Stargate Universe Updates

Some tantalizing but not-so-revealing updates from Sci Fi Wire:

Sci Fi Wire Exclusive Stargate Universe Updates

SCI FI Wire has gotten a bunch of exclusive updates about SCI FI Channel’s new show Stargate Universe, including the news that executive producers Brad Wright and Robert Cooper are planning on delivering a first draft of the pilot script by the end of the year.

In other exclusive news:

–We’re told that work on the script started after a major creative meeting last month between SCI FI executives and representatives from the show’s producer, MGM, where the two companies discussed and agreed on the overall creative direction of the show.

–We learned this week that producers have already pitched some initial episode ideas and that preliminary concept art was Fed-Exed from MGM offices in Vancouver, Canada, to SCI FI’s development team in Los Angeles.

–MGM and SCI FI have already begun batting around casting ideas for Universe, although they haven’t shared information about what the roles will be or which actors are being considered. Yet.

What we know about Universe is that it’s executive-produced by Wright and Cooper, who also executive-produced Universe‘s predecessor series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis.

SCI FI Wire previously posted exclusive images of the show’s concept art.

Stargate Universe centers on a simple reconnaissance mission that turns into a never-ending quest as a new crew of Stargate explorers gates onto the Destiny, an Ancient ship that is unable to return to Earth. They will travel to the far reaches of the universe, encountering new races, enemies and adventures.

SCI FI Channel plans to begin production of the show in early 2009 and debut it next summer with a two-hour premiere. —Patrick Lee, News Editor