More news reports are surfacing concerning the newest addition to the Stargate franchise: Stargate Universe. This one, from Multichannel News, has some quotes from Sci Fi Channel’s Dave Howe that might help fans understand the direction in which SGU will be going to satisfy the tastes of the coveted young (male) demographic:
Sci Fi also is losing space opera Battlestar Galactica after the current season and wants to keep that genre an important part of the network, Sci Fi Channel president Dave Howe said.
“The intention here is to make this one skew young and give it a contemporary vibe,” Howe told Multichannel News Friday.
He said the new series presents a chance to take some new creative turns with the franchise. “As a network, obviously we look at Battlestar Galactica, that’s set the standard in terms of tense character drama. Stargate does not have the intensity of a Battlestar Galactica. But it may well be somewhere in between. Brad and Robert are very eager to keep the action and adventure and the sense of humor [in Stargate Universe]. But I think there’s an opportunity to maybe inject a bit more dramatic intensity into the series. But that’s obviously a conversation for them as they start to script and move into development.”
The plan is to start shooting early next year, so casting and scripting will start soon, Howe said.
As has been described, Stargate Universe involves the discovery of an ancient vessel — reached by the space-travel portal called the stargate — that was intended to explore different galaxies where stargates have been placed and see how civilizations there have progressed.
“What’s unique about this chapter is it’s going to be set entirely in space,” Howe said. “They’re on a ship, the Destiny. That’s also an opportunity for us because as Battlestar Galactica reaches a conclusion it’s nice for us to have within the mix of programming a space opera that serves the audience that’s really into in space operas.”
To read the rest of the article (in which the author makes a very bad and insulting assumption as to the casting for the upcoming Atlantis movie), visit Sci Fi Channel Greenlights ‘Stargate Universe’.
[SGU Logo from MGM Official Stargate website.]
I knew they were going for BSG from the first descriptions. Sadly , BW and RCC are not David Eick. Their attempts to write character drama gave us Sam and her doe eyes of death, the Sam/Pete smarm hour, and really not a single believable romantic relationship that I can remember.
As for the articles speculation on guest casting, I really think the author did not read Joe’s blog carefully! At all!
I’ve seen reactions (and I’m quite guilty of it to a certain extent myself) that supposed that the show would be more about sex in space.
Its going toward the BSG dramatic intensity doesn’t help change that assumption, but supports it even more. Howe really needs to clarify precisely what SGU is supposed to be. I didn’t watch BSG. I’m not inclined to watch SGU if it’s just a copy, even though there’s a Stargate theoretically involved.
I have watched BSG EXCELLANT!!!! very Intense drama. This is a show that most of the time had me on seats edge!!. If the SG writers can creat an SG Universe with that much Intense Drama the ratings will go through the roof!!!
“contemporary vibe”
I hope that doesn’t mean the 3D Dark, Dreary and Depressing – apparently that is what the kids are into these days – and I hate it. Just grow up a bit and your life will be dark and depressing all on its own, no need to rush it.
Stuff SGU. I won’t get sucked in to watching a new show only to have it cancelled a few seasons into it, if it even lasts that long. I think we should start a petititon to halt SGU and keep SGA going.