (very much disliked what they did with SGU) but a huge fan of SGA, Sheppard and McKay in particular. Without them back, even if just in supporting roles, I have zero interest in seeing anything further from this concept. My DVD’s and Fanfic will have to be my happy place. (no fan of the Legacy books either)

DataMeister
pixelstuff
10 years ago

Let me just add to my previous comment.

I would prefer a TV show over a theatrical movie. A TV season is nearly always better than a theatrical movie from a story telling point of view. But if a theatrical movie is all the studio is interested in, let it integrate with the previous story lines. Don’t attempt a reboot.

greendragoon
greendragoon
10 years ago

So I agree with you a little bit, but mostly a lot. I think trying to do a sequel to (wrap things up) would be a financial mistake. It would limit the potential audience only to those who watched the show. However, attempting to do a reboot based solely on the movie would be a huge mistake. While the Stargate movie wasn’t a financial flop, there’s a reason no one was itching for Stagate II. The Stargate phenomenon didn’t take off until SG-1 struck it big. When I first saw, the Stargate movie, I thought it was “pretty good.” It… Read more »

himeros
himeros
10 years ago

I don’t understand with all these negative vibes from so-called Stargate fans. You guys reject everything which aren’t another season of SG1/SGA. Keep up this attitude, and Stargate franchise will be DEAD FOREVER….

I’m very excited about the new movie. Needless to say, a blockbuster movie will b much more enjoyable than tv series production. Reboot? Bring it on!

buddyglenn
buddyglenn
10 years ago

Darren, while I came to love the TV series, primarily SG-1 & Atlantis, I have to agree with you. MGM will look at what Paramount did with “Star Trek” and they want to do it, too. “Reboot” is what Hollywood is doing these days. Ask Spiderman. Sadly, I wish it was the TV version with the cast.

halfblind79
10 years ago

I wholeheartedly agree after considering reading this opinion article. Doctor Who has only had such phenomenal success through its various reincarnations. Star Trek has been the same way. So maybe we do need a reboot, and to stop living in the past. We all loved SG-1, Atlantis, and to some degree Universe. But they’re gone now and we have to look forward for future generations to become fans and to immerse themselves in the culture and history that is Stargate no matter its version. I just hope Jar Jar Abrams doesn’t get a hand in it. He’s already ruined Star… Read more »

Tekrelm
Tekrelm
10 years ago

I pretty much entirely agree with the article. The franchise is dead right now: SG-1, Atlantis, and even Universe aren’t going to be coming back, so if a reboot is what it’ll take to get the gate spinning again, I’m all for it. Yeah, I hated Universe, so I’m not going to automatically love anything with a Stargate in it–the reboot could be really terrible for all I know, but I’d rather they make it than have the franchise disappear forever. After they learned what not to do with the franchise in SGU, there’s a great chance a reboot would… Read more »

QuinnMallory
QuinnMallory
10 years ago

If not now, Stargate will be rebooted in some form sooner than later (possibly in the distant future when no one really remember the details of the original movies nor the TV shows) given that’s basically how Hollywood works. Ideally, I still hope that TPTB of the series can use Kickstarter or something to fund some DVD movies (basically have the fans prepaid for the new movie). Without that, I’m fine with a reboot, but perhaps Stargate need fresher eyes to successfully reboot it as a franchise. I don’t exactly have high hope for the proposed reboot from little of… Read more »

hansolo0
hansolo0
10 years ago

My questions is this, If it was such a ‘failure’ on tv why are they bringing it back? I would much prefer an atlantis continuation or sgu continuation or wrap-up. It’s like you have a car and you know the battery is bad. Well, we should replace the whole engine just to be sure. Why reinvent the wheel? So as fans we can either except nothing, or a completely different stargate which will be more comparable to the original movies but won’t even have the same actors from either. Not much of a choice if you ask me. Despite all… Read more »

hansolo0
hansolo0
10 years ago

I’d also like to say shows have been resurrected in one form or another in worse situations than this (as far as renewal chances), so to say it has zero chance of return, BS!: Arrested development, Firefly, Sliders, Red Dwarf, Star trek (the original and a good example of the neilsens not knowing what they’re talking about!), jericho, Family Guy, Futurama beg to differ!

