Judge’s Rage of Angels picked up by Starz

In the four years since the cancellation of Stargate SG-1 actor Christopher Judge (“Teal’c”) has been at work on what he hoped would be his next project: Rage of Angels.  Created by Judge, it would be a series for him to produce, write, and star in (story).

The story centers on the archangel Gabriel (played by Judge), who turns away from the rules of heaven and visits Earth to find the lost angel, Michael.  Judge’s hope for the character of Lucifer?  SG-1‘s Michael Shanks (“Daniel Jackson”).

Now word comes to us that the series concept (originally optioned by MGM, which also produces Stargate) has been released by the struggling studio and picked up by Starz Media, a pay cable network in the United States, and DirecTV.  Though the Starz network is known primarily for airing blockbuster movies, it has recently followed HBO and Showtime into the world of original scripted programming, including the current series Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

It’s not certain, however, that a Starz production means that the show will air on the network.  Starz Media also produces shows for other networks, including Masters of Science Fiction (ABC) and Masters of Horror (Showtime).

Shanks told fans about the studio change at last year’s Creation convention in Vancouver, and Judge repeated it at the FACTS Convention in Belgium in October. Michael Shanks Online and Christopher Judge Online both reported the news, which was recently picked up and brought to our attention by The Official Stargate Magazine (March/April 2010).

An inquiry to Starz Media for confirmation and comment was not immediately returned.

Shanks said that Rage will be a two-hour backdoor pilot, meaning the studio could commission a series if they like what they see, or recoup some production costs by airing it as a stand-alone movie.

“The Starz network just bought it from MGM, and we just started on Tuesday [October 13],” Judge said. “Rage of Angels is about Gabriel, who comes to Earth to herald the rest of his angels to begin Armageddon.”

But don’t expect to sit down in front of the TV with the kiddos when Rage hits the screen, the actor warned.  “Stargate was a very family friendly show,” he said. “You could get together with your kids and watch it.  Rage of Angels will not be like that.  It will be on at 10 o’clock — and have a drink with you.”

Filming on the project is still a ways away, though — giving a newly shaved Judge time to regrow his hair.

“I complained so much about not having hair [on Stargate] that when they finally let me grow my hair I grew it for three or four years without cutting it,” he said. “And then I just got tired of it. It was just too much to have to comb it.  So it’s funny, because we just had this discussion with Starz Network, and they want me to have long hair.  So I’ll have to start growing it again probably for six to seven months before we start shooting.”

We’ll bring you the latest news on Rage of Angels as we hear it!  (If you hear it before us, pass it along to the news hotline!)