Flanigan admits he feels there was never a "serious level of intent" in making an Atlantis-based film.
With news coming in last week that MGM (the studio that owns the Stargate TV franchise) has completed its bankruptcy restructuring and securing $500 million in new financing (story), the next big question is just which of Stargate‘s three series will get attention first — and in what medium.
In a new Q&A with fans on his blog, executive producer Joseph Mallozzi offers his take on where things currently stand for the future of Stargate Universe, the Atlantis movie, and beyond.
Mallozzi was clear that the end of SGU does not mean that time and money has now been freed up to put the Atlantis film into production. Mallozzi co-wrote the script for Stargate: Extinction with Paul Mullie after the movie was first announced following SGA‘s cancellation in 2008.
“I’m sorry to say but the cancellation puts the brakes on whatever progress the SGA movie had made in the past month, shelving it indefinitely,” he said. “… Contrary to what some may think, the cancellation of SGU is very bad news for those looking forward to an Atlantis movie.”
Mallozzi didn’t speak to the next planned movie for the SG-1 team, tentatively titled Stargate: Revolution. Executive producer Brad Wright had reportedly been working on securing the go-ahead for that film before MGM entered bankruptcy this fall.
He also said that a fourth television series in the franchise is not on the table at this point. “A new Stargate series isn’t even being considered,” he said. “… There are no plans to create or move forward on a new series. We love the one we have now.”
That, of course, means that the producers still hope to find a way to finish SGU‘s storyline. Mallozzi echoed Wright’s sentiments on this point (story). “All options are being considered at this point, but a third season would be ideal,” Mallozzi said. “We’re investigating all possible avenues.”
The Destiny sets will remain standing until all avenues have been exhausted, he said.
He said that, while the show’s ratings this season haven’t been good, the cancellation decision was surprising in its abruptness. “Those early Season Two ratings were admittedly a downer. The move to Tuesday night was not good for us (and, speaking to the franchise as a whole, the move from summer to fall did us no favors either) and I firmly believe that time-shifted viewing and internet downloads have bled off a significant portion of our younger, tech-savvy audience.
“Still, we held out hope and, as production continued on Season Two, positive word from various places gave us hope that the show would come back for, at the very least, a third and final season (much the same way Battlestar did). Many of us were shocked by the abruptness of the cancellation decision.”
Read the full Q&A at Joseph Mallozzi’s blog. Stargate Universe returns with its final 10 episodes on Syfy this spring.
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I kept saying it over and over again cause I knew this would be the case. SG:U was a big revenue flow for the producers and for MGM. Now, without that revenue, the ability to try and make all those Stargate movies is going down the drain. Who knows now if there's even the possibility of making the SG-1 movie now but I wouldn't be surprised if it never seens the light of day. I would, however be extremely sad and disappointed as I am now...just not at all surprised.
Thats how it sounded to me as well. A very sad day for Stargate. 16 years of history.
THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE CANCELED ATLANTIS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!!!! Look what you have done now. Atlantis was a much better show, had an established fan base, cheaper to make and had better ratings than SGU! Now because of their abysmal decision we are left with nothing.
I don't think that either Mallozzi or Wright ever had any intention of making either movie. Now that their "baby" is dead, all they're interested in is revenge. So, they're taking all their toys and going home so that no one can play with them.
Stargate will never die! ;)
And now the Atlantis fanatics who were boycotting SGU get a taste of their own medicine. Well done boys.
I've watched Stargate from the very start and loved every minute of it. Stargate Universe was very different from the other two, but still a great show. Whilst it would be great to get the two scheduled films AND the third season of SGU, I'll take whatever we can get at this point. If we can get even one of the films or some form of closure for Stargate Universe, then I'll be happy!
@kvasirdor
For the majority of SG1 and SGA fans, the franchise ended with SGA's cancellation. Why should we watch a show that we don't like and has none of the qualities of the previous shows that made us want to tune each week. Would you watch a show you didn't like? Stop blaming us for stargate's downfall. Blame TPTB for making the wrong decisions!!
It was already clear before SGU even started, that a SGA movie would never be made. So nothing really changed.
I also don't believe that there will be a SG1 movie. Too much time has past. It is too late for it.
And SGU won't get a 3rd season or a movie, because it was a huge failure. From a business point of view it just doesn't make any sense to invest in a failed series. The ratings were simply horrible.
So in short, I think SG1, SGA and SGU are dead. We won't see anymore of them on TV.
I just hope that the Stargate franchise will be revived sometime in the future with new PTB with fresh ideas.
SG1 was great, Atlantis may have been better. SGU was/is terrible. I only watched it out of loyalty to the franchise. But it's like they can't take a hint, these guys. Everyone wants to know where the SGA movie is. They don't want more SGU. Take a hint!