Jaqarll
Jaqarll
10 years ago

First of all it’s great that you made this little article which sparks some interesting discussion. First of all, I call myself also a franchise fan, which means that I like the movie and the series, with the exception being SGU. Being a franchise fan I didn’t like it, because it felt OUT of the franchise, it didn’t feel connected to it enough, that’s why I dislike it and that’s why I dislike the idea of a reboot. Look at Star Trek. Abrams made hugely successful reboot movies (while they technically are sequels, they ARE reboots in many ways). And… Read more »

Jaqarll
Jaqarll
10 years ago

I totally understand your point and before Into Darkness I think I would have agreed to everything you said in your nice article. The point I see is that with all the buzz around current high profile TV shows it seems rather random to reboot the Stargate franchise as a movie trilogy. I also really like the first movie, but when I think of it I really like it in combination with the show. If it was just that one movie I’d only consider it ok. My problem is: a new Stargate show is unlikely, yes, but NOT an impossibility.… Read more »

Captain Gideon
Captain Gideon
10 years ago

Darren, I must say that comparisons with the Star Trek reboot aren’t really entirely appropriate; that does still take place in the same universe. It’s a parallel timeline, but it still does tie in on some level. Enterprise still happened in the ST 2009 universe. An Emmerich reboot of Stargate would overwrite our canon completely. I know you realise this stuff already, but it is really important to remember how different SG1 was to the original movie. Like Jaqarll says, the Jaffa, the Asgard, DHDs, GDOs, the Goa’uld themselves, the Tok’ra, the Ancients, Teal’c, Carter, pretty much everything about Stargate… Read more »

missflesh
missflesh
10 years ago

I would love to see a reboot, but as most people here have said, it has to be in the same universe as the show. That’s what making me sad with this reboot, it won’t have the same base.

If they absolutely have to do something with stargate, call the movie something else and just use the stargate as a device in it and nothing more, it would be alright. Then he wouldn’t erase the series.

bluewater1
bluewater1
10 years ago

I agree totally with Darren’s assessment. I am into the concept, which presents infinite possibilities in its execution. I would be intrigued by a different approach to Stargate. A different approach is going to be required to draw in viewers and money. Without the potential of broad public interest nobody is going to touch the franchise with a ten-foot pole.

Gene
Gene
10 years ago

They aren’t talking about rebooting the franchise, they are talking about rebooting the movie. What we get will not have Jaffa, Gou’ald, Sam Carter, Atlantis, Ancients, Tok’Ra, or any of the things that the TV series have given us over the years We will get Jack O’Neil, Daniel Jackson, and the gate. Nothing else from the franchise that we all love and enjoy. Emerich has made it quite clear that he doesn’t hold the tv series as canon. Emerich wants to stand on the shoulders of the cast and crew that came after his movie to build his new franchise.… Read more »

RDA
RDA
10 years ago

they really cant do anything that hasnt been done already, or if they can then it is cgi filled s***… bring real stargate back

skadi
skadi
10 years ago

The movie never really meant anything to me. It was a so-so sci-fi movie, like many others. I had forgotten all about it when I found SG-1, and I didn’t even remember much of it when I watched the beginning of the show. To me, Stargate IS the tv shows. The movie means little to me. To be honest, I am not interested in something that continues/reboots the original movie universe. What I love in Stargate are: Tok’ra, Goa’uld, and team – in that order.

rsanchez1
rsanchez1
10 years ago

The original Stargate was not like SG-1. They only carried over Ra and Skaara, and the names of O’Neill and Daniel, both of whom became much better characters than Kurt Russel and James Spader could portray. I watch Stargate SG-1/Atlantis/Universe episodes all the time. I watch the SG-1 movies every once in a while. I can’t remember the last time I sat through all of the original Stargate movie. I think the only reason we’re into the concept of a stargate is because the TV show made it so good. If we go back to a trilogy based on the… Read more »

rsanchez1
rsanchez1
10 years ago

Seeing all the comments on SGU… Stargate could have been saved if they weren’t experimenting with Stargate in SGU’s first season. Season 2 SGU got back to Stargate roots while keeping what’s unique about SGU. Season 2’s Blockade is a great example of Stargate, but came too late unfortunately.

What is not a good example of Stargate, is the actual Stargate movie. As SG-1 shows time and time again, loyalty to a spinning ring is foolish. Loyalty to a team will carry you forward, and ignoring the TV show will sink a Stargate reboot.

maxrpg
maxrpg
10 years ago

“…Stargate is no longer in their control; it’s in the hands of executives who only know that (a) Stargate has a strong fan base, (b) Stargate has made MGM a lot of money over the years, but (c) Stargate on television seems to have been run into the ground and cancelled by its broadcaster due to steadily decreasing viewership over a 6-year period” Stargate has a strong fan base because the fans are fans of the TV show not the movie and the reason MGM made so much money from the franchise is because of loyal viewers of the TV… Read more »

kenna
kenna
10 years ago

I will never understand the SGU hate machine. The show had real drama, real tension and fantastic acting, especially by Robert Carlyle. I really can’t understand why people don’t like SGU. It boggles my mind. I love the quirky antics of O’Neill, Jackson, Sheppard & McKay as much as anyone. But it had been done, over and over again. SGU was a refreshing take on the franchise. Why not give the sci fi element a little realism? Why not have aliens on a show that don’t speak english for a change? Why not break away from the SG-1/SGA mold and… Read more »

