Maury Chaykin as Nerus (MGM)Several news agencies are reporting the passing away of veteran actor Maury Chaykin today, his 61st birthday.
Stargate SG-1 fans will recognize him as Nerus, the fumbling Goa’uld scientist under System Lord Ba’al’s employ, but the actor has played many parts over the last 35 years, his last project being Barney’s Version, which will be premiering in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Chaykin was born in 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, but made his home and career in Toronto when he moved there in 1974. He made appearances in films from both Hollywood and Canada, and was recently seen in the HBO productions Entourage and Less Than Kind. To name but a few of his projects: Dances with Wolves and The Postman with Kevin Costner; Heavens Fall, which is currently available on Hulu; and appearances on television shows such as Eureka, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Andromeda, Due South, and, of course, two episodes of Stargate SG-1.
His performances have been recognized with several nominations and wins, including Canadian Comedy Award for Less Than Kind in 2009, Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role Dramatic Series for At the Hotel in 2006 and one in 1998 for La Femme Nikita, Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Whale Music in 1994, among others.
Chaykin is survived by his wife, actress Susannah Hoffmann, and their daughter. Solutions extends our deepest condolences to Chaykin’s family and friends.
Stargate star Michael Shanks has appeared in The CW’s Smallville as Carter Hall/Hawkman twice, and it’s confirmed that he’ll be appearing in the second episode of the show’s record-breaking tenth season once it returns this fall. On top of this confirmation, a trailer that was shown at the recent San Diego Comic Con gives us visible proof.
Kryptonsite confirmed Carter Hall’s return in the episode “Shield”, episode 10.02, on Friday, October 1, at 8 PM ET. The details of his appearance aren’t known, but we do get some glimpses of him—and can hear some of his dialogue—near the end of this section of the trailer (beware, cheering fans in the audio):
Did you see him near the 1:20 mark in what appears to be an archaeologist’s tent? He was in Egypt the last time we saw him in the S9 finale “Salvation”. We’ll have to wait for the episode to air to find out where he is and what he’s doing to help Clark Kent realize his full potential as Superman in the show’s final season.
You might be interested in these news tidbits and announcements that have been noted on this editor’s calendar and notebook for this week. If you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below. We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week.
Calendar
Monday, July 26
The rebranding of SCI FI to Syfy Universal in Asia kicks off with the premiere of Stargate Universe‘s “Air Part 1” (11 PM/10 PM THAI/JKT), followed by the special Stargate Universe: Access All Areas that includes interviews, set tours, and other behind-the-scenes details (11:45 PM/10:45 THAI/JKT).
Tuesday, July 27
SGU 1.5 is released today in both DVD and Blu-ray formats. The Blu-ray edition has the “Survival Instinct Game” that the DVD release doesn’t have. A demo of the game is up at MGM’s Official Website. Visit the MGM Store for ordering information.
Wednesday, July 28
Encore: Stargate Universe“Justice” on New Zealand’s Prime TV at 10:45 PM.
Thursday, July 29
Stargate Universe‘s slot on New Zealand’s Prime TV has been taken by the premiere of Survivors. No details are available as to when SGU 1.5 will be aired.
Friday, July 30
The Sanctuary Experience starts today and runs until August 1 in Vancouver. Amanda Tapping will be there, as well as many others who have had Stargate ties. Check the website for the schedule and guest list.
It should be noted that whenever spoilers come out for SGU, they are placed in the episode guides in the Stargate Wiki without much fanfare here in the News Blog. To keep on top of such updates, visit the main page of the Stargate Wiki to see the “Recent Updates” list of links.
Solutions News Blog Round-Up
Our News Blog posts since the last Stargate Planner (most recent listed first):
Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. The articles listed in this section don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:
For news as it happens, make sure to visit the Stargate Twitter Superfeed for tidbits directly from the Stargate stars and production crew. And don’t forget our new feature Beyond the Event Horizon, which consists of “home pages” with dynamic feeds from our LJ and Blog for the stars of SG-1 and Atlantis.
Our LJ Companion has news bites, polls, and glimpses into the lives of the actors that we don’t necessarily cover here in our more formal news blog. Make sure to visit the LJ’s feed on our front page or visit the site directly to see its mostly fun little tidbits.
For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.
Christopher Judge as Teal'c (MGM)He was a panelist with the Dead Space team from Visceral Games who are developing the animated film Dead Space Aftermath for which he lent his voice. This report from Game Spot gives us an glimpse into his Dead Space experience:
Next it was Judge talking about his voice acting work in Dead Space Aftermath. Judge, who has a sci-fi background playing Teal’c on Stargate SG-1, was asked about some of the challenges going from a traditional acting medium like television to using purely his voice in an animated movie. He joked that the hardest part was going from a “monosyllabic” character like Teal’c to playing someone far less stoic. Expanding on that joke with some seriousness, Judge said that he initially had a hard time believing that the script was for an animated movie, praising the script for being far more “emotional” than most animated fare. They then showed a very work-in-progress clip from Aftermath, which despite its unfinished animation, served to show that the plot will deal with Judge’s character searching desperately for his daughter.
