Stargate SG-1: "2010"
“The secret needs to get out.”
Amazon is buying MGM, and as we draw near the end of 2021 it seems inevitable that the Stargate franchise will return in some way, shape, or form. But will it scrap and reboot the sci-fi universe that is beloved the world over? Or will the next Stargate series continue the established continuity that was built over 17 seasons and more than 350 episodes?
Stargate SG-1, Atlantis, and Universe co-creator Brad Wright himself is ready to return to the world he helped to create, should Amazon executives give him the green light. And he is ready to push the story of the Stargate program into completely new territory.
In Wright’s current pitch for a fourth live-action series, the Stargate would be public knowledge.
“I think the trick to anything would be that it’s high time the world found out about the Stargate program, for better or for worse,” Wright told Syfy Wire. “Keeping all of that technology from the world at a time when we could really use it, at a time when climate change is a genuine threat, at a time when there was a pandemic that we sure could have used a fix for, for example. The world needs to find out.
“The secret needs to get out, especially since we have come so far and will have come so far after another 11 or 12 years.”
By the time the franchise went off the air in 2011, Earth had acquired a fleet of space ships, hyperspace engines, numerous alien weapons and technologies, matter-energy transporters, databases spanning centuries of knowledge from both the Lanteans and the Asgard … all still a secret from the public, despite multiple nations being read in and numerous private contractors receiving access to classified material from the S.G.C.’s offworld operations.
Wright’s pitch for a new show currently has a pilot script completed. That appears to be waiting for Amazon’s acquisition of MGM to be completed — or at least further down the tracks — before a decision is made. Amazon, at least, is still keeping its cards close to the vest.
Revealing the Stargate to the public would be a game-changing event, which the producers always held back during the franchise’s 14-year television run (1997-2011). Wright told us during the shows’ production that disclosure was such a big idea for this universe that it deserved to be the subject of a new Stargate film. Ultimately Wright intended to finally cross that threshold in his planned direct-to-DVD movie, Stargate: Revolution, which was to tell a Jack O’Neill-centric story. After three years in limbo that project was scrapped in 2011, after the bottom fell out of the DVD market — and MGM had gone through bankruptcy, and was under new management.
So a fourth TV series in which all of humankind is now aware of the Stargate, interstellar travel, advanced technologies … even alien species? Truly it would be a “next generation” for storytelling in the Stargate universe.
The Stargate franchise has been off the air for more than a decade, excepting only the low-budget Web series Stargate Origins (2018). Wright was not involved in that production, which took most of its cues from the 1994 Stargate feature film rather than from the television canon.
News first broke in January of 2019 that Wright was in active conversation with MGM about creating some kind of new Stargate project. When they were ready to go out and pitch it to potential broadcast and streaming homes in 2020, the endeavor was iced by the COVID-19 pandemic (which caused all film and television production to grind to a halt).
“I wrote a pilot for [MGM] and the timing could not have been worse in terms of delivery,” Wright recently told Bleeding Cool, “because the pandemic hit pretty much as I was typing the end.”
Stargate’s fourth series went back onto the shelf, as studios around the world struggled to figure out how to restart film and television production.
Then, in May of 2021, Amazon announced that it is buying up Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and all of its assets — including the Stargate franchise.
That news creates all sorts of new possibilities for the Stargate franchise, once the deal is completed. But will Amazon want to produce Wright’s script … or go back to the drawing board?
Brad Wright’s plans for a fourth live-action Stargate series still might come to fruition, though the news of Amazon’s $8.45 billion acquisition of MGM seems to have put the whole thing on the back-burner at the studio. Assuming the companies can obtain approval from federal regulatory agencies, the deal will not close before the first part of 2022.
Wright, for his part, hopes that Stargate’s new owners will honor what has come before as they look to inject new life into the brand.
“My goal was to create something that was new that also honored the existing universe, that lived in the canon of SG-1, Atlantis, and Universe, and therefore included some of those characters,” Wright told Syfy Wire. “Bring in a new guard? Absolutely. But not at the expense of the pre-existing characters, who I think would still be very much on their game and still firing on all cylinders.”
