The Cancelled Stargate Movie That Would Have Brought Every Show Together

When Roland Emmerich made his 1994 sci-fi journey “Stargate,” he seemingly by no means envisioned the sprawling media saga that will comply with. Actually, after the movie proved a modest success on the field workplace, there was discuss of constructing a whole “Stargate” trilogy. As an alternative, Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner took on the duty of constant the story begun by Emmerich. The pair oversaw “Stargate SG-1,” a TV present that launched in 1997 and revolved across the identical staff from the film, following their exploits throughout the universe as they discover unusual alien worlds utilizing the Stargate portal. Kurt Russell might’ve refused to reprise his lead role as Colonel Jack O’Neill for the franchise’s small-screen continuation, however Wright and Glassner had “MacGuyver” star Ricard Dean Anderson to assist propel their sequence to success. Certainly, the present proved a cult hit, lasting for 10 seasons earlier than the Sci-Fi channel (now SyFy) cancelled “SG-1” in 2007.

However that wasn’t the tip of the “Stargate” story. Throughout its time on-air, “SG-1” spawned a few spin-offs, most notably with the live-action sequence “Stargate Atlantis,” which debuted in 2004. The animated sequence “Stargate Infinity” additionally started airing in the course of the “SG-1” years, although some followers do not contemplate this canon. Even after “SG-1” was cancelled, the franchise stored coming again with two direct-to-TV movies and extra live-action sequence within the type of 2009’s “Stargate Universe” and 2018’s “Stargate Origins.”

Following the cancellation of “Stargate Universe” in 2010, nevertheless, the entire saga was left in limbo because the sequence ended on a cliffhanger that appeared doomed to stay unresolved. Whereas comedian books have since tried to proceed the story, they have not concerned the sequence’ creators. However had Wright gotten his manner, we’d have not less than seen “Universe,” “Atlantis,” and “SG-1” wrapped up much more neatly by way of a film that was shelved earlier than it even had an opportunity to get underway.

At present, the “Stargate” empire contains Roland Emmerich’s movie, a number of TV sequence and direct-to-home-media motion pictures, and a slew of comics, video video games, and books. With such an unlimited expanse of media, watching the “Stargate” franchise in order has turn into a complicated prospect to say the least, particularly when there are unresolved storylines concerned. However “SG-1” co-creator Brad Wright, who went on to co-create “Atlantis” and “Universe,” not less than had plans to wrap up his contribution to the “Stargate”-verse considerably cleanly.

Whereas “Stargate SG-1” and “Stargate: Atlantis” each targeted on groups that used the eponymous portal system to traverse the universe, “Stargate Universe,” oddly sufficient, was a a lot completely different sequence. It adopted a analysis crew stranded aboard the spacecraft Future as they tried to discover a manner again throughout billions of sunshine years to Earth. Led by scientist Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle), the crew was despatched on a analysis initiative to research methods of permitting journey throughout distant distances using the Stargate. However after a planet exploded, members of the group used a wormhole to flee, touchdown them aboard the derelict Future. Season 2 sees crew member Eli Wallace (David Blue) suggest a void bounce, which might see the group use pods to enter stasis for 3 years with a purpose to full the journey. Though they go forward with the plan, one of many pods proves to be defective, leaving the group to resolve who ought to keep exterior and attempt to repair the pod with solely two weeks earlier than they must shut off life help. Eli claims to have the very best probability of fixing the pod and due to this fact stays out of stasis earlier than the season 2 finale closes with him watching the celebrities from the ship’s commentary deck.

Sadly, the present was unceremoniously cancelled earlier than it might reveal whether or not Eli mounted the pod in time to outlive, leaving followers to marvel what “Stargate Universe” season 3 could have been. Effectively, had Wright been given the greenlight for his bold film challenge, we’d have discovered.

Even earlier than the season 2 finale of “Stargate Universe” aired on Could 9, 2011, the sequence had been cancelled, with SyFy asserting on December 16, 2010 that it had not picked up the sequence for a 3rd season. Although a non-canon “Stargate Universe” comedian sequence from Mark L. Haynes and J.C. Vaughn tried to hold on the story after “Universe” season 2, we by no means received an official continuation.

