Teaser poster for Stargate Origins, which will tell the story of a young Catherine
The long night is nearly over, as MGM has announced today that it plans to re-open the Stargate with a new original, live-action series.
Stargate Origins will help to launch the studio’s new digital platform and fan experience, suitably called “Stargate Command.” The subscription service will be the show’s exclusive home, as well as providing fans with additional content, developed for streaming to any device — television, phone, tablet, etc.
First, the show itself: Stargate Origins is a 10-episode digital series, which will explore the untold backstory of Catherine Langford — who first appeared in the 1994 feature film and then in Stargate SG-1‘s first season. “Young Catherine embarks on an unexpected adventure to unlock the mystery of what lies beyond the Stargate in order to save Earth from unimaginable darkness.”
Catherine’s character was present as a young child at the discovery of the Stargate in Giza in 1928, and she worked throughout her life to get the Stargate program going — facing numerous obstacles and international intrigue all through the twentieth century. (Come back tomorrow for GateWorld’s special look at Catherine’s life!)
Origins will fill in more of her important story, shining light on the events leading up to SG-1’s own beginning.
Ten episodes will run for approximately 10 minutes each, made to be digital-friendly and adding up to a single story the length of a TV movie. (Assuming that Catherine’s story is completed here future seasons could, in theory, explore other corners of the Stargate universe in the manner of an anthology.)
Directing the show is Mercedes Bryce Morgan, whose experience in short-form drama includes the series Virtual Morality. Newcomers Mark Ilvedson and Justin Michael Terry are writing the show for MGM’s Digital Group and entertainment studio New Form, which will produce.The subscription-based Stargate Command platform is meant to be MGM’s new home for the franchise and its fans, offering exclusive content not only from the production of SGO but also from the franchise’s 20-year history. MGM regards the project as a way to give back to Stargate’s fans.
“We’ve been eager to revisit the Stargate franchise and create an all-new story that honors the founding mythos and gives loyal fans more mystery and adventure,” MGM’s President of Digital & New Platforms Kevin Conroy said. “We view Stargate Origins as a thank you to fans who have been keeping the spirit of the franchise alive for nearly 25 years. With the increasing popularity of digitally native content that can be streamed to any device, MGM is committed to the production of premium linear mid-form content and are proud to launch with Stargate Origins.”
News broke at the Stargate SG-1 celebration panel, taking place right now at San Diego Comic-Con (story).
Origins will be the fourth live-action, scripted series for the Stargate television franchise, which spans twenty years and more than 350 episodes. The most recent television incarnation, Stargate Universe, aired on Syfy Channel for two seasons and left the airwaves in May of 2011.
Pre-production on Stargate Origins is already underway and cameras are slated to begin rolling in August. The Stargate Command platform is aiming for a fall 2017 launch, though there is no word just yet on a premiere date for the series. (But note that the poster below shows “Coming 2017.”)
GateWorld will continue to be your first stop for all Stargate Origins news, full episode coverage, commentary, and analysis as the new show enters production! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook now to keep up with all the latest.
UPDATE: Watch the 30-second teaser video!
NEXT: Read the full press release
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View Comments
Very Excited!!!
Although, "old lady comes back in her younger days to tell the story of how she worked on founding the program"... kinda reminds me of the plot of Agent Carter.
Catherine Langforg = Peggy Carter
Stargate Command = SHIELD
Anyone else see that similarity???
There's gotta be some adventure in the story of how the Nazis got the DHD, right?
Okay.
A live-action series. That was so far beyond my wildest hopes.
But it's a webseries. Made up of 10-minute episodes. That doesn't sound like... the best of ideas.
And it's a prequel, which from the sound of it might not distinguish itself as part of either continuity (film or TV). This makes me further hesitant.
I guess all I can do for now is wait. And take deep breaths. Oh my god. It could be coming back, for real. If this does good.
But there's just so much they could screw up.
Im assuming the Stargate Command platform will be available worldwide?
nrc, "The studio also hopes to make the platform available to the fan community worldwide, though international plans are still being hammered out." We should hear more in the coming weeks.
Catherine didn't got through the Star Gate until her mission with SG1 to save Ernest. So not really sure what this great adventure she's supposed to have to find out what's behind the Star Gate before the days of SG1...??? Still, good to hear a new show is on the way, but a mini web-series is not what I want. Stargate Universe needs a closure, and Atlantis is parked outside San Francisco, that needs a closure too. A new proper T.V. series would be much more welcome.
Hooray, it's some some damnable mobile game!
That said, I have to share in the trepidation above. I don't know quite what to make of this. If it's going to be about Langford, then I guess that makes this a mid-20th century period piece? And what exactly is it going to cover? We know there's a long period of currently empty time between when the gate was discovered and opened, so there's plenty of room. But outside of politicking around the stargate, I'm not sure what else could have happened?
And since it's a prequel, it means no gate travel. So is this even an action series?
Meanwhile, Stargate Command sounds like MGM is going to pull Stargate from all of the streaming services and put it behind their own paid service. Which means we're looking at more balkanization of streaming services, and it means I would have to pony up another $5-$10/month to subscribe to MGM's service to watch Stargate?
I'm very happy that MGM once again sees some potential in the Stargate brand, and is going to do proper video content about it. But this leaves a lot of unknowns - mostly, how Stargate-y is it going to be? So getting those answered sooner than later would be nice.
How is that "better than ever"? (quoting from the opening of the official stargate podcast).
Happy that Stargate is back... But I fail to see how that's better than a prime time TV series?
jeremfg, I took that line in a cumulative sense: SG is out of dry-docks and we have SG-1, Atlantis, SGU, and now a fourth series (and digital service with behind-the-scenes content). But yeah, maybe overstated.
This is so exciting. I have been waiting forever for some kind of stargate to come out... I miss it like crazy! I hope this is MGMs way of testing the fan base so if there is enough interested then they will bring a prime time show back on tv. Maybe get even lucky to have them resurrect SG-U I notice they revived the series in a comic book format. This is baby steps everybody to get stargate back up and running in the way we all want it! #stargatefan #stargateorgins