G4TV reports that Judge’s character’s name is Cutner and that Aftermath will be released in both DVD and Blu-ray formats.
In this report from Gamer Zines, we get a summary of Aftermath as it applies to the world of Dead Space:
Due to release in January 2011, Dead Space Aftermath, the animated feature, will explain the events of the first-responder mission to Aegis VII and explores how the Government sends an unwitting crew of people to get exposed to Marker shards. The Government is secretly trying to produce a viable “Marker blueprint” carrier, no matter the costs.
Claudia Black
Claudia Black as Vala Mal Doran (MGM)She was a panelist with Epic Games during which she announced that she will be doing voice work for Gears of War 3. From the Epic Games website:
The spectacular conclusion to one of the games industry’s most memorable and celebrated sagas, Gears of War 3, is poised to take the world by storm next spring. At this time next year, fans around the world will experience the epic story finale to the Gears of War trilogy, when the third installment in one of the biggest franchises in Xbox history arrives in stores worldwide: April 5, 2011, in North America, April 7 in Japan, and April 8 in Europe and the rest of the world.
Sci-fi fans will be pleased to know that the space vixen, Claudia Black, from former popular shows like Stargate: SG-1 will be joining the voice-cast of Gears of War 3. […] Claudia Black’s role will be designated to the sexy female [COGS] soldier, Sam [Byrne]. She’ll be hanging with the big boys (literally, they’re very big) and blasting down on the Locust horde like no tomorrow.
Black’s previous Epic Games title was Mass Effect 2, which was released in January this year.
You might be interested in these news tidbits and announcements that have been noted on this editor’s calendar and notebook for this week. If you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below. We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week.
Calendar
Monday, July 19
Tuesday, July 20
Wednesday, July 21
Encore: Stargate Universe“Life” on New Zealand’s Prime TV at 10:30 PM.
Thursday, July 22
Stargate Universe“Justice” on New Zealand’s Prime TV at 8:30 PM.
Michael Shanks starts filming today in Vancouver for his role in the new Gothic Red Riding Hood. The Warner Bros. movie is currently scheduled for release in theaters on March 11, 2011.
Julia Benson – She’s filming a new Syfy movie Earth’s Final Hours during SGU’s filming hiatus.
It should be noted that whenever spoilers come out for SGU, they are placed in the episode guides in the Stargate Wiki without much fanfare here in the News Blog. To keep on top of such updates, visit the main page of the Stargate Wiki to see the “Recent Updates” list of links.
Our News Blog posts since the last Stargate Planner (most recent listed first):
Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. The articles listed in this section don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:
For news as it happens, make sure to visit the Stargate Twitter Superfeed for tidbits directly from the Stargate stars and production crew. And don’t forget our new feature Beyond the Event Horizon, which consists of “home pages” with dynamic feeds from our LJ and Blog for the stars of SG-1 and Atlantis.
Our LJ Companion has news bites, polls, and glimpses into the lives of the actors that we don’t necessarily cover here in our more formal news blog. Make sure to visit the LJ’s feed on our front page or visit the site directly to see its mostly fun little tidbits.
For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.
Jewel Staite in WAREHOUSE 13 (Philippe Bosse/Syfy)
Here’s a quick reminder that Stargate star Jewel Staite can be seen in her guest starring role as Loretta in tonight’s (July 13’s) episode of Syfy’s Warehouse 13 at 9 PM ET.
Staite is reunited with her Firefly co-star Sean Maher in the episode “Mild Mannered.” Maher’s Sheldon has a thing for Loretta, but it’s unrequited. TV Guide further summarizes, “Myka and Pete are sent to Detroit after a seemingly invulnerable vigilante begins using extraordinary means to thwart criminals. Meanwhile, Artie, Leena and Claudia try to get past recent events while improving conditions at the warehouse.”
Will Sheldon finally see his love returned or will this all end in a Greek tragedy? Tune in tonight to find out.
Staite is currently filming the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas story Call Me Mrs. Miracle with screen legend Doris Roberts. Hopefully, this movie will be ready for this year’s holiday season. Staite’s recently-wrapped movie project, Syfy’s The Doomsday Scrolls with CSI: NY star A.J. Buckley, won’t premiere until 2011. According to Stargate Actor Appearances, her next convention appearance is scheduled to be at Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia, from September 3-6, along with Maher and several of her Stargate co-stars.
TV Over Mind is reporting that Stargate veterans Corin Nemec and Mitch Pileggi will have recurring roles in Season Six of The CW’s Supernatural, which is returning this fall.
Corin Nemec as Jonas Quinn and Mitch Pileggi as Col. Steven Caldwell (MGM)
Nemec, who was Stargate SG-1‘s Jonas Quinn, will be portraying Christian Campbell, the Winchester brothers’ maternal cousin. According to the breakdown from EW, Campbell is “capable, calm under pressure, and very good at his job,” as well as “has a special relationship to Sam and Dean.” News of his casting came out of the recently-held Gate Con.