However Brad Wright not less than tried to give you a last-minute answer when he realized “Universe” was ending prematurely — one that will have united all three live-action “Stargate” reveals (on the time, “Origins” had not been created). Chatting with GateWorld in 2023, Wright revealed that he pitched manufacturing firm MGM Tv on the concept, which might have seen characters from “SG-1” and “Atlantis” return to rescue the crew of Future from “Universe,” giving the franchise, because it existed on the time, a correct send-off. The co-creator defined he “simply began typing” and implored MGM to let him use current units from “Stargate” for the challenge earlier than they have been dismantled. Wright recalled his method:

“If I can get a script in your palms shortly sufficient, I guess I can get the forged of ‘SGU’ and convey aboard sufficient forged members from the opposite present that I might not less than give us a two-hour film to wrap it up, or a 90-minute film to wrap up ‘SGU’ and end the story that we have been making an attempt to inform.”

Alas, the destiny of Wright’s part of the “Stargate” universe was sealed.

As Brad Wright remembered in his GateWorld interview, his preliminary concept was pretty crude. Nonetheless, there was the seed of a storyline that concerned utilizing David Hewlett’s Dr. Meredith Rodney McKay — an “SG–1” character who was a last minute replacement in “Stargate Atlantis” and who went on to look in 100 episodes of the sequence:

“I pitched him the tough concept that I had for it — and it was tough. I imply, I used to be typing as quick as I might. I did not whiteboard it. I simply had this construction in my head and idea for the characters from the opposite sequence that I used to be going to usher in. And I began laying it out, and it began with McKay and started [with a] recognition that Future was in hassle.”

Lamentably, Wright wasn’t even capable of put collectively a correct first draft of the script earlier than MGM pulled the plug. “Like two weeks into the method I discovered it isn’t gonna occur,” Wright stated. “There comes a time the place the need to complete one thing would not line up with the monetary assets to do it. And that was the place it was already heading after I discovered they are not .”

As SyFy has famous, the DVD market had taken a downturn on the time Wright was pitching his film, which seemingly performed into MGM’s determination to not transfer ahead with the challenge. Contemplating SyFy had already cancelled “Universe” after simply two seasons anyway, I can not think about the prospect of a film based mostly on the sequence was ever all that attractive to start with — not less than not for MGM or the community. For followers, nevertheless, the very fact Wright’s imaginative and prescient by no means got here to fruition will stay as tragic a second within the huge “Stargate” saga as Eli’s determination to remain behind for the sake of his fellow crew members.

When Roland Emmerich made his 1994 sci-fi journey “Stargate,” he seemingly by no means envisioned the sprawling media saga that will comply with. Actually, after the movie proved a modest success on the field workplace, there was discuss of constructing a whole “Stargate” trilogy. As an alternative, Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner took on the duty of constant the story begun by Emmerich. The pair oversaw “Stargate SG-1,” a TV present that launched in 1997 and revolved across the identical staff from the film, following their exploits throughout the universe as they discover unusual alien worlds utilizing the Stargate portal. Kurt Russell might’ve refused to reprise his lead role as Colonel Jack O’Neill for the franchise’s small-screen continuation, however Wright and Glassner had “MacGuyver” star Ricard Dean Anderson to assist propel their sequence to success. Certainly, the present proved a cult hit, lasting for 10 seasons earlier than the Sci-Fi channel (now SyFy) cancelled “SG-1” in 2007.

However that wasn’t the tip of the “Stargate” story. Throughout its time on-air, “SG-1” spawned a few spin-offs, most notably with the live-action sequence “Stargate Atlantis,” which debuted in 2004. The animated sequence “Stargate Infinity” additionally started airing in the course of the “SG-1” years, although some followers do not contemplate this canon. Even after “SG-1” was cancelled, the franchise stored coming again with two direct-to-TV movies and extra live-action sequence within the type of 2009’s “Stargate Universe” and 2018’s “Stargate Origins.”

Following the cancellation of “Stargate Universe” in 2010, nevertheless, the entire saga was left in limbo because the sequence ended on a cliffhanger that appeared doomed to stay unresolved. Whereas comedian books have since tried to proceed the story, they have not concerned the sequence’ creators. However had Wright gotten his manner, we’d have not less than seen “Universe,” “Atlantis,” and “SG-1” wrapped up much more neatly by way of a film that was shelved earlier than it even had an opportunity to get underway.

At present, the “Stargate” empire contains Roland Emmerich’s movie, a number of TV sequence and direct-to-home-media motion pictures, and a slew of comics, video video games, and books. With such an unlimited expanse of media, watching the “Stargate” franchise in order has turn into a complicated prospect to say the least, particularly when there are unresolved storylines concerned. However “SG-1” co-creator Brad Wright, who went on to co-create “Atlantis” and “Universe,” not less than had plans to wrap up his contribution to the “Stargate”-verse considerably cleanly.

