Robert Carlyle cast as lead in Stargate Universe

[wraithfodder]

Personally, I think this is a mistake for poor Robert Caryle. DOCTOR WHO is going to be remembered far past SGU :(

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ia42e757920d927798a19726f013538af

an excerpt:

"Described as edgier, darker and younger-skewing than its predecessors, "SGU" follows a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians left to fend for themselves when forced through a Stargate after their hidden base comes under attack. The survivors, who emerge aboard an ancient ship missing in the far reaches of space, are led by Dr. David Rush (Carlyle), who works to unlock the ship's mysteries and return the group home but also might have ulterior motives.

The network had said it was looking to cast a well-known actor as Rush and fresh faces to play the rest of the ship's crew.

"Robert Carlyle brings a depth, intelligence and complexity to his roles, which will fit perfectly with the fresh, new reinvention of this franchise," Sci Fi original-programming chief Mark Stern said.

    REST AT LINK ABOVE

I like Carlyle, but considering the same folk who penned the past Stargates are going to pen this, I don't expect any fresh new plots. And wow, there's Skiffy pushing the "fresh" crap, like they always do with all their programming and cast changes. I get the idea somewhere at Skiffy used to market laundry detergent...

So, what's everybody's opinion? I like Carlyle, but don't know if he'll be enough for me to watch the show.

Comments

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

Not enough, especially since I don't know who he is. I mean, since the announcement I've seen people talking about him and mentions of some of the stuff he's done, but I haven't ever seen him in anything.

And while this premise sounds a little more promising, after watching not one but two series flounder under the care of these PTB, I must conclude that either they really can't write a decent series or they just didn't care enough to, especially in the case of Atlantis. Not to mention that I haven't appreciated the attitude from some of them in recent interviews, especially Brad Wright and Martin Gero.

While it may be an intriguing concept, with good actors, they had good actors and an intriguing concept with Atlantis and simply failed to develop it to its potential. Why should I believe they would do any better with this new shiny toy? Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me.

Er...sorry for the lengthy comment. :S

[spike21.livejournal.com]

It means I will have to watch at least the first one, because he is so fucking awesome. But yeah, I don't trust the current writing team at all. They are all tools.

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

SECONDED, THIRD AND FOURTHED.

[0-lily-0.livejournal.com]

The only thing I've seen him in is The Full Monty movie. I liked him there.

Personally I don't care how good or bad SGU is. I won't be watching it because:

1) I'm not a fan of the franchise, only of Atlantis, i.e. I'm not interested in another Stargate show (I wasn't going to watch it either back when everybody thought both SGA and SGU would air together). I'm not even a scifi fan *shrugs*
2) In my opinion, the Atlantis cast was treated like crap by TPTB, and I'm done with these PTB. The only way I'll watch anything written/produced by the Stargate people is if it has Joe Flanigan in it (as much as I love David Hewlett, Rachel Luttrell and Jason Momoa, I'm not so sure I could bring myself to watch something written by these people just because of David/Rachel/Jason. I'll watch them in another stuff written by someone else, of course).

[mercury973.livejournal.com]

Yes. I, too, am just an SGA fan. I also don't like scifi (both network and genre). I think all the cast has been treated poorly (I'm including McGillion and Higginson) and I will not be watching.

[lahela-sga.livejournal.com]

OMFG!!!!! This is sooooooooo unexpected! He is my favourite actor of all time. Fullstop. I saw him in Tainspotting and knew that nobody could ever equal this man in terms of talent, depth and ability. So... WTF is he doing signing up for this?! Damn... now I'll have to watch it o_0

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

He's having a midlife crisis... that's the only explanation.

[kodiak-bear.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised too, frankly, but it does kind of throw me for a loop. I'm going to give SGU a shot. A small one. This casting is the first positive thing I've heard on it but he's just one character so we'll see what others are being cast.

The cast of Fringe was the main reason I couldn't stay with it. I didn't care for any of them except John Noble.

ETA I almost forgot, thank you for the adorable Christmas card!!!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I tried Fringe too, but the cast left me so 'meh' I stopped watching! I wish the producers of Stargate would realize it's the cast we tune in for every week!

card? Ohm, um, I didn't send any. I haven't even gotten stamps yet I'm so behind!

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

Oh. My. God.

Is he desperate for work? This is a very, very bad idea. Quality scifi? Fine. But with the idiots who ran Atlantis involved in this show, it's going to be a career killer.

[ancientcitadel.livejournal.com]

Hmm, it still doesn't sound like something I'd want to watch. While a fine actor, most of Robert Carlyle's stuff is not something I want to watch.

[nakedwesley.livejournal.com]

Robert Carlyle is going to run rings around the writers/producers. Talk about a waste of talent! I have no faith in their abilities to write for such an awesome actor.

Nice try, guys. I love RC but still won't be watching. Even if by some miracle the show turns out to be good, no way am I falling into that trap again, only to have something I love ripped away from me.

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

He'll be in the same situation as Flanigan. Trying to reason with them and being ignored.

[shelma32.livejournal.com]

I'm a HUGE fan of Roberts and think he's excellent.
I will definitely have to watch SGU now :D

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

He's awesome, but all I have to say to this is:

Run away Robert, run. =D

[justhere1971.livejournal.com]

As PP said ... RUN! Run now!

I don't think those writers over at Bridge studios can come up with anything fresh to save their lives. No matter how great a actor they do get.

Have you been watching Sanctuary? I wince every time that comes on. Talk about stealing storylines.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I watch Sanctuary cuz of the actors. the plots, well, um, er... oh please, another "fight club" ripoff. Will they never end??