As we have previously reported, Wright’s plans include the return of several fan-favorite characters from Stargate’s previous shows. Michael Shanks (“Daniel Jackson”) and Ben Browder (“Cameron Mitchell”) are in the pilot script, along with Amanda Tapping — now promoted to General Samantha Carter.
“Of course there would be a General Carter,” Wright told Syfy Wire. “Why wouldn’t there be? Who else would run the whole shebang other than her?”
These characters would probably make only the occasional guest appearance, with the show following a new team. He hinted earlier this year that his script may include something akin to a “Stargate Academy,” where beloved characters from past shows might be serving — though it would not by any means be limited to that setting.
He also suggested that former Stargate SG-1 leading man Richard Dean Anderson (“Jack O’Neill”) would have a part to play, too. Anderson made a surprise cameo appearance in The Companion’s Stargate A.I. table reading last week, which Wright helped to spearhead.
Wright appears hopeful that, whether or not it’s his pitch, Amazon will bring Stargate back in some form. “I can’t imagine Amazon not doing something with the franchise,” he said, “or empowering MGM to do something with the franchise for [them]. … There’s so much mythology that we covered but there’s so many stories yet to be told and so many new places yet to be visited. And I think it would be fun to do that.”
Given Amazon’s intention to make use of MGM’s valuable intellectual property, it seems only a matter of time before Stargate is back on the small screen in some form. But will it be Brad Wright’s fourth series, or something completely different? Keep your browser locked on GateWorld for the latest developments.
On Twitter: @bradtravelers
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View Comments
I think it would be neat if they began the new show in say 2011 or 2012, showed the reveal the in first episode and the impact and then at the end of the episode skip 10 years later to where we are now. That way the audience doesn't feel like it's missing out on the reveal and I think it would make for a decent story
Excelent ci-fi series! All Stargate series.
I hope the series to continue.
I'm telling you, they're going to destroy the series. They already started to in Universe. It will be even worse this time around. They will turn it into a woke, progressive **** show. Already Brad talking about climate change. Lol. It's going to suck.
He is right though. I am a huge Stargate fan myself and I would love to see new series! But not at this cost... I really doubt the quality would be even remotely comparable to SG1/Atlantis. With all the things going on in these times, all the political "corectness", it would be really a ****show, and thats not what I would want Stargate to be. Yeah sounds like global warming is the perfect reason and threat for Tauri to reveal the gate lol
Of course I want Stargate! But not if they're going to make it progressive and leftist. That's why I loved the original series and Atlantis. They left out politics and progressivism. That changed with Universe, and it will get worse.
I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt but I’m worried too.
They really didn't - it actually had a slight conservative slant which is almost unheard of in sci-fi (the only other exception I can think of being Battlestar Galactica). Yes, there were some liberal ideas slipped in now and again, but the overall message was very much anti-liberal and it was a far better show for it.
I would like to say, I'm NOT against liberal themes in entertainment media. And series like Babylon 5, Star Wars, Star Trek, have always had strong liberal themes and elements. Mostly the bad writing is what kills it for me these days. On this issue, however, I will 100% agree, AS an Independent liberal, Stargate has even less grounds for what critics hate and call "woke preaching" than the other shows. It's just not made for liberal themes that way and is surprisingly void of politics, you're right, other than shadowy Earth stuff that doesn't take a side between either political alignment. They even navigated around all the controversies of the Bush administration, for cryin' out loud! So if they made it more topical and politically correct, I'm sorry, they have EARNED their backlash, and we need to fight strong and HARD, liberals AND conservatives, against the revisionists who try to spin that Stargate has a history of liberalism. It doesn't. I can think of no better example than "Emancipation." Banned from syndication because it was too heavy-handed with leftist politics. Or "Spirits," which isn't a very memorable episode. Those, to me, are proof Wokegate is a bad idea. And I ain't a conservative. But I'm gonna call it as I see it.
> They left out politics...
They did not leave out politics. The whole franchise involved much politics. In fact, Stargate SG-1 helped to promote the idea of a shadow government, which plays into the narratives of conspiracy minded groups who wish to overthrow the governments of the USA and Canada. Hence, I imagine that is why many far-right crackpots liked the series, as it often aligned with their political fantasies and violent ways.