Thunderbird 2
Thunderbird 2
10 years ago

@Darren – A grim realist indeed. I unfortunately have to agree with you. I have no interest in a Stargate reboot myself. I am an SG1 fan. I like Atlantis. However this is not about fandom, itas about making money. The James Bond reboot worked. The Batman reboot (Lord knows why) worked. The Star Trek reboot unfortunately, also worked, in all cases in spite of fans not because of them. = All made a ridiculous amount of money and spawned sequels as well as their own fan bases.(Most of the films in question had little to no character development, ropey… Read more »

Nekomajin
10 years ago

I don’t think a reboot is a good idea. It’s not the Spiderman franchise which gets rebooted and nothing really changes. It has the same characters, the same plot lines, the same feeling. But the Stargate franchise is not the movie. It is what came after the movie. It’s not the spinning ring. It’s the mythology that Wright, Cooper, Mallozzi and the others have created. Emmerich has almost nothing to do with it. If these are the only two choices, I rather want no more Stargate ever. Not because of revenge or anger or something similar. I just don’t want… Read more »

ReaperLord22
ReaperLord22
10 years ago

Gave us the new series episodes like universe atlantis sg1 plenty of story to tell. Or start kickstarter campaing to save this awesome show we will support it!!!

ReaperLord22
ReaperLord22
10 years ago

And for the love of good dont chose SCIFI channel!

lloydm63
lloydm63
10 years ago

Just some food for thought, all this “rage aginst the man” to quote Sheppard is fruitless, and as Weir puts it at the “end of the Day” nothing really changes. One more tidbit of info, i truely believe that Hollywood and other Media Marketing entities are controlled by “Invastion of the Body snathers” in that Sci Fi has been all but uterly destroyed in all venues be that movies or television. And if i did not know have not seen the signs, its as if all science fiction is being eliminated so that the human race is being force feed… Read more »

majorsal
majorsal
10 years ago

gene said: “The TV series made the franchise what it is, and to ignore that is very stupid on a staggering level.”

hell yes!!

Valcan Krull
Valcan Krull
10 years ago

@kenna Thank you. I’m glad to hear a similar opinion out there. I agree with you on being completely baffled by SGU hate. SG1 is still my favorite but SGU was close behind. I loved the real drama and torment of the SGU crew. I loved that they were involved in something so different, mysterious, and special. SGA in the end was mindless and all of the focus was on Sheppard and McKay. I thought Sheppard was great but McKay was always better on SG1 than SGA. All of the other SGA characters became hollow shells or were written off… Read more »

Stoneboy
Stoneboy
10 years ago

I can´t imagine seeing Stargate in the cinema without Teal´c, Sam and some ancient technology going berserk (man, I would go to see Lost City on the big screen any day of the week). But as many of you are saying, and I agree, there is no chance that we will ever see SG-1/A/U ever again. But really, if I would have to choose between Stargate II without humor and almost everything that I love about stargate (not even the mountain would be the same) and nothing, I would probably choose nothing. Or something with puppets, that almost always works… Read more »

worldmaker
10 years ago

Okay, let’s deal with this challenge. 1) I’ve drawn up a concept for a new “reboot” Stargate series. Five seasons, telling one underlying story. 2) I do NOT have the credibility with the major studios to promote this at present. 3) My past background suggests I may have a way, after the first round of money is raised, to finance the entire series, all 100+ episodes, using new business and economic models (I spent over a decade in finance and created some unique business models to reduce risk in business transactions). 4) To obtain the credibility in the next couple… Read more »

flickshtain
flickshtain
10 years ago

There is no equally successful concept, other than Stargate. It can not be denied. Therefore, all other arguments are meaningless. It is very good that there is no indifferent fans. But the disagreement between us, only harms those who have the ability and desire to continue the franchise. Stay positive.

