Introduction
The second direct-to-DVD movie to be released after the cancellation of Stargate SG-1 is Stargate: Continuum. This movie, written and produced by Brad Wright and directed by Martin Wood, is considered to be a stand-alone story, but takes advantage of the rich mythology created over the lifetime of the original movie Stargate and the ten-year-old TV series. MGM is aiming for a fall of 2007 release.
Plot Details
From the article “MGM Greenlights New Stargate Movies” published by Business Wire:
While SG-1 attends the execution of Ba’al, the last of the Goa’uld System Lords, Teal’c and Vala inexplicably disappear into thin air. Carter, Daniel and Mitchell race back to a world where history has been changed: the Stargate Program has been erased from the timeline. As they try to convince the authorities what’s happened, a fleet of Goa’uld motherships arrives in orbit, led by Ba’al, his queen, Katesh, (Vala) and his first prime, Teal’c. SG-1 must find the Stargate and set things right before the world is enslaved by the Goa’uld.
Production Details
According to the British Columbia Film Commission, Stargate: Continuum will resume filming in Vancover on May 22 and conclude on June 14:
Stargate SG-1: CONTINUUM
Kawoosh Productions DTV I Inc.
Director: Martin Wood
Exec. Prod: Brad Wright
Prod: N. John Smith
DOP: Peter Woeste
PD: James Robbins
PM: George Horie
PC: Tanya Balic
LM: Lorne Davidson
ALM: Dominic Main
Publicist: Bridgette Prochaska
Casting: Sean Cossey
Extras: Sanddra Couldwell
Sched: May 22/07 – Jun 14/07
TEL: 604-292-8500
FAX: 604-292-8550
All of Season Ten’s main cast will be returning to reprise their roles, as well as Cliff Simon (Ba’al) and Richard Dean Anderson (Jack O’Neill). Concerning Anderson’s return, Brad Wright stated, “We’re thrilled to have Richard join us for Stargate: Continuum. As Gen. Jack O’Neill, Richard brings both a sense of history and familiarity to the continuing adventures of the Stargate team. And we all recognize his value as the much-loved hero among the Stargate fan base.” Wright also hinted that because the story involves time travel, other characters from SG-1’s past might also appear, even if they are currently dead (IMDb has that Steve Bacic will be reprising his role as Camulus).
Referred to in a Reuters press release as “MGM’s $6 million-$7 million extension of the long-running sci-fi series Stargate,” the movie has a higher budget than episodic television, giving composer Joel Goldsmith the opportunity to create a new soundtrack with a live orchestra.
The production team had a unique opportunity in March to film on location in the Arctic where actors Amanda Tapping (Lt. Col. Samantha Carter) and Ben Browder (Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell), along with Anderson, were able to shoot several scenes in this dangerous, yet beautiful, location. Reports from the “field” were filled with excitement and told of some of the dangers that the crew faced, including polar bears and extremely low temperatures. The filming crew had a scare when a cameraman got splashed while filming the submarine U.S.S. Alexandria and had to be rushed away by helicopter to the base camp where he was treated and released, but otherwise, they all seemed to have had an enjoyable adventure that they won’t soon forget.
Concerning these scenes in the Arctic and how the idea came about, Wright explained to StargateAtlantis.com that Barry Campbell, the man who runs the Arctic camp, “invited [executive producer] John Smith to visit the ice camp, then it became John and a few people from the show, and it snowballed from there. When I was conceiving the story, I came up with a reason that SG-1 could end up stranded in the Arctic and get rescued by a submarine — and Jack O’Neill — and Barry has been very accommodating. So has Erik Reynolds, the Navy liaison.” Six scenes were shot in the Arctic from March 23-29, including some onboard the Alexandria, with Campbell having a speaking role and one of the submarine’s crew, Electronics Technician 2nd Class Courtney D. Miler, a longtime fan of Stargate, getting on film as an extra.
There was some concern raised by fans that Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson) wouldn’t appear in the Arctic scenes, even though the storyline implied that he should, because he was filming episodes for the hit FOX TV series 24, but producer N. John Smith reassured the crowd at the Vancouver Con in March that sets were being built that would mimic the Arctic locations and that Shanks would film his scenes in them. However, in his farewell video interview posted at scifi.com this month, Shanks said something that hinted at the possibility that those plans might have been changed: “In the second movie, we get to see a completely different side of the character [Daniel Jackson] — we get to see him vulnerable in a way we’ve never seen before. I won’t give away specifics, but something he’s never had to go through before, but be alive, which is different. It’s kind of neat. I know it was kind of a last-minute thing that Brad [Wright] offered for the character because I wasn’t able to go and shoot scenes in the Arctic. So, it’s one of these compromises that turned into a real neat character thing that’s going to be fun to play.”
According to Stargate Atlantis executive producer Joseph Mallozzi in his personal blog, there will be a Stargate: Continuum tease produced by Ivon Bartok included in the Season Ten DVD boxed set (tentatively scheduled for Region 1 release July 24, 2007) that will include footage taken in the Arctic.
For comprehensive production notes and links to articles concerning the movie, please visit Solutions’ Stargate: Continuum movie guide.