That said, if the Stargate franchise wants to continue with a woke agenda, then so be it, as I support such freedom. Yet if they do, then I likely won't watch it, as I find such propaganda tedious thus boring.
What was so "woke" and "progressive" about SGU? And what is "woke" about discussing climate change?
It's not so much that climate change is "woke." It is how it is handled. The climate alarmism. The doomsday predictions continue after 50 years of them not coming to fruition. It is the fact that it will be preached week after week.
If you really think that about climate change you must be deluded, ignorant or stupid. Either way it’s people like you that are going to make the human race extinct. Oh yeah and before we all die I am definitely hoping for more Stargate. I need something good to fill the void left by the death of Star Trek!.
Oh Lord! Save us from the "in 12 years..." fruitcakes!
WOW! Have you read the script? Did you see something in the script proving that it is woke? NO! None of us know what is it the script. Don't be telling us what is going to happen. You and I and those that are reading this have zero, zip, dung!!!
It's at Amazon!!! The End!!!!
This is exactly what @Matt is talking about. Climate Change is a religion not science.
Stargate itself walked the middle line on climate change. That it's not just a magic switch you can flip, and how it's so arrogant to think we can "save the planet." The planet's always going to be here no matter what. No, the important thing is SAVING LIVES. And life isn't just a numbers game, it's the quality of that life that matters.
In the last 50 years we have been adopting policies to lower the effects of climate change. we have reduced emissions but not enough
It's 50 years since climate change was first seen. Now time is running out | Richard Wiles | The Guardian
No matter what we do as long as other countries violate natural laws by pouring toxic chemicals in air n ground water it's hopeless. Stop telling Americans we need to do more! Tell it to other countries. Stop with the bs.
Let's just hope they don't try to make it overly political.
SGU wasnt a woke show in any way except Wray to be lesbian and a couople of moments expanding her character.
OFC there is a possibility of this but IF Brad and Co are on board im 100% calm about the result.
Climate change is not woke at all. There was a great episode of SGA on the issue, where they had tried cooling the Earth locally, and of course something went wrong.
Universe actually wasn't terrible.... it just shouldn't have been the ONLY Stargate show on at the time - a lot of us watch SG for an "adventure of the week" - having a sidestory like SGU though would be cool as long as it wasn't being looked at as a replacement (which it was)
SGU wasn’t completely terrible, but it is by far the worse in the series. Whilst it may have been more successful if it ran alongside SGA, it still would have been the weak link. A minority try to play up how great SGU supposedly was, but if it was truly a great show, it wouldn’t have flopped the way it did.
I hope a new SG series draws more inspiration from SG1 and SGA than SGU.
I like sgu . The story is different. It was needed. I always watch it. Bring it back on.
Dealing with current and imminent crisis while attempting to entertain and inform audiences is a pillar of popular and current media. Why not entertain and educate at the same time? Stargate may be a fantasy but morality and common sense will prevail. And for you I'm sure.....that is going to suck.
It's called escapism!!! Being lectured on every show that's on tv is just getting old!!
Yep
Please, please don’t do a Star Trek discovery woke, Mary Sue piece of crap. Pay attention to The Orville. Don’t pander to a really small but loud minority and just make good stories.
This idea doesn’t sound promising. The good thing about stargate is allows you to escape into a seperate reality (so why reveal it to the world?) and seems like it’ll inevitably have a political bent.
My preference would be for them to reboot Atlantis. They didn’t really tie up the loose ends like they did with SG-1.
Although that’s also the case with universe, no one wants to revisit that disaster.
True
Why reboot and not a continuation ? No reboot at all. Never please.
Sorry, that is what I meant. They should pick up where they left off and shoot season 6 - same plot, actors, etc.
I wouldn't mind a "political bent" as long as it matches what's going on in the world. So if it came out today, I'd expect the leadership of the SGC to have a liberal attitude and priorities - and if the Republicans were running the country I'd expect the show to change to suit that and not just badmouth Republicans all day long. Sadly, with a far-left showrunner likely and Amazon of all people owning it, I don't expect the creators of the next series to be mature enough to handle such a thing.
