With the premiere of Stargate Universe (SGU) headed our way, some are expecting the same-ol’, while others are hoping for something new. Despite the public statements about having a younger cast, they’ve still injected some seasoned veterans in the mix in the form of Robert Carlyle and Lou Diamond Phillips.  That makes for a nice mix to draw various viewing hopefuls into the fray of watching the show.

It seems that it just might be possible that the creative forces behind SGU are concerned with the show looking like all the other shows. To try and keep it a fresh experience, they’ve decided to mix up a few things, including the use of different camera techniques to film the series.

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Stargate Universe (SGU) is coming at us. One week at a time… but it’s coming.

For some, there’s an anticipation to be carried forward in the Stargate mythos, while for others there is trepidation that this show is not going to have the opportunity to head in the same direction the previous shows have taken the viewer.

Regardless of all of our concerns, this is all we have at the moment.

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.

As time plods away, more and more members are being added to the cast of stranded humans in the upcoming Sci-Fi Channel series Stargate: Universe.  (SGU)

The latest additions include Ming-Na, Elyse Levesque, Alaina Huffman and Lou Diamond Philips.  Yep, Lou Diamond Philips.

Welcome! This is the first rendition of Screen Rants Weekly TV Wrap Up. This is where we pass on some of the TV news we come across, keeping you on the edge of news and updates. Our regularly scheduled day will be Thursday mornings, so be sure to check in every week with us.

When there’s TV news, it will be here!

Stargate: Atlantis is coming to a close - it’s been a great ride. The show took a bit to adjust to, but after a while the characters and new location grew on me because it had the same feel to the writing that we’ve come to enjoy from the Stargate franchise.

It was hard not to know that last week’s episode was the next to last episode for Atlantis. I went into the episode, titled “Vegas” (written and directed by Robert Cooper), not really looking forward to it. I was coming into it with a bit of a dour perspective because it was some alternate timeline story. My thought? “Why would they do this to us in the next to last episode of the series?”

WARNING: If you DVR’d the episode, a bit of an outline spoiler follows the break.

The Stargate franchise has itself a new leading man.

It was announced today that Scottish actor Robert Carlyle will be cast in the lead role of Dr. David Rush in the upcoming new Sci-Fi Channel series: Stargate: Universe. (SGU)

Even though the studio is looking to make SGU a younger and edgier show in tone than the previous renditions of the franchise, Carlyle will bring the depth and complexity only he can to the show, which is what the creators wanted in their lead character.

Yes, that sounds confusing.  It was weird to write also.  Even though we watch Stargate on the Sci-Fi Channel, Sci-Fi does not own the rights to the franchise.  They are allowed to telecast the shows, but they don’t own them.  MGM owns the rights to do with the franchise as they wish.

One of the many theories of why Stargate: Atlantis is ending is that it’s so MGM can take advantage of the potential profits in moving Atlantis to the DVD medium.

I am a HUGE Stargate fan.

The original movie by Roland Emmerich starring Kurt Russell, Stargate SG-1, and even the slow-to-start Stargate Atlantis.

So it pains me to say that I do NOT like the description for the overall concept of the latest addition to the franchise: Stargate Universe.

Well Bite me.

Just when I get comfortable with Stargate Atlantis after losing Stargate SG-1, they go and pull the plug on it. Yep, it’s been announced today that this, the fifth season of Stargate Atlantis, is its final season on television.

So the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con is officially over - today feels like coming down from a “high.” Covering the Con is always a whirlwind, but at least this year (my second covering it) I felt like a was a bit more in control.

We did our best to bring you the lowdown on what is relevant to you although we couldn’t cover everything. That’s the problem with the Con - as far as movies and television almost everything is relevant to what we cover here at Screen Rant: Sci-Fi, superheroes, action and a bit of horror.

We managed to cover:

The panel for Stargate: Atlantis was lighthearted and fun to watch.  The actors in the panel were Joe Flanigan, Jewel Staite, Robert Picardo and show scribe Brad Wright and Chris Sanagustin, the VP of Original Programming from the Sci-Fi Channel.

The crowd was pretty animated with the introductions and when Jewel Staite was introduced the energy of the crowd easily tripled.  The Firefly demographic was well represented.

This panel was a follow up to the premiere of Stargate Continuum the night before.

As the Stargate SG-1 cast came in and were introduced, everyone applauded wildly - but by far the big fan favorite (judging by how deaf I went from the cheers) was Christopher Judge, hands down, for this Stargate Continuum forum.

Amanda Tapping talked briefly about her new web-to-TV show, Sanctuary, which has filmed eight of its scheduled thirteen episodes so far.

As for Ben Browder, he’s enjoying some quiet time between acting gigs and volunteering his time coaching pole vaulting at a local high school.

