Robert Carlyle (Gary He / SCI FI Channel)
Beware of minor SPOILERS for the first six episodes of Stargate Universe in this report.
Stargate Universe will be less about alien encounters and more about human survival, according to actor Robert Carlyle (“Dr. Nicholas Rush”). In a new interview with io9, Carlyle offered some thoughts on the tone of the third Stargate series.
“What makes this Stargate different from the previous shows in the franchise is, it’s a lot darker than the other ones,” the actor said. “This has less to do with interaction with an alien race and more about survival on the ship itself.”
The series premiere will find Dr. Rush and a group of scientists and military personnel trapped on board the Destiny, a ship created millions of years ago by the Ancients and set on a preprogrammed (and unalterable) course through many galaxies.
“No one was ever meant to be there,” he said. “The team that is there is ill-equipped to be there. So the first six or seven episodes are actually all called ‘Air,’ ‘Fire,’ ‘Water’ and ‘Earth’ because it’s about surviving amongst that. It’s more drama-based and more character-driven.”
And Carlyle’s own character won’t be another noble leader, but a man with his own, hidden agenda. “The others think that he’s maybe losing it,” he hinted. “But he does things for a reason.”
In a show with such a tone, of course, don’t expect everyone to survive as one big, happy family. In addition to the conflict between the men and women on the ship, death will certainly be present.
“In the first three hours there are three deaths,” Carlyle told the site. “It’s very heavy. There’s a suicide by episode six, as well. Because these people are in the far reaches of the universe, never to come home.”
Head over to io9 to read the full interview, in which Carlyle also talks about working with his new fellow cast members, including David Blue (“Eli Wallace”). Also check out a few more comments from Carlyle’s visit to Monday’s SCI FI Channel upfront presentation at TVGuide.com.
Stargate Universe is now filming, aiming for an October premiere on SCI FI Channel.
(Thanks to John and Morjana for the tip)
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so this show started out sounding like stargate: voyager. and now sounds like Stargate: Galactica. Hehe. But I'm pretty sure I'd still love it as much as I love SG1 and Atlantis. :)
ROTGLMAO, See the poll on the right -->? I like the person who added "Nobody should be safe" or everyone should die..
Sounds interesting. So what again justified the creators in putting the Stargate part of its title before Universe. Since the idea seems to be to create pretty much an entirely new show that has little or nothing to do with the Stargate. Not to mention it is not even suppose to be the same atmosphere as the other two series.
Wow, constant death ,looks like they are speeding away from Stargates message of hope faster then the destiny can take them. I really expect this to become BSG 2 before everythings said and done. This show won't be any fun at all Im afraid.
Death after death after death, backstabbing plots and personal agenda. Just the things why I dropped BSG. Sorry, but RL is depressing enough for me to watch it on TV too. I miss the good old times when sci-fi was about exploring, adventure and having fun :(
Yeah, I don't think I need to be depressed by a show when real life is bad enough.
Sounds like to much death. And a suicide? It really sound to dark to be stargate.
This sounds awesome. The best thing i've heard about SGU yet. The reasen I started despiseing SGA is because it became way too light hearted. I like my series to be depressing.
omg, stargate gone emo. O.o
The problem with killing off characters is that who ever you kill off is going to be someones favorite character. Lets be honest here stargate fans more than any other show have reacted badly to characters been kill of just look at how they reacted to Michael Shanks leaving in SG-1 S6 or Torri Higginson being replaced in Atlantis. Regardless of the comments above saying this is good for SGU that no one is safe. history for this franchise says otherwise.
I think what made the SG franchise a success was it lightheartedness. A darker show may do well but i do not think amongst the existing fans, it might get new fans that are more into shows like Battlestar Galactica.