Stargate Universe is announced (gee, just after they kill Stargate Atlantis)

[wraithfodder]

Stargate: 90210. Yes, it's finally happened. The fun Stargate Atlantis folk - Sheppard, McKay, etc. are getting deep-sixed for the "young and the deseprate". Gag me.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5e840c8f576b9c7dae541d2e4be7a3e4

'Stargate' stays open at Sci Fi

Network puts 'Universe' spinoff on 2009 launchpad

By James Hibberd

Aug 22, 2008, 01:00 AM ET

Sci Fi Channel isn't about to let down "Stargate" fans.

The network is set to announce the order of a new series from MGM Television, "Stargate: Universe," that will mark the third entry in Sci Fi's longest-running original series franchise.

The green light comes on the heels of Sci Fi's confirming Thursday that "Stargate: Atlantis" will not receive a sixth-season order. The "Universe" pickup ensures the continuation of the popular "Stargate" franchise, which has been on the air in various incarnations since 1997.

"Universe" will premiere as a two-hour movie early next year and will assume a regular hourly slot in the summer. Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, co-creators of "Stargate: SG-1" and "Atlantis," will serve as executive producers and writers on the new series.

The new show will involve more space-based action than "SG-1" or "Atlantis." With the "Star Trek" television franchise having folded in 2005 and Sci Fi's "Battlestar Galactica" airing its final episodes next year, the network hopes "Universe" will become sci-fi fans' new favorite space-travel series.

"We've had great success with 'Enterprise' repeats on Monday night, and there's an appetite for space opera as 'Battlestar' goes away," Sci Fi president Dave Howe said. "There's an opportunity to keep the space opera as part of our programming strategy."

"Universe" introduces a team of explorers who find an ancient unmanned ship called the Destiny. Unable to return to Earth, the crew must fend for themselves aboard the ship, which has a preprogramd mission taking them to the far reaches of the universe.

The series will employ a new cast of characters, with the network seeking a known performer for one lead role and fresh faces to play the rest of the ship's crew. Appearances by former cast members from "SG-1" and "Atlantis" are very possible.

Howe said the new series will reinvigorate the franchise by targeting a younger audience.

"This is an opportunity to reinvent this franchise and make it relevant to a new generation," Howe said. "We really don't want to be more of the same. It's going to build clearly off the existing franchise but with a cast that gives it a younger vibe."

Said co-creators Wright and Cooper: "In 'Universe,' we plan to keep those elements that have made the franchise a success, such as adventure and humor, while breaking new ground in the relationships between mostly young and desperate explorers, thrust together and far from home. Above all, we believe the Stargate itself remains an enduring icon with infinite potential as a jumping-off point for telling stories."

Also on Thursday, Sci Fi announced an order for a two-hour "Atlantis" movie in lieu of a sixth-season order. Airing two-hour movies of such franchises as "Stargate" and "Galactica" and quickly releasing the films as stand-alone DVDs has been a successful strategy for the network. But the news depressed "Stargate" fans that the long-running sci-fi television franchise, like "Star Trek" a few years back, was going to be retired as a weekly series.

"SG-1" ran for 10 seasons, launching on Showtime in 1997 then moving to Sci Fi after its fifth season. The spinoff "Atlantis" premiered in 2004 and will mark its 100th episode this year. Friday night airings of "Atlantis" have averaged more than 2 million viewers per episode.

Sci Fi has not yet made a decision which new project might serve as a companion for "Universe" next summer. The network has three pilots under consideration, including the terrestrial-bound "Battlestar Galactica" prequel "Caprica." 

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I woke this morning pretty much acclimated to SGA's demise, and then I turn on my PC. Yeah, SGA was offed to make way for this. granted, SGA did have problems, but oh yeah, I'm going to tune in for "young and desperate" Stargate travelers? My guess is that the bulk of the cast will in their 20s, and they'll toss in a token over-40 year old.

Oh, SciFi, do you realize that some of the most powerful buyers out there are women over 40? CSI realizes that, which is why they're such a success.

Comments

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I was the same. I was stunned and and a little tearful when I heard the cancellation news, but I adjusted to it fairly quickly. Very sad, but the fandom will live on.

But this...and Brad Wright's interview. I am just furious. I'm trying to let it go, but I think it will take me a while. :(

[shansgrl.livejournal.com]

Can't say most of fandom didn't call this. Even on Joe M's blog the night it was announced.

One of the comments on that article is that this will go in the blackhole crapper. I concur. I for one won't be watching.

[nenyavilyanenya.livejournal.com]

You know what I want out of SGU?

McKay on the ship yelling at all of the little young ones for being so stupid and melodramatic.
--

Don't they realize the point of the Stargate franchise is that it isn't dark and dramatic (like BSG)? That it's mostly fun and doesn't make me depressed after watching it?

I guess I'll have to rely on Psych for my adventure humor.

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

that would make me watch the show. mckay yelling at the youngins.
or possibly ronon shooting them.

[pavaneofstars.livejournal.com]

This is a slap in the face to SGA fans. :(

[gatedialer.livejournal.com]

indeed

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

i see your 'indeed' and raise it to a 'for cryin' out loud'

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

And reading the interviews (Wright, etc.) is just rubbing salt in the wound.