Being a huge Stargate SG-1 fan, it was quite an honor to have the opportunity to attend the premiere of the upcoming direct to DVD movie Stargate: Continuum. I’m still enough of a fanboy to geek out at the opportunity to meet the actors from one of my all time favorite TV series… PLUS I’m happy to report that the movie was excellent! Far better than the previous SG-1 DVD film Stargate: The Ark of Truth.

Dammit - Now we’ve lost Don S. Davis. What a year this has been for losing people in the movie and TV industry…

Don was best known for playing General Hammond on Stargate: SG-1 for 10 years. This will make his appearance in the upcoming DVD movie Stargate: Continuum (which will be released on July 29th) that much more poignant.

On the series he played the role of commander of Stargate Command with a quiet, fatherly strength that made him a fan favorite on the series.

He passed away Sunday morning of a heart attack at the age of 65. In addition to acting, Davis was also an accomplished artist in the areas of sculpture, painting, drawing, and set design - you can view some of his very impressive work at DonSDavisArt.com.

When Stargate SG-1 ended after 10 years, I was surprised to find myself feeling abandoned to some degree. I became comfortable following the familiar characters and the evolving conflicts between humanity and its off-world relationships - kind of like going to work every day. Sure, we have Stargate: Atlantis, but it just isn’t quite the same as Stargate SG-1. Atlantis is like a new job. Same ‘ol, same ‘ol, but a new place to do it in.

But if anyone out there wants to see a new twist on Stargate, there may be some hope for you.

A third live-action series is being conceived by Stargate: Atlantis co-creators Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper called Stargate: Universe and they are looking to make it an independent storyline of the already established Stargate realm.

I didn’t make it to the Warner Bros. panel, but did get to sit in on the presentation for the upcoming direct to DVD Stargate SG-1 movies. On hand was the cast including Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, and Ben Browder along with director Martin Wood and producer Robert Cooper.

There wasn’t too much in regards to new info in these panels… mainly they answered questions from the audience.

Gary Jones who played gate operator “Walter” acted as moderator. He was quite engaging and introduced a trailer for Stargate: The Ark of Truth, the DVD movie that will complete the Ori storyline. It looked pretty epic and like they pulled out all the stops.

As you may already know with the end of Click to continue "Stargate SG-1 To Live On In Direct-To-DVD Movies?"

As Stargate SG-1 rapidly approaches the end of it’s 10 year run, there’s word the producers of the show are developing yet another Stargate-themed series titled Stargate Universe.

There are no details available regarding the show beyond the fact that it takes place present-day like SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis and that it would not have characters from the two existing series as regulars.

The show is in the very early stages of development and has not been picked up for broadcast by any network, including the Sci Fi Channel.

Here’s my advice to the awesome folks who’ve brought us a fantastic series: Give it a rest. Apply your considerable talents to something completely new and different.

Now before you start throwing rocks my way, hear me out…

I’m really confused (nothing new, right?). According to some comments on my Stargate SG-1 Ends post it seems our friends across the pond in the UK have already seen the rest of the final season including the finale.

No disrespect to our British friends (hi Richard!), but why has an American-produced TV show already aired over there, while here in the US it’s been so long since a new episode has been broadcast that I’ve almost forgotten it’s even coming back? Generally they get our shows much later than we do and we get their shows (for example Dr Who) an entire season behind the broadcast over there.

Just seems odd to me, is all.

BTW, from what I’ve read so far folks are not happy about the entire series ending with a cliffhanger that will be resolved in a straight-to-DVD movie.

Sorry guys, but that is just plain tacky in my opinion.

The SciFi Channel just announced that they will not be renewing Stargate SG-1 next season, and that it’s slated to end at 215 episodes total. This announcement is a bit odd in it’s timing considering all the hoopla surrounding the airing of the (MOST excellent) 200th episode last Friday.

I have to say that I have mixed feelings about this… On the one hand it’s like having an old friend move away, but on the other I really think it’s time to lay it to rest.

I find it sad to report that the awesome and amazing television show known as Stargate SG-1 has left the building.

Oh sure, there’s still a show filling the time slot with the same name, but Stargate SG-1 it ain’t, and my entire family is in mourning.
The first sign of Sci Fi channel trying to milk the Stargate cow dry was last season’s premiere of Stargate: Atlantis. It’s not bad, per se, but the only character that’s really captured me and become a favorite is Dr. Rodney McKay (played by David Hewlett). Other than that, eh. And now that it’s looking like they’re going to try to hook up Col. Sheppard with Dr. Weir instead of Teyla, I’m going to start to get annoyed with the show.

With this season of SG-1 there is more milking evident. Richard Dean Anderson has left the show (for the record I commend the man for dropping out to spend time with his family), Amanda Tapping is yet to be seen beyond a brief video-monitor cameo in the season opener, a younger replacement for O’Neil has been brought in who is (who would have guessed) also irreverent and to the point. There’s also a new female character whose name escapes me but is infinitely annoying, and one of the Bridges’ brothers as the new general. And oh yes, those great opening credits and music have been cut down to just 10 seconds in order to make more time for… extra commercials.