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

[patk.livejournal.com]

Can't help but have to respond to your comment here. :-)

>>edgy and young and hip

Makes me wonder what's wrong with a sizzling hot forty year old Lt. Col. who can shoot with two guns at once and fly an ancient city by sitting in a chair and closing his eyes. *g*

>>with girls bursting out of their uniforms

Teyla's ... *uhm* "people" are pretty impressive when they try to burst out from her top. So, check, we have this on SGA as well. *G*

>>boys clean cut and wholesome

Granted, that could be a slight problem since Ford vanished into the nebulae of S1 and the Pegasus-Galaxy. Perhaps Lorne could count for that part? Yes, he could. Check, clean cut, wholesome, we have that.

>>"bad boy", who wears leather and prowls around in the background. <<

We have! We have! Ronon!

>>goodie little two shoes girl with big Bambi eyes

*snorts*

Can you say Jennifer Keller? Close enough to count? Yes, close enough, check, Bambi eye, we have. *G*

>>clean-cut military type with the chiseled jaw and the earnest eyes.<<

*Uhm* ...

*ellbows Sheppard unobtrusively in the side*

"stand straight, no slouching now, come ON! Work that jaw muscle."

*peeks at hair*

*pats*

SPROING!

No match.

Absolutely no match.

See, *that*s why we need SGU so badly.

*SNORT*

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

Yep, I'm starting to rant now. SPACE OPERA! Who wants to watch a SPACE OPERA! If I want a soap I'll watch bloody Neighbours or Home & Away! They've been running for 20 odd years and are aimed at the teen market. (The only good thing to come out of them is Kylie Minogue and Alan Dale.)
The PTB are done and I don't think letter writing is going to do anything as THEY'VE made up their minds. Not that there's anything there!
Thank you for the fanfic community. There's a lot of good writers out there.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

I'm trying not to get worked up until I've at least taken a look at their new shiny toy. But they're sure not making it easy.

Wish I could say I was surprised... marketers will forever be obsessed with the young.

Give me Shep and McKay over that any day.

[patk.livejournal.com]

>>Are they ending Atlantis with characters nobly sacrificing themselves to become space signs to direct these children home?!<<

"Shhhhhh..."

Don't give them ideas.

[faekitty71.livejournal.com]

Stargate: Voyager

Yep, definitely canceling cable.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

"I don't think Mitchell likes me anymore."

"I'm pregnant."

XDDDDD (had the same thought!)

[iolandasblog.livejournal.com]

NICE!


...not really... :(

[kodiak-bear.livejournal.com]

Well we knew they offed SGA for SGU but it's nice that anyone who didn't know it or doubted it can finally read the writing on the wall. This was Wright and Cooper's push I think, and Sci-Fi was only willing to pay for one show and MGM is happy enough to keep funding stargate in whatever form so...this is what we get.

Cracks me up that A) Wright and Cooper are so out of touch with Stargate fans that they think we WANT SG: 90210 and B) that we wouldn't be intelligent enough to understand that the show we did WANT was killed prematurely to make way for SG: 90210.

[a-pilgrim-soul.livejournal.com]

You know I was perfectly prepared to give SGU a go and I'll probably still tune in to check it out because I give all new sci-fi shows a chance but this "young and edgy" crap is what has me concerned. If they seriously think that they can reinvent Stargate as young and hip and pull in new viewers they're kidding themselves, the cool kids aren't going to tune into a Stargate show no matter how they try to market it no more than they are going to go watch the new Trek film because they will always see space operas (and yes SG1 & SGA and all the Treks are space operas) as something only sad geeks who live in their mother's basement watch.

I can only assume that they are going after the gap in the market left by BSG in which case they are going to lose what makes the Stargate universe unique - its warmth and its humour.

[d_odyssey.livejournal.com]

What she said. Exactly what I feel. What makes me angry is that, from reading the Brad Wright interview at Gateworld, the decision for cancellation seems to have originated not from the networks but from Wright & Cooper. They turned the show over to M&M, thanks a lot, and now are just flushing it for their shiny new toy. Toy might be the right word, too as they seem to want a young audience. Doesn't make me want to watch it.

[reiko-afterglow.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I wonder if the SG Universe's ship zip code is going to be 90210 ... ;)

I'm getting the feeling that it's highly probable Jewel Staite will be cast in this, and given their love for the character, if she is it's gonna be as Keller a la McKay from SG1.

Well, the 'lantis folk being dumped for a newer cast was same old back in S4 for me. But either way, sniff, sniff ... I smell ass.

[reiko-afterglow.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD. Never thought of that before. 200 was truly a prediction of the future of Stargate ...

[reiko-afterglow.livejournal.com]

Are you surprised? It's just been greenlit and there's already plot holes. :P

[reiko-afterglow.livejournal.com]

Enter: Jennifer Keller. Where do you think they were going with her 'love triangle', eh?

[dejla.livejournal.com]

No, they'll never realize it as long as they staff it with young male geeks who think they're the only ones who watch science fiction.

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Sounds more like Stargate: Lost in Space. Which is what I used to call Star Trek: Voyager -- which was a decent pilot screwed up in the first episode.

[dejla.livejournal.com]

"Elyse! What an incredible SMELL you've discovered!"

[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. :(

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

LOL! :)

[nenyavilyanenya.livejournal.com]

I thought that too... fabulous..

[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.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

We've finally found the culprit: Teh Hair is to blame!

[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.

[pavaneofstars.livejournal.com]

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

[iolandasblog.livejournal.com]

IMHO: It doesn't. Sounds like Stargate: Voyager. Firefly would haven been brillant. Voy not so much.