Stargate Worlds: “Lights are still on…”

Stargate Worlds Logo

Here’s an official statement from Cheyenne Mountain’s Senior Marketing Manager Kevin Balentine concerning the statements made by Brad Wright that were published by Gateworld and that pretty much implied that Stargate Worlds, the MMORPG, was most likely never going to get released:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The Lights are Still On and Stargate Worlds Development Continues

I’ve been asked from many corners lately to provide an official response to a story circulated by Gateworld.net. I spoke with Darren Sumner, the author of the story, soon after it was posted and gave him a detailed response to the article which he decided not to publish.

Our official response is that the lights here are still on and the development team is working hard every day to get this game built. Team members are in the office seven days a week to deliver Stargate Worlds. Brad Wright is the Stargate expert and a creative consultant on Stargate Worlds who advises us on the story; unfortunately we had not recently updated him on our progress or the impact from the current global economic crisis, and he was not fully aware of the continuing progress on our game.

It’s true that the production of Stargate Worlds has been significantly impacted by the greatest worldwide economic downturn in decades, but we are still raising enough money from angel investors to keep the dev team working.

We are currently negotiating several deals that will cover our financial responsibilities and fund the remainder of development. When we sign those deals, you’ll hear about it. Until then, we’ll keep building Stargate Worlds, because right now, that’s the only thing that matters to us.

Stargates Nominated for Canada’s Constellation Awards

Coming right after the many Leo Awards nominations announcement, the list of the nominees in the 2009 Contellation Awards has been made available! According to their official website, “The Constellation Awards are Canada’s annual science fiction awards focused on rewarding excellence in science fiction film and television. Now in its third year, The Constellation Awards celebrate and honour the actors, writers, and technical artists behind the best of today’s science fiction film and TV works – with an added focus on Canadian contributions to science fiction film and television. The Constellation Awards are also the only Canadian science fiction film and TV awards where YOU, the Canadian viewing public, get to select the nominees and winners in all categories.”

The categories in which Stargate has nominees:

Best Male Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Television Episode: David Hewlett, “The Shrine”

Best Science Fiction Television Series of 2008: Stargate Atlantis

Best Male Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series: Richard Dean Anderson, Stargate: Continuum

Best Female Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series: Amanda Tapping, Stargate: Continuum; Claudia Black, Stargate: Continuum

Best Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series of 2008: Stargate: Continuum

Best Technical Accomplishment in a 2008 Science Fiction Film or Television Production: Digital Effects (Rainmaker Digital Pictures), Stargate: Continuum

Best Overall 2008 Science Fiction Film or Television Script: Brad Wright, Stargate: Continuum

Outstanding Canadian Contribution to Science Fiction Film or Television in 2008: Amanda Tapping, Canadian Actress/Producer; The Stargate Franchise, Canadian Produced Series/Films.

Additionally, Tapping’s Sanctuary was also nominated in several of the same categories as Stargate.

The awards will be presented at Polaris 23 on July 11th, 2009. Congratulations to all nominees!

Here are the instructions on voting, which is now open until June 8, 2009:

In order for you to be eligible to vote, at least one of the following must be true:

1) You are either a Canadian citizen (not necessarily living in Canada) or a permanent resident of Canada,

OR

2) You were a member of the TCON Promotional Society during the Polaris 22 convention in July, 2008,

OR

3) You have purchased a membership to the TCON Promotional Society which does not expire before Polaris 23 (July of 2009).

Ballots missing voting information or payment will not be counted. Note that you do not need to vote in all categories.

Joe Flanigan on John Sheppard

John Sheppard
Joe Flanigan as Lt. Col. John Sheppard (image from MGM)

Stargate Atlantis star Joe Flanigan was the subject of a lengthy article titled “Joe Flanigan: The Adventurer”, published by Steve Eramo in the blog Sci Fi and TV Talk.

One of the highlights of the article: “It’s very easy to slip into the Sheppard character and see what his perception would be of the particular environment he’s in. You think, ‘OK, what are the things that he’d find amusing, serious, scary, or whatever,’ and then just act accordingly. Surprisingly, that’s not a difficult thing to do. Again, keeping him fresh from a character development standpoint is a little out of my control, but, you know, after all this time the people out there still seem to see Sheppard as someone who’s fun and interesting. That makes me feel good about what I’m doing.”

