Ever since 1994’s Stargate movie, producer and co-writer Dean Devlin has wanted to make a sequel for the big screen. Two of them, actually.
Now that Stargate is no longer on television and MGM (the studio that owns the rights to the franchise) is under new management — a management that so far has been focusing more on recovering the film side of the historic studio’s business — it seems like more than wishful thinking.
Talking with The Hollywood Reporter this week, Devlin sparked rumors of a new Stargate movie once again.
“Stargate has always had this empty hole,” he said. “When we made the first one, we always intended on doing part two and three, and we were prevented for years. And our hope is that we can get another chance at Stargate and tell the entire story we wanted to tell.”
That Devlin still wants to do sequels is nothing new. It’s been a year since Devlin last commented publicly on his desire to finish the original film trilogy (story).
Rather than following up Stargate with a sequel starring Kurt Russell and James Spader, MGM decided to send the concept to the small screen when Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner pitched a television series, Stargate SG-1.
A more immediate possibility is that Devlin will get a sequel to 1996’s Independence Dayoff the ground, along with fellow writer and director Roland Emmerich. That film grossed more than $817 million and helped launch or boost the careers of Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, and others. It also won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
“I can tell you that Roland and I have been working together for the first time in 11 years and we’re every excited about the idea of doing it,” Devlin told THR. “Whether or not we can make this happen, if we can get all the pieces to come together, that’s gonna be challenging. But creatively, for the very first time since we did the original, I feel we have a worthy concept, a worthy path to go.”
Though the film has not been green-lit by a studio yet, he said that they have begun the long process of talking to those who were involved with the first film more than 15 years ago.
There is no timeline set for the project, as Devlin remains busy as the executive producer of TNT’s Leverage. The crime drama premieres its fifth season this week.
Stargate, however, remains on his wish list. But with Devlin and Emmerich’s successful track record, it may be a wish MGM executives decide to grant. Stick with GateWorld for more news as it develops!
(Thanks to Calhoun, Jeffrey, Simon, Andrew, AJ, and Charles for the tip)
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If I remember right Devlin wants to tell his own story though, anything they did in SG1/SGA/SGU would not take place in his story. That said, would be great to see the SG again.
I thought that I had heard something like Independence Day had been a Stargate movie reworked. Does that ring a bell to anyone??
To be honest, I'm not thrilled of Stargate sequels that ignore everything that happened in SG1/Atlantis/Universe. I would be much more excited over an Independence Day sequel.
I don't think that Emmerich and Devlin will be given the opportunity to do anything more with Stargate. The reason a sequel to their movie has never been done is because it had a huge budget and didn't turn a profit. I fear that if they do get a hold of Stargate we would see a similar result to the 1994 outing. The chances of ever seeing new Stargate on any screen are already on life support. Giving Stargate back to Devlin and Emmerich and pulling the plug are probably one in the same.
Actually, Zach, Stargate made $199.6 million worldwide, easily making up its $55 million budget, and that doesn't account for VHS/DVD/Blu Ray sales over the years, and I'm sure the growing popularity of Stargate SG-1/Atlantis and Universe has helped it make more out of home video sales as people want to check it out.
But I do agree, I don't think that MGM will give Emmerich and Devlin a chance to revisit Stargate because it would be a very hard sell to general fans of SG-1 Atlantis and Universe and tell them "forget everything you spent watching the past 10 years." Its VERY different than Star Trek, because when Star Trek rebooted they didn't tell fans that. They said "we respect what came before us, you can still have it." I would be afraid of them doing a new Stargate movie not based off the series and people going to go see it not knowing that its not Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks or any of the other actors and being made and the movie bombing at the box office, thus digging an even deeper hole for the franchise.
I think MGM is going to wait for Networks to figure out that their model of TV is not working anymore (already there's some rumblings as many shows, not just sci-fi shows are now seeing low ratings), and bring it back.
My ideal situation would be - wait for a milestone anniversary. Give SG-1 Blu Ray treatment ala Star Trek:TOS or Star Trek:TNG, while doing that, shoot a series of movies for TV/Netflix/Amazon/ITunes/Blu Ray/DVD that would give fans proper conclusion to SG-1 /Atlantis/Universe, while at the same time using them to set up a new team and a new threat and revealing the Stargate to the public and setting up a new series.
@Browncoat1984
Good catch
While I would love to see something Stargate on the big screen (I was 12 in 1994, and wouldnt have seen it in the movies back then), I just don't think it will happen. can't forget everything I have seen in Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. Why should I? Why should anyone?
I have read that Kurt Russell is interested in playing the part again, but I don't think many people associate him with the role of Jack anymore - I know I think of Richard Dean Anderson immediately. I was angered to hear that James Spader did not like this movie and did it for a paycheck. Makes me hate Spader even more, and I can't believe he was ever able to pull off playing such a nice guy.
I enjoyed the original film when I first saw it two years ago, but I re-watched it in Feburary of this year, exactly 2 years after seeing it the first time, and I appreciated it even more. I bought the Artisan Ultimate Edition DVD last year, and the cut was much better than the MGM print that I saw - there were many improvements to it, including subtitles.
If there is going to be a movie, great, I would be in line to see it. I would just rather see one with SG-1.
I see a lot of people confusing the importance of tv-Stargate to THEM with it's importance to OTHERS. I love of tv leg of the franchise, and watched all of it air over the years. Sure, I'd love a return to that. But honestly, I'm a franchise fan. That includes the original movie, as well as Bill McCay's novels that have nothing to do with the tv series whatsoever. And the fact is, most people don't know anything about Stargate whatsoever, be it the tv franchise or the McCay novels. They vaguely remember it as that Kurt Russell movie where there's pyramids and stuff. Most of the viewership were casual viewers. Doing anything for the actual fandom would be very, very stupid from a business point of view, since we represent a staggeringly small percentage of what ultimately brings in profit. There nothing wrong with that, it's just the way it is.
However Stargate is, as a concept, bigger than one interpretation. If this next movie does well, that's the best we can hope for, and it's the best way to generate enough interest to bring it back to tv.
For me going back to the original film is a catch 22 because I would prefer the story of Stargate to continue where it left off in SGU. If a sequel to the original movie were successful, the tv version of Stargate (SGA/SG1/SGU) will be pushed aside for the other interpretation. If Devlin's sequel were unsuccessful, MGM probably wouldn't spend another cent on reviving Stargate.
Ultimately, my point is if Stargate is only going to get one more shot on screen, I don't want Devlin being the one taking aim.
I must admit, I think a Franchise has to move forward if it is to work well, going backwards is NOT the answer. Trek led the way, when one set of producers were done, new ones moved in. There has been no going back.
I have no faith in Devlin and Emmerich. Stargate's premise was its success, but their other work has been a catalogue of "see it then forget it" popcorn flicks, with clichéd storylines and stereotypical characters.
I'd rather we all have to accept no more Stargate, than risk them killing the franchise once and for all by making a botch. - Give it someone completely new who can do something new and different in concept.
As to Independence Day - some films deserve a sequel as there is more story to tell, more concept. This ain't one of them!