alexmcpherson
alexmcpherson
10 years ago

I Loved SG-1. I liked SGA. And I meh/hey this is good/I love this SGU. The concept of there being a portal for instant travel to another planet/galaxy, etc… it doesn’t suit being solely a movie or movie franchise. That’s why MGM took it to TV instead. And on TV, it broke records. Or one record – it ran longer than the X-Files, while in the same year, just later, Smallville then broke that same record (most episodes). and don’t forget, for three years, SG-1 was being produced alongside SG-A… by the same team, I think. going from 22 episodes… Read more »

vanlas
vanlas
10 years ago

I can understand a movie proposal and moving away from existing characters. I’ve followed Stargate from the beginning. I love the world, the mythology, the characters, really everything about the franchise. As much as I adore the existing characters. I do not agree with a reboot. I believe a movie that expands the existing universe established by the shows, if executed correctly can draw in fresh audiences while maintaining the franchise universe that has been so amazingly developed over the years. Personally, I think its way too soon for a complete reboot, I personally can’t see myself watching a retelling… Read more »

jasondhsd
jasondhsd
10 years ago

I wouldn’t mind seeing Devlin’s original vision come to fruition it’s not going to change the 17 yrs of Stargate everyone loves, that will always be there and I hope someday continued. Just think of this new Stargate as an vastly alternate universe of Stargate SG-1, SGA, SGU. It would be cool if Devlin at least gave a nod to the series…like have his version of O’Neil make a joke about spelling his name with ONE L.

Jedi_Master_Bra'tac
Jedi_Master_Bra'tac
10 years ago

tbh, I’m a fan first and foremost of the world created through SG1 and SGA, and not simply the concept of the Stargate device itself. I’m not completely oppossed to a reboot, but I’d rather let the franchise die and RIP than let Devlin/Emmerich get their hands on it again. Their previous work just makes me think the movies will be bad, and it will soil the memory of SG1 (not mine but society’s), and ofc they won’t use any SG1/SGA material.

flickshtain
flickshtain
10 years ago

Why are you so angry at Devlin and Emmerich? These people can revive Stargate! We all have ups and downs. But the return of the franchise outweighs any arguments! And you do not give them a chance to prove that they are able to do this? I find it very strange.

grif
grif
10 years ago

it would not be saving it. it would be starting it over.

medegno51
medegno51
10 years ago

Darren, I am with you on this reboot thing… up to a point. As I’ve said earlier on another thread dealing with Emmerich, I find the idea of a Stargate reboot/restart quite intriguing. I, too, am what you’d call a ‘franchise fan’… but, I have accepted the fact that it is a new era over at MGM, and the new studio bean-counters are only interested in one thing: What Will Make Us Piles of Money. So, I agree with you that a reboot may be the very (and only) thing that pulls Stargate out of a fast-approaching obsolescence. That SAID,… Read more »

canumaso
canumaso
10 years ago

Darren, your points are valid and certainly make sense from the “grim realism” point of view, but one can also look at it as the final nail in the coffin. There’s no way the Stargate reboot would make as much money as the Trek reboot, first of all, and disappointing box office results would eliminate any possibility of a future SG TV series, but even if it is a success, Devlin/Emmerich would disavow everything that ever happened in the series. I suspect they’ve probably never even watched it. While the Star Trek reboot was disappointing in the way that it’s… Read more »

mare96po
mare96po
10 years ago

I just hope it will countinue a story,i hope it will not just jump out some new story that cant’t be linked with anything…

edmistenr
edmistenr
10 years ago

I think a reboot could be ok…. But not going back to the start. I would suggest a reboot more like Star Trek renegades is doing….going ahead into the future. Maybe a storyline after the stargate was revealed and after some major events had happened….. Or a look back on the history of the stargaze reveal and how the planet dealt with that… Various governments, etc. how did other planets respond….just seems like a mistake to rewrite everything that made the franchise so popular in the first place. Even star trek kept the characters the same in their reboot, just… Read more »

jonytk
10 years ago

It’s true, maybe a new director can give a new fresh look to the concept. In the 1st episode of SGU its painfully to see how they talk about the SG-1 in 5 minutes at superspeed like we already know everything. For me, a fan, its fine, but to engage new people into the series was awfull. I know they wanted to engage new people with a “Lost” style of storytelling but they screw up there.

jonytk
10 years ago

So, a new director, writers etc its needed, ones that are bold enought to do a reebot ala Star-trek and make us like new characters, unknown actors in 30 minutes. I’m thinking Luc besson for example, beautifull scenery, or someone used to sci-fi but that knows how not to bore the average non-geeky person. (althought i love the techical talk, rodney mckay etc. it just doesn’t work on a movie.)

jonytk
10 years ago

canumasu: you said it, they can just start the movie with some intriguing event-change in egypt many years ago that alters the whole timeline, and makes that, for example, the Stargate is not found until, for example, 2050. So now we got a completely different saga, not in the present with new characters in a slightly futuristic world.