News has just broken on the London Expo site which is certain to give pause to fans of Michael Shanks, who plays Dr. Daniel Jackson on Stargate SG-1.
“Michael is now unable to attend the Expo this coming Sunday due to an important meeting he has to take in LA to do with a potential major TV role.
He sends his sincere apologies and hopes to attend next year.
He will still be attending SG10 and will be doing the store signings the week following SG10.
Sorry — Admin”
October has become a month for nail-biting tension as fans wait for news of the show’s renewal and the signing of cast members. With the timely official announcement from SCI FI that Season 10 is a reality, if Michael Shanks is indeed pursuing another television role, what could the news mean for Stargate SG-1 and fans of Daniel Jackson?
* Shanks could win the new role and leave Stargate SG-1
* Shanks could win the new role and still remain with Stargate SG-1 in some capacity
* Shanks could lose out on the role and remain with Stargate SG-1
* This could be a hardball negotiation tactic pertaining to Shanks’ signing on for Season 10
If Michael Shanks were to win this ‘potential major TV role,’ it need not necessarily preclude his appearance in Stargate SG-1. Not only are there no details at present on which show and which role Shanks is interested in, or any certainty that he would obtain the role, the filming of major US TV shows tends to run May-February and there would still be potential for Shanks to film episodes for Stargate SG-1 outside of that schedule. He would not be the only cast member to do so.
Amanda Tapping filmed “Proof Positive” for SCI FI Channel and TV Guide’s Anna David recently reported that Beau Bridges, who plays General Landry on the show, is moonlighting on “My Name Is Earl.” Bridges is to play Carl, the hardworking and long-suffering dad of Earl and Randy.
Unlike his sons, Carl is an upstanding citizen who now plans to run for mayor of his town. “Earl has done nothing but cause grief in his father’s life,” reveals Bridges, who’ll appear during November sweeps and may return again later in the season. “Carl just thinks he’s a total putz.”
Although Carl may not be all that fond of Earl, Bridges is a serious fan of “Earl”. “It’s just a fresh idea,” Bridges says. “It goes at a fast pace and has a real respect for the audience. The show’s form of comedy is very subtle.”
Creator Gary Garcia is equally magnanimous in his praise for Bridges. “When you have a guest star of his caliber, it brings a kind of credibility to the show,” Garcia gushes. “It makes it feel more like a little movie each week, and that’s really what we’re trying to do.”
It remains to be seen if Shanks will fare as well as Bridges in securing an additional TV role. While fans of the actor are certain to wish him every success, fans of the character he portrays so charismatically on Stargate SG-1 would be loathe to lose him from the regular cast.
Michael Shanks’ pursuit of another role is not the only potential cast shake-up for Season 10. Solutions sources are indicating that we can expect to see Claudia Black returning to portray Stargate’s favourite all-beautiful sex goddess Vala Mal Doran as a new regular cast member, appearing in every episode of the season. Fans of the fun, edgy relationship developing between Vala and Daniel would surely be disappointed if only one half of Stargate’s dynamic duo was to be part of the tenth season.
We’re going to have to wait for word from the actors in their convention appearances or official notification from the SCI FI Channel before the vexed question of casting for the unprecedented Season 10 of Stargate SG-1 is settled.
I think Michael Shanks is just going to be in a television movie, not a regular on a new tv show. I don’t think Michael Shanks would leave Stargate, especially now.
I’m sure it would be a tough decision for him. Stargate will end one day, and if Hollywood has finally taken notice of him, why would he not want to take advantage of that? I very much hope the meeting is about a role he could complete during the SG haitus and not an indication he’s considering leaving.
I hope he’s not leaving, I’m very happy that people are starting to take notice of him since he is such a good actor, but SG-1 still needs him. Daniel is very important to the workings of the show and so is Michael.
Michael Shanks leaving the first time was bad enough but “SG-1” would fall apart without him now. It can (and has) survived without either him or RDA not being cast members but could not if neither of them were in.
In one of this year’s cons report there was that both Michael and Chris said that they will definitely sign up for season 10, and additionally Michael is also planning to write an episode for season 10. I really, really hope he’s not going to leave SG-1 now, and I hope Sony is wiser than MGM to realize and see that it’s Daniel who is REAL heart and soul of the show.
Of course the show can continue without Michael Shanks. I’ll admit that i would really miss the character of Daniel but Stargate has become a much larger phenomenon than Jackson or any of the single characters. The story is what matters now.
What it boils down to is why you watch the show i guess. If you are only watching Stargate because you love Daniel/Michael then obviously his participation in the series is essential to your enjoyment, but if like me you are a fan of the story then as long as there is a solid cast of characters who are there to tell that story, i’ll be very happy.
That said, i do hope that Daniel is a part of season 10, if he isn’t however, i’ll still be watching and enjoying Stargate.