Stargate SG-1 movies coming to DVD

What’s the future of Stargate SG-1? Fans have been wondering and rumors have been flying for weeks since the long-running SCI FI Channel series was cancelled in August (story). Now, at least the first part of that answer is here.

MGM has given a green light for the show’s creators to produce two direct-to-DVD movies based on SG-1. Executive producer Brad Wright let TV Guide in on the news this week.

“It’s the climax of the Ori story line,” Wright said of the first film. The movie will tie up the loose ends from the show’s tenth season, which is expected to conclude its U.S. television run in June. The film will be written and directed by current SG-1 executive producer and show-runner Robert C. Cooper.

The SG-1 cast is not signed for the movies yet, but are said to be “very eager” to continue.

Wright will pen the second film, which will involve time travel.

The producers have previously expressed a desire to set up a third Stargate television series with a film — but it isn’t confirmed yet whether or not this second movie will do just that.

The studio is targetting a fall 2007 release for both projects — just a few months after Stargate SG-1 ends its historic, 10-year run on cable television.

It’s entirely possible that the movies will also be aired on television — something SCI FI commonly does with direct-to-DVD movies.

“They’re not big-budget [films] by any definition, but for us it’s pretty good,” Wright told TV Guide. “As we’ve proven over the years, just give us little more money and we can make pretty good television, or DVDs.”

“There’s a sense of an era for us ending,” he said, “but at the same time, we’re all positive because of the prospect of continuing forward with movies and the introduction next year of Stargate Worlds, a massive multiplayer online game.”

Season Ten of Stargate SG-1 resumes with all-new episodes in March on SCI FI Channel.

(Thanks to RJ, Mike from Virginia, elyse, David Molinarolo, Morjana, Stuart “TheCap” Davies, Chris, Denise, Michael Sacal, Dan S., Becca, Ian Mullen, and R Stumpf for the tip)