Make sure to visit Sci Fi and TV Talk for the complete interview.

According to Stargate Actor Appearances, Flanigan’s next public appearance is currently scheduled to be the Official Stargate SG-1 & Atlantis Convention in Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois, August 21-23.

Stargate Universe to Air on Sky One

According to Variety, the UK’s Sky One will be broadcasting Stargate Universe this fall!

As far as we know, this means that SGU will have first-run audiences in the fall in the US (from Syfy), Canada (from SPACE, based on The Circuit news), and the UK (Sky One). Depending on the type of deal signed, though, it’s most likely the case that Syfy will have the world premiere airing of “Air” (October 2 is the speculated date, but not official yet).

Richard Dean Anderson on Return to Stargate

Richard Dean Anderson sent a note to his official website to confirm his appearances in several episodes of Stargate Universe, as well as MGM’s green light for the third SG-1 movie. The site withheld the announcement until official news had been released.

March 2, 2009

I would have thought word had gotten out by now, but as I am informed, so shall ye be: the movie has been green lit. There are so few details beyond the ‘go ahead’, but I sat next to Charlie Cohen and across from Brad Wright at dinner two weeks ago (the cast dinner for the launch of Stargate Universe), and just an hour prior to sitting down to mediocre cuisine, Charlie had announced MGM’s intention to make the next Stargate movie. As I am led to believe, shooting may start this summer, most likely.

I was up there doing a snippet of a scene with Robert Carlyle and I’ll be going back March 17 for another scene in part 2 of the two-hour. I had told Brad that if he wanted help in the launch of Universe I’d love to be a part of it. (Truth be known, I missed those guys ‘n gals.) So I’ll make a few slim appearances in the first half-dozen episodes, or so. Again, details are sketchy, but I’ve already shot the first of my scenes so the ball is rolling. Andy Mikita is directing the two-hour, so we had a good hug and huge laugh.

Anyway, there you go.

Rick

Anderson just filmed scenes for “Earth”, and so now we know he’s also appearing in the premiere, “Air”.

Submit Your Questions to Peter DeLuise

Peter DeLuise

Joseph Mallozzi is offering to host a fan Q&A with returning director Peter DeLuise (he’s directing Stargate Universe‘s “Fire”). He’s collecting your questions now, so visit the current entry of his weblog, scroll down to the comments section, and type in your questions. Mallozzi screens all comments, but once approved, your questions will appear for all to see.

Mallozzi said that DeLuise will get to these questions as soon as he’s finished with “Fire”. That should be very soon.

Reminder: “Continuum” on SCI FI Tonight

Stargate: Continuum

Stargate: Continuum will be making its US television premiere tonight at 9 PM Eastern on the Sci Fi Channel! This story, written by Brad Wright, centers on the plans of the last of the Goa’uld System Lords, Ba’al, as he alters the timeline such that the Stargate Program never existed. It will be up to SG-1 to set things straight!

Richard Dean Anderson returns as Maj. Gen. Jack O’Neill as he joins the Season Ten cast of Stargate SG-1. This movie also marks the final Stargate appearance by the late Don S. Davis as George Hammond.

In case you missed the US television premiere of Stargate: The Ark of Truth last week, the Sci Fi Channel will be showing it again at 7 PM. This means four hours of back-to-back SG-1 movie goodness! What a wonderful ride for SG-1 fans!

MGM and Sci Fi have been advertising that they’ll also be showing a sneak peek into Stargate Universe during Continuum. Now, they said that they were going to do that with The Ark of Truth last week, but instead only replayed the teaser that premiered during the series finale of Battlestar Galactica. But, hope springs eternal that they are actually going to show something new and exciting that will be of interest to Stargate fans!

Phillips in “Love Takes Wing” April 4

Stargate Universe star Lou Diamond Phillips can be seen this weekend on the Hallmark Channel in the movie that he both starred in and directed, Love Takes Wing. According to TV Guide, the movie is a “period epic about an orphanage infected with cholera.” The movie also features Phillips’ wife and young daughters as well! Visit TV Guide for a video interview concerning the movie, including clips and more.

Showtimes for Love Takes Wing: Hallmark Channel, Saturday, April 4, 9:00 PM, and Friday, April 10, 9:00 PM.