Stargate has always been apolitical. I think this one of the reasons I enjoy shows from the 1990s/2000s. They rarely try to push political or social narratives (and when they did it was usually quite subtle). It seems that a lot of people are getting tired of the over-politicalization of television series. If they go ahead, I hope the writers show restraint and just give us simple and unadulterated Stargate.
The extent of politics in Stargate was usually in relation to ethical dilemmas, such as whether the ends justify the means. That’s how it should be.
When is the new stargate coming ? Its almost 2022. They may never have a new series?
Amazon recently agreed to purchase MGM. It takes months for a deal like that to close and until then they aren't even able to plan on the Amazon side, and the MGM side has no real incentive to do so since Amazon might cancel anything they are working on once it does close.
Right now the WGA and other organizations have also asked the FTC to block the sale, which is going to further delay things. The estimate for the deal to close was mid-year 2022, but with this happening it might even be 2023 before anything can happen.
SG will be back for sure. The only thing I wish is the hope Amazon will use all the modern payment possibilities. Im from country where the only thing to get actual SG show is download pirate airrip or webrip from internet (fanbase makes subtitles). I dont want to see again shutting down the show due the low views (unsufiscient distribution in my point of view). I want to have the ability of donate the show i like. ;-) SG is cult with millions of fans worldwide, but the future depends on few US customers. Thats sad. Hope somebody form Amazon will read this. :D Greetinx from Cezech republic (Dr. Zelenka's home) :-)
If THIS is what he's planning, I hope we get a reboot. Revealing the gate to the world is the worst idea ever - one of the best things about the show is that it takes place in the "real world" (although that changed once they introduced a fictional President) in the here and now rather than some far-off future.
I think a reboot would suck, but I agree with almost everything else you said. The idea that real world events (e.g. coronavirus, climate change, etc) necessitates revealing the Stargate to the world seems like weird logic, as revealing the Stargate would make the show even more detached from the real world than if they were to continue keeping it classified.
I don’t mind the likes of using fictional presidents and alike. The show doesn’t need to be a prefect representation of reality, but it should be rough representation. Revealing the Stargate would throw this completely out the window. Bad idea…
Why should coronavirus even be PART of their universe? They had a different president in 2005, so it stands to logic they'd have different ones years after. Hell, look at the response to the swine flu epidemic of the late 2000s. How the elite respond sometimes make all the difference. Coronavirus is dependent on circumstances that I just can't see existing in their universe, especially with all of the advances that they doubtless made since then. It sounds less like they're trying to write Stargate and more that they want to write OUR contemporary real world AROUND the idea of Stargate. But that's a VERY bad idea, especially when you look at the reactions to recent entries for Star Wars and Star Trek. Unfortunately, American politics is too polarized for nuance now, both camps see the other as pure satan, and so of course they're going to get up on their soapbox and try to "lecture" the other side on what they're doing so wrong, ugh... it never occurs to these dimwits that you could AGREE with the message, but that what you're doing makes it look bad, with poor writing and poor attitudes. If this is the way they intend to take the new series, then frankly I won't be watching it. Besides, you get even less runtime per season than you did back in the day, the middle class is almost nonexistent and indie work seems to be at an all-time low. This is the worst possible environment to do this in, and I just have an all-around BAD FEELING about this...
I would like to see them have to power to regen ZPM's so they could rebuild Atlantis and connect with Destiney that way they could open the gate the the hole world and universe explore all 3 shows in one hole tv show with big movie or plot before launch of the show with an update from x amount of years gone buy. So at least then when we jump in to the next TV we would have a good back round before thinking what the heck is going on witch was the mistake of SGU the show. Was ok but they could have done it with out of the flash back nonene and oh hi its face book in space bah I mean yes make a documentary like they did no SG1 But not the how show that was just the worst part of it. Any who that is just my pitch on it so I would love to see something new that works for every one and not never aging please god no do not do a Reboot Amazon! they just suck look at star trek new movies reboot and same old hash's and a rip of the pre exiting story's so please go just do not to they thank you all for your time have a good 2022
I almost don't want them to....... if it's going to be like the new Woke trek STD better off just re-watching the same old SG-1 and Atlantis over and over again