“The germ of Stargate Universe began as a movie by Robert Cooper, as do many of our ideas,” Wright told the magazine. “We always come up with a movie, pitch it to MGM, and they say, ‘Terrific, let’s make it a TV show.’ When we were spinning the film idea, we knew deep down that Universe was really a series because it had so much scope.”
The writers did have a long lead-time to think and re-think how they would approach a third Stargate television series.
“Oddly enough we pitched Universe a couple of years before we actually thought we were going to end up doing it,” Wright said. “We went to the Syfy Channel with the idea and it appeared to be really well-received, but then a very long time went by without us hearing anything more. At one point we thought, ‘Oh, well, it looks like it’s not going to happen,’ and then we received the series order.
“It came as a little bit of a surprise. Honestly, I expected Atlantis to go another year, and then we’d either have another year before Universe started up, or we would just wind up doing a couple of more direct-to-DVD Stargate movies. Now, however, we’re doing Universe, which, believe me, is great.”
As fans know by now, of course, the third series would take a different approach to storytelling in the same universe. Instead of a single “big bad,” the driving conflict would come from within the Destiny crew itself — and, often, within the hearts of individuals.
“Both those shows were about fighting big bad guys,” Wright said. “With Universe, our stories are much more character-based and those interactions and relationships are what drive the stories. Sometimes it’s very fundamental. A murder can take place on Universe, and that could be the whole story, where on SG-1 it could be just a story beat and an act.
Brad Wright
“That doesn’t mean this series is slow-paced or less interesting, but we do reveal less all at once.”
Wright also said that many viewers seem to be surprised that they are doing just what they said they would — making a very different kind of Stargate show.
“We set out to make a show that’s not your father’s Stargate, and I think to a lot of peoples’ surprise we’re actually doing it,” he said. “Most people probably thought, ‘Yeah, they’re saying that, but they’re going to do [the usual] Stargate.’ Sure, there are elements of Universe that I feel are the touchstones of Stargate, such as the humor and people from the here-and-now, with a 21st century sensibility and everything that comes along with that. However, this show also has a different energy, a different dynamic and a different look.
“Even the Stargate itself is different, and I think it’s the most beautiful Stargate we’ve ever had. It’s the first one that the Ancients built and it has a whole new set of limitations that will make for interesting storytelling.”
Look for more from Brad Wright in issue #32 of The Official Stargate SG-1/Atlantis/SGU Magazine! This issue also includes interviews with the women of SGU, original concept art from the show, interviews with Amanda Tapping and Jewel Staite, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the SGA episode “Vegas,” and more.
Look for it at major bookstores (such as Borders or Barnes & Noble, in the U.S.), or visit Titan Magazines to learn how you can subscribe.
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Sorry guys, I'm a loyal SG guy and always will be but that said if there was EVER a word that described SGU to a tee, "slow" would be it. I get what they were trying to do with it and I've given it a chance, but if it doesn't pick up by the end of this first season, I'm throwing in the towel. On another note, when in the hell are we getting a 'SG Atlantis' DVD movie? Come on guys, you scrapped my fav of the SG franchise and I've stuck with you despite the fact. Can I PLEASE get my SGA fix before Momoa is too big to bring back as Ronan?
Actually yes Brad, it does mean its slow-paced and not interesting. The writers ability can't cash the cheques their egos write.
@ GateHunter
There's a reason why most good books, for example, starts off slow. Without a good build-up, the rest suffer. In Star Trek Voyager they did almost everything in the pilot, and most conflicts were resolved in the next few episodes. As a result, the arc suffered heavily.
Most writers for traditional sci-fi TV shows don't realise the crippling effect writing like that has on the quality of the show. Babylon 5 is one of my all-time favourite shows because it has such a strong, cohesive storyline, one that it took two seasons to really build up.
Stargate Universe is very similar in that respect. Even down to the quality of the first season. First season is boring, but it makes you want more, and as the show goes on it does give you more.
@ijazner: I like you! :)
I miss my old SG1 team, I miss the team, I miss the feeling of people that have to trust their teammates more than themselves, I miss the family feeling. Nevertheless I think SGU is a great show. The only problem is that it is going/ already has to divide/divided the fandom. Which is sad because the SG fandom was my favourite. But that's what happens when things get too big! Remember the Roman Empire?
@Evilslayer
I agree completely.
And starting slow means you ultimately can last longer. When you rush story lines they end up making no sense looking back. For example in Atlantis after 5 years they didn't explore very much of the city, there was little archaeological discovery which ended up making the city feel small. Ultimately making the show feel small. If they had taken it slower they could have made the city much more amazing and more of a focus and really could have had more stories that weren't carbon copies of SG-1 story lines. SG-1 never had the aspect of a huge home base to explore. And Ultimately Atlantis wasted that huge asset.
I understand that people feel bummed that Atlantis is over. But rushing the first season made the show weaker than it could have been.
I'm very sorry that I have no interest in this new show. I am very nostalgic for SGA, reading this doesn't help much.
@Evilslayer you say that the first season is boring? I agree. The difference is that it doesn't make me want more. I don't care about the self absorbed characters or the soap opera plot. Ten episodes in and how many fans are still waiting for a payoff and waiting to get hooked on the show? The writers really messed up how they introduced the show and now it won't be able to recover.
@Evilslayer I agree.
First off I have been ridiculed for picking on those with negative comments (even though all I wanted is for those comments to be more tactful & constructive). Anyway I will try and just focus more on show related points from now on and not the generality of naysayers.
SGU is a love or hate kind of show and has mixed feelings throughout the Stargate fandom. To some it has killed everything that it means to be Stargate and to others its an interesting new direction which will allow the franchise to evolve (I'm almost certain that the same thing is happening with BSG fans and Caprica but that's a topic for another day).
I personally fall in the 2nd category. Like Darren said on the podcast the first half of season 1 has been like the setting of pieces on a chessboard. A slower pace early on allows better storytelling further down the road (in my opinion).
For the question on whether or not SGU is science fiction I would advice you to visit this topic on the forum: http://forum.gateworld.net/showthread.php?71444-Would-you-say-stargate-universe-is-sci-fi
Now onto points in the article;
"Oddly enough we pitched Universe a couple of years before we actually thought we were going to end up doing it"
This goes against the theory that ScFy wanted the Stargate producers to create a BSG like show for its replacement.
"Honestly, I expected Atlantis to go another year, and then we’d either have another year before Universe started up"
Actually fully expected that aswell. In my opinion Atlantis did have at least 1 year left in it. Maybe if Atlantis did get the ending that it deserved then the negative reaction to SGU would have been reduced.
"Wright also said that many viewers seem to be surprised that they are doing just what they said they would — making a very different kind of Stargate show."
To be fair they did do many announcements long before SGU's pilot detailing in length that it was going to be different. Its not like it was just all of a sudden.
Thought in my opinion the wording used to describe SGU early on was poor. It wasn't until the Comic Con trailer that my interest was sparked.
It wasn't until SGU aired that I realised how much like a comic book Stargate Atlantis was. I like Atlantis but there are vampires who wear leather that fly spaceships... It's fun but it's ridiculous.
I apologise for the length & the odd typo lol