Whereas “Stargate SG-1” and “Stargate: Atlantis” each targeted on groups that used the eponymous portal system to traverse the universe, “Stargate Universe,” oddly sufficient, was a a lot completely different sequence. It adopted a analysis crew stranded aboard the spacecraft Future as they tried to discover a manner again throughout billions of sunshine years to Earth. Led by scientist Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle), the crew was despatched on a analysis initiative to research methods of permitting journey throughout distant distances using the Stargate. However after a planet exploded, members of the group used a wormhole to flee, touchdown them aboard the derelict Future. Season 2 sees crew member Eli Wallace (David Blue) suggest a void bounce, which might see the group use pods to enter stasis for 3 years with a purpose to full the journey. Though they go forward with the plan, one of many pods proves to be defective, leaving the group to resolve who ought to keep exterior and attempt to repair the pod with solely two weeks earlier than they must shut off life help. Eli claims to have the very best probability of fixing the pod and due to this fact stays out of stasis earlier than the season 2 finale closes with him watching the celebrities from the ship’s commentary deck.

Sadly, the present was unceremoniously cancelled earlier than it might reveal whether or not Eli mounted the pod in time to outlive, leaving followers to marvel what “Stargate Universe” season 3 could have been. Effectively, had Wright been given the greenlight for his bold film challenge, we’d have discovered.

Even earlier than the season 2 finale of “Stargate Universe” aired on Could 9, 2011, the sequence had been cancelled, with SyFy asserting on December 16, 2010 that it had not picked up the sequence for a 3rd season. Although a non-canon “Stargate Universe” comedian sequence from Mark L. Haynes and J.C. Vaughn tried to hold on the story after “Universe” season 2, we by no means received an official continuation.

However Brad Wright not less than tried to give you a last-minute answer when he realized “Universe” was ending prematurely — one that will have united all three live-action “Stargate” reveals (on the time, “Origins” had not been created). Chatting with GateWorld in 2023, Wright revealed that he pitched manufacturing firm MGM Tv on the concept, which might have seen characters from “SG-1” and “Atlantis” return to rescue the crew of Future from “Universe,” giving the franchise, because it existed on the time, a correct send-off. The co-creator defined he “simply began typing” and implored MGM to let him use current units from “Stargate” for the challenge earlier than they have been dismantled. Wright recalled his method:

“If I can get a script in your palms shortly sufficient, I guess I can get the forged of ‘SGU’ and convey aboard sufficient forged members from the opposite present that I might not less than give us a two-hour film to wrap it up, or a 90-minute film to wrap up ‘SGU’ and end the story that we have been making an attempt to inform.”

Alas, the destiny of Wright’s part of the “Stargate” universe was sealed.

As Brad Wright remembered in his GateWorld interview, his preliminary concept was pretty crude. Nonetheless, there was the seed of a storyline that concerned utilizing David Hewlett’s Dr. Meredith Rodney McKay — an “SG–1” character who was a last minute replacement in “Stargate Atlantis” and who went on to look in 100 episodes of the sequence:

“I pitched him the tough concept that I had for it — and it was tough. I imply, I used to be typing as quick as I might. I did not whiteboard it. I simply had this construction in my head and idea for the characters from the opposite sequence that I used to be going to usher in. And I began laying it out, and it began with McKay and started [with a] recognition that Future was in hassle.”

Lamentably, Wright wasn’t even capable of put collectively a correct first draft of the script earlier than MGM pulled the plug. “Like two weeks into the method I discovered it isn’t gonna occur,” Wright stated. “There comes a time the place the need to complete one thing would not line up with the monetary assets to do it. And that was the place it was already heading after I discovered they are not .”

As SyFy has famous, the DVD market had taken a downturn on the time Wright was pitching his film, which seemingly performed into MGM’s determination to not transfer ahead with the challenge. Contemplating SyFy had already cancelled “Universe” after simply two seasons anyway, I can not think about the prospect of a film based mostly on the sequence was ever all that attractive to start with — not less than not for MGM or the community. For followers, nevertheless, the very fact Wright’s imaginative and prescient by no means got here to fruition will stay as tragic a second within the huge “Stargate” saga as Eli’s determination to remain behind for the sake of his fellow crew members.