[tipper-green.livejournal.com]

I'm fine with twenty-somethings myself. But, yes, if by "younger", they're talking teenagers, Lord help us. Still, I can't really imagine how they'd do that. I'd hope this was a military crew that gets trapped, like a young, inexperienced gate team. I could understand that, and see the appeal, especially for the male demographic (which is who they're aiming for--not us). May not be my personal cup of tea, but c'est la vie.

At least people won't be able to bitch over on Gateworld about people like Keller being "too young" to be realistic. This solves that problem nicely.

You know, I just wonder -- if they're on a ship, where exactly does the "stargate" part of it fit in?

[patk.livejournal.com]

>>I'm fine with twenty-somethings myself.

If I understood this correctly, they're apparently about to get stranded on a ship that was built by the Ancients and is pre-programmed to "seed" Stargates automatically. Practically kind of a "scout" ship that built (and apparently still builds) the gate-network and prepares the way for people to follow. Just, nobody's following anymore since the Ancient are extinct/ascented/whatever.

Apparently you can reach that ship via a ninth chevron, no matter where it is, but don't hold me to that. I'm not completely clear on that.

[libra-traveller.livejournal.com]

That makes me sick.

[strange-magic.livejournal.com]

I may be "in" the younger generation, but I to tend to lean more towards "older men" too, which has me wary of the new, as you put it, "young and desperate" series. I don't know if I want to watch a "Young and the Restless" version of the space drama. Makes me think of SG-1 parody they did. The one that made all the characters angsty teenagers and soap opera like. A bit disturbing... Now if it was super cheesy like "Starcrossed" well that'd be a different story. ;P

[toranoko.livejournal.com]

I was expecting this announcement... but maybe next week. The end of Atlantis is painful enough for some fans. Throwing in that your show is replaced by this younger, fresh show feels tasteless.

I don't understand the young thing either. I mean, I do somewhat... First, since Stargate is a franchise, the name will sell it well enough. So why not try and bring in a new audience? I don't know if they want to either a) aim at younger science fiction fans or b) aim at the younger generation all together. Attempting the latter will be more painful than the former.

And how young are they looking? I'm 20 and female, and I most definitely prefer watching TV shows with MEN. I know plenty of people, around my age, that already own all the DVDs, and we make room for it even though we're poor college students. So, from my point of view, they do not have a problem with the younger demographic. (At least science fiction fans - I'm a computer science major, so are most people I know.) Unless they are looking at targeting younger than 18-25ish, and/or a general, non-science fiction, audience. And of course, if they are doing that, I don't really see TPTB succeeding.

But hey, if they can maintain their current fan base and pull in a whole new audience, then that really proves Stargate is a franchise. If they alienate the current fans and fail to bring in this new audience, well... oops.

[gatedialer.livejournal.com]

Talk about pouring salt on a wound. SGA was canceled days ago and they pull this announcement on us? I am not even sure I will watch SGU. i hope it fails miserably and TPTB realize the errors of their ways and bring back SGA.

And what is with the "younger audience" bullshit?" Do they not know most young people are more interested in partying and the like? (Not all young people, but most)

This was a slap in the face to Stargate fans.

*gives the finger* Screw you MGM/SciFi and Brad Wright.


...speaking of SGA and SciFi, the seige pt 2 is on...yay!

wtf?

[inalaska2004.livejournal.com]

so they want a new and improved audience. its like we were the starter wife and now were old and being replaced.
2 things popped into my head when i read about SU.
1. the 2 creators are even older than me. so are they going to replace themselves? they definitely need new and younger blood behind the scenes, not just in front, if they want a new and hipper SU.
2. its reported that they want one big name actor with name recognition, and then back fill with lots of little furry puppy unknown actors. i nominate Jflan. he's cool, hot, and already has the skateboard.

Re: wtf?

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAHAHAHA.
that he is. :D

damnit.

[ladyniko.livejournal.com]

*chokes*

Oh, this shows so much promise......

Why, oh why, are they trying to ignore us older women? Gah, did Skiffy learn nothing from the Brascape campaign? Obviously not.... :-p

[nobodys-damsel.livejournal.com]

I'm very... cynical, but trying to keep an open mind. However, these guys weren't even able to pull of emotionally-mature adults. How they'll handle a "younger" ground is highly suspect.

And hey, I am a "younger" crowd. I don't want to see my peers on television, especially not when I could see Flanigan, Hewlett, and Mamoa!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I much prefer my actors to be like Flanigan and Hewlett.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Target the younger audience? SGA does that just fine!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Dumb Skiffy!

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

as long as one of them is a legit/illegitimate child of sheppard's that would be great....

i like teen shows, don't get me wrong but

one of them will probably be teyla's kid... wasn't there a show like that in the 90's? SPACE CASES. AND JEWEL WAS ON IT!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115366/

[clight000.livejournal.com]

Ridiculousness. Ok, yes, you want to reach a younger audience. But the way to do it is not to alienate your current audience.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

They definitely need to learn how to deal with the audience.