Everything You Need To Know About ‘Stargate: Universe’

MGM Studios is starting to become active in letting us know about the upcoming new Stargate franchise series called Stargate: Universe (SGU).  Their anticipation of fan support is evidenced in this first group image of the ensemble of SGU that’s been released.

SGU continues the tradition of a series centered around a highly evolved species who left behind a method of transportation called the Stargate.  Stargates connect to each other via a wormhole that is artificially created between two of these “gates” and makes long distance travel a bit more convenient.

In this Stargate chapter, a group of humans: Soldiers, scientists and civilians, are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. In the rush to get the heck out of there, they find that they’ve transported themselves onto an ancient ship that is locked on an unknown course, with no way to return to Earth.

While stuck on the ship, they need to figure out how to use the ship’s Stargate in order to survive and they’re faced with the premise of needing to find basic needs like food & water.

As we’ve reported in past articles about cast additions to Stargate Universe, the cast is stocked with acting veterans and fresh faces alike.  I thought we’d bring it all together for you in one summary article.

The Cast / Characters

Robert Carlyle will star as the brilliant Dr. Nicholas Rush.  We need to watch out for this one.  We’re told his motives are not what they appear to be!

Lou Diamond Phillips is Colonel Telford.  Telford is a proud lifelong military man and the chosen leader of this rag-tag group of…  oh.  Let’s leave it at “ill-fated expedition.”

Justin Louis will be playing Colonel Everett Young, who’s an experienced Stargate team leader.  He never takes anything for granted and stays on top of the team to keep them alive.

Brian J. Smith is Lt. Matthew Scott.  Scott is a junior member of the Stargate team whose green and rough around the edges.

Elyse Levesque plays Chloe Armstrong, the daughter and aid of a U.S. Senator.  She has political savvy that’s laced with a wild side.

David Blue stars as Eli Wallace.  Eli is a total slacker who’s also a genius… when he puts his mind to it.  His lack of confidence is evident with his acerbic* sense of humor. (*I had to look this up!  Acid in temper, mood or tone.  Isn’t that dry wit?)

Alaina Huffman is MSGT. Tamara Johansen.  Unable to afford medical school, Johansen joined the Air Force.  (Be all you can be!  Oh, wait, wrong wing of the military!)  So instead of an education, she’s a stranded space wayfarer.  Great!  She’s strong willed but lacking any in-depth experience.  This inexperienced field medic will need to rise to occasion.

Jamil Walker Smith portrays MSGT. Ronald Greer.  He’s labeled as the Marine with a temper, with a mysterious past and a dark emotional side to him.  A Jarhead with a temper…  and that’s new, how?  I mean that in a good way!

Ming-Na is Camile Wray.  She’s a human resources executive with the international oversight committee that governs the Stargate program. She’s thrust into being the highest ranking member of the division left stranded on the ship.  As with any oversight committee member, she carries herself with a misguided sense of superiority over the survivors.  And being HR, she’ll probably try to paper-work the bad guys to death!

My Take

I’m still grumpy that Stargate Atlantis is off the air.  The show was getting its feet under it and things were coming along nicely, until that slap together series finale.  What the heck is it with series finales these days?  Cripes!

Me, I would have loved to see Ronin or Tealc or both get swept up in this attack while visiting this secret base and had some continuity connection between shows.  As it stands, there doesn’t look like there’s going to be much of a chance that this Stargate platform will ever connect with Earth or Atlantis while they’re running around Lost In Space.  There, I said it.  Not only will the characters be stranded, but so will we, the viewers.  Cripes again!

I’d like to see the occasional Todd appearance.  That would sooth me a little bit… though not by much.

I’m on-board strictly because it is Stargate and Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, will be serving as executive producers and writers.  They are going to have to pull one out of the bag, or pocket protector, to make sure this works.

Network And Production Hopes

The hopes of the producing entities are that SGU will take the franchise in a new direction. This new direction is one they hope will appeal to both longtime Stargate fans and the first-time viewer.

The premiere of Stargate Universe will be a two part episode directed by Andy Mikita (Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1) and lensed by Rohn Schmidt (The Shield, The Mist) and is expected to air in October 2009.

After seeing the trailer, which if any of you noticed, played during the finale of Battlestar Galactica, what do you think? Without having seen much more, do you think this might pan out for the franchise, or the fans?