Gatecon Live: What To Expect From This Weekend’s Big Stargate Convention

Gatecon: The Invasion starts today! The 3-day Stargate fan convention has assembled hundreds of international fans plus cast and crew to celebrate more than 20 years of Stargate storytelling.

As nearly 400 convention-goers assemble at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel today, GateWorld is on site to bring you full coverage of all the goings-on. If you are in Vancouver for the event, be sure to stop us and say hello!

But if you aren’t, bookmark GateWorld for ongoing coverage and breaking news all weekend long. (You can also follow us on Twitter.)

In the meantime here’s everything you need to know about the event, regardless of whether you are attending in person or just tuning in to GateWorld and Stargate Command for our coverage.

THE GUESTS

As previously reported the line-up of special guests for Gatecon is incredible, bolstered by the fact that many of Stargate’s former cast and crew are Vancouver natives. At last tally 44 actors, producers, and other behind-the-scenes talent will be on hand.

Six of Stargate’s main cast members headline the celebration: Stargate SG-1‘s Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, and Teryl Rothery; plus Stargate Atlantis‘s Paul McGillion and Rainbow Sun Francks. Series co-creator Brad Wright and long-time director Martin Wood will also make appearances.

There are dozens of other fan favorites here from Friday to Sunday — actors and novelists, visual effects artists and comic book writers, props geeks and the Actual Apophis. Check out the complete roster!

Each guest has a particular schedule, of course. Many will make stage appearances — many in pairs or in groups that are sure to be entertaining. And many will be available for autograph sessions and photo ops with the fans.

THE SCHEDULE

Panels will be rolling throughout much of the day in the Britannia A+B ballroom. Photo ops and autographs will happen elsewhere at designated hours. There’s a dealers room, and MGM will host a dedicated Stargate Command Lounge where folks can hang out and watch classic episodes.

Some specific events you might want to be aware of:

FRIDAY:
Christopher Judge appears
Evening Banquet

SATURDAY:
Brad Wright is here!
Martin Wood
Stargate Command & GateWorld on stage!
Charity Auction

SUNDAY:
Amanda Tapping on stage
Michael Shanks & Lexa Doig together!

Stargate Command has also announced that they will be live-streaming some panels throughout this weekend.

Gatecon ends Monday with an optional locations tour around the Vancouver area, giving fans a chance to see many a familiar site featured on the TV shows over the years.

THE NEWS?

We’re hoping for some sort of news about Stargate’s future to be announced during the convention. Just when could that take place? While we can’t say for certain, Saturday seems like a good day to watch, with Stargate Command’s Kieran Dickson scheduled to appear on stage.

The studio has already detailed its plans for the second year of the Stargate Command streaming service, including a new All-Access Pass, a new season of “Dialing Home,” a merchandise storefront, and more original storytelling. (The service will also soon be available in more countries.)

So while a full television series may or may not be in the cards yet, we could get word this weekend about future projects — including Stargate’s next live-action story. The fact that the feature cut of 2018’s Web series was renamed Stargate Origins: Catherine seems to suggest that MGM has every intention of telling more Origins stories.

We should also note that the anthology nature of Stargate Origins means that a second season might be very different than the first. It could have a bigger budget; it might involve different creative talent behind the scenes; and it could be a story that ties into SG-1 rather than the 1994 feature film. (That’s certainly the direction Christopher Judge would like to go.)

GATEWORLD IS ON SITE

We’re in Vancouver, too! GateWorld has a team on site at the convention to celebrate Stargate, record some brand new interviews, and bring you all the news as it breaks from the stage.

By Monday your intrepid editor will be speeding his way home, working over the days and weeks ahead to deliver you photo galleries, videos, and brand new interviews. We’ll talk about the news announcements on the GateWorld Podcast (so subscribe now) and load up GateWorld’s new YouTube channel with exclusive video.