[foliogal.livejournal.com]

I like Robert Carlyle quite a bit...but then I liked everyone on Atlantis quite a bit too, and look how well that all turned out. No, I'm through with this batch of PTB and am just waiting patiently for the SGA characters to be turned over into fandom's keeping. I trust fandom's ability to treat them properly a whole lot more than I trust BW or JM or RCC or MG... As for signing Robert Carlyle: wow, there goes their budget for everything else. :) I kind of doubt he's coming cheap.

[ionaonie.livejournal.com]

You know, that's a good point. RC won't be a cheap actor. That'll be a lot of their budget gone.

[ladyflowdi.livejournal.com]

I imagine hiring Robert Carlyle is their way of keeping some of the older viewers, the hook to get them to watch SGU. They want to have their cake and eat it too, want to make sure that some of us old timers watch the show until they can grab that younger demographic they're wishing so desperately for.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

*snerk*

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I think it may well be a waste of Robert Carlyle. I intend to try Stargate: Universe, as I've intended all along. (Hmm--that abbreviates to SU. I think we could have some fun with that.) I've also been saying all along, however, "I've got a bad feeling about this...."

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

Lost in Space.

'nuff said.

:)

[iolandasblog.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. So they really want that I turn in? I loved Carlyle in "The Full Monty" and he gave me the creeps in Trainspotting (not so much him but the dead baby ended up in some of my dreams). He's an awesome actor. Don't know why he decided to do this, but when they keep up that kind of 25 years olds, the show might even have a chance.

Doesn't keep Atlantis from being cancelled.


Hey TPTB, you had some f**ing awesome actors there as well!

[ainaria.livejournal.com]

I just realized! They're not trying to makea Stargate: 90210. They're trying to make Stargate Galactica: 90210!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

isn't there supposed to be Voyager in there somewhere too? ;)

[tavabean.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of him. But I did like the movie The Full Monty, just don't remember who he played.
It doesn't sound, from the articles about him, that he really wanted to leave his home and family but maybe the $$ was too enticing? Hope he doesn't get into the same situation as JF where he has to commute so far to see them.
I still don't intend to watch SGU, but who knows, in a few years I might watch the DVD's if people think it was good.

[glaelia.livejournal.com]

I thought they were making SGU 'younger' and that was the reason for getting rid of Hewlett and Flan?

RC is 47 ... older than either of them. And an ugly fucker to boot. Come on, he might be a great actor, but he's an ugly fucker .... and 90% of the reason most of us watch and Stargate is for the pretty ....

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

I agree.... he is old. and not the good kind.

[kimberweeme.livejournal.com]

Since I have never seen this guy in anything and only recognize his name because he was up for the Eleven, he won't make me want to watch the show.

Besides, I have never seen a single episode of SG-1. I like SGA because I love the people and the show was enthralling, not because it was a Stargate show.

Now I can hope for David Hewlett for Eleven!

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

very true. very true.

[lysambre.livejournal.com]

Carlyle in a movie from time to time ? No problem. In a weekly show ? No thanks.
Sorry but he's definitely not my type enough for me to watch the show sorely for his presence. Plus isn't he older than both Flanigan and Hewlett ? And definitely not as pretty as anyone in SGA.
So the "younger", "prettier", "whatever", isn't really working for me right now.

To be honest I'm a bit surprised by this choice, both of the producers and of the actor himself. Yes he's been in quite a few European and/or independant movies, but I highly doubt he's a "name" in the USA.

I doubt he's coming with a really low salary either, and given that they also want another "name" for the young lead, well let's just say that budget-wise, I'm beginning to wonder what quality of FX they are going to have.

Plus if they begin with high salaries, they're going to be in a clench even faster than usual :10 years for SG1 before the actors became too expensive, 5 for Atlantis, what, 2, 3 at the most for SGU ? And then they either change the cast or do another one ?

All in all, this has absolutely not changed my opinion on SGU, I still will not watch. The only thing that could change my opinion was if they decided to get team Sheppard (the real one, without the current leech) on board and to throw Paris Hilton above Earth before they leave.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I would think that Carlyle is costing them a pretty penny, which would mean lower salaries for the 'unknowns.'

[berry-hearts.livejournal.com]

I am very disappointed in this casting. As someone who likes the lame, teenybopper shows, this is not fitting into their "demographic" and as other have said it will be expensive.


(i was also secretly hoping that they would keep rodney or sheppard on but I have fully given up on that now)

[volaremn.livejournal.com]

I assume Carlyle accepting this SGU means he was not offered Doctor Who considering no one could possibly believe SGU is better for his career. It sounds like he wants a steady paycheck in a location that's good for raising children and this is his best option.

On the other hand, this is a hell of a coup for the franchise. I doubt they'll manage to fill out the cast with actors that match his acting caliber, not when they're looking for cheap, unknown, pretty young things. (And consider that his salary probably will be higher than Flanigan's as reported in that lawsuit, and that Scifi is now more tightfisted than in previous years as shown by Sanctuary's low licensing fee.) He's worked on a lot of high quality projects with actors that are much, much better than the Stargate median; I think he'll come to feel that he's earning every penny of his paycheck.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

It's a coup that they've got a very good actor, but... if they want to skew young, many young people have no idea who he is, but then again, they'll hire some hunks and Britney clones and that'll take care of the CW crowd ;);)

can't blame Carlyle for wanting a steady paycheck, if that's the case, but hope he realizes his character isn't gonna evolve. Sure didn't for Sheppard :(

[tavabean.livejournal.com]

Is he a member of SAG?
Maybe the potential strike won't affect his ability to show up for the filming, and that's a plus to the producers.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Wow, that would be rather sucky... I'm rather curious as to MGM's stance on this...