Fans of Stargate Atlantis are familiar with Pileggi, who played Col. Steven Caldwell, commander of the USS Daedalus. Pileggi’s return to Supernatural was first announced by EW last month. He portrayed the boys’ grandfather Sam Campbell, but how he can be recurring remains to be seen since Sam is currently dead. But, this is Supernatural, after all.
Supernatural returns to The CW on Friday, September 24, at 9 PM ET. We’ll report back when we get more information as to when we’ll see Nemec’s and Pileggi’s episodes.
You might be interested in these news tidbits and announcements that have been noted on this editor’s calendar and notebook for this week. If you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below. We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week.
Calendar
Monday, July 12
Tuesday, July 13
Jewel Staite’sWarehouse 13 episode “Mild Mannered” premieres tonight on Syfy at 9 PM ET.
Wednesday, July 14
Encore: Stargate Universe“Time” on New Zealand’s Prime TV at 10:30 PM.
Thursday, July 15
Stargate Universe“Life” on New Zealand’s Prime TV at 8:30 PM.
Friday, July 16
Polaris 24 begins in Toronto today and ends Sunday, July 18. SGU’s Alaina Huffman is scheduled to attend. Canada’s Constellation Awards will be given out at this event as well. SGU has a few nominations, as well as Amanda Tapping for her new series Sanctuary. Make sure to visit the website for the complete schedule.
It should be noted that whenever spoilers come out for SGU, they are placed in the episode guides in the Stargate Wiki without much fanfare here in the News Blog. To keep on top of such updates, visit the main page of the Stargate Wiki to see the “Recent Updates” list of links.
Our News Blog posts since the last Stargate Planner (most recent listed first):
Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. The articles listed in this section don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:
For news as it happens, make sure to visit the Stargate Twitter Superfeed for tidbits directly from the Stargate stars and production crew. And don’t forget our new feature Beyond the Event Horizon, which consists of “home pages” with dynamic feeds from our LJ and Blog for the stars of SG-1 and Atlantis.
Our LJ Companion has news bites, polls, and glimpses into the lives of the actors that we don’t necessarily cover here in our more formal news blog. Make sure to visit the LJ’s feed on our front page or visit the site directly to see its mostly fun little tidbits.
For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.
Brian J. Smith in MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (PBS Photos)Stargate Universe star Brian J. Smith (Lt. Matthew Scott) went to London last year to film in the PBS Hercule Poirot series as the young American Hector MacQueen in the story Murder on the Orient Express. Chicago Now’s Curt Wagner got to talk with him about how he got the role and what it was like to work with David Suchet, the veteran actor who brings Poirot to life.
Here are a few highlights:
No audition. That’s the kind of cool thing about where I’m getting to right now; I’m starting to get a kind of a body of work. And you put scenes from films you’ve done, and of course there’s some stuff on there from “Stargate.” Sometimes that won’t book you a job, but it can at least get your feet in the door and give a director of an idea of what you look like on a set under lights as opposed to in an audition room, which is usually an office with florescent lighting.
I think what they wanted to do with this version of “Murder on the Orient Express” is to tell the story that Agatha Christie wrote; and not just that, but to really get into the darkness of it. It’s a very dark, dark story … And just to really explore the psychology of that kind of a person.
I know one line of French. And it’s funny, no one can really tell me exactly what that translated into either because I have a vague idea that it meant something like, “No, it’s OK, there’s nothing here.” Or, “Everything’s fine,” something like that. But it was a little bit scary because there were a lot of French guys in the cast and they’d hear me say the line and they’d say, “Brian, no. This is how you say it.” So I was kind of nervous about it.
You know with Scott though, he’s so strictly working class and so strictly defined by the absence of family … In MacQueen’s case, you have a guy who grew up with everything, who had every single advantage and got to travel and could speak many languages and he’s a lot more eloquent than Scott is, but then he lost it all. And I think Scott is driven more by a need to find redemption and MacQueen is much more driven by a need for revenge.
Make sure to visit the complete interview at Chicago Now.
Murder on the Orient Express premieres Sunday, July 11, at 9 PM ET on most PBS stations across the US. Check your local listings for dates and times in your area.
Jewel Staite – The latest from her official website’s RSS feed: “Jewel has just been cast in Hallmark Channel’s holiday movie Call Me Mrs. Miracle, starring alongside screen legend Doris Roberts! Shooting is slated to start next week!” The Hollywood Reporter describes the film: “It’s Christmas in New York City, and Mrs. Merkle (Roberts) is a saleswoman in a family-owned department store and works her magic on those around her.” Executive producers are Dan Wigutow, Michael M. Scott, and Debbie Macomber.
Additionally, it was just announced that Staite’s Warehouse 13 episode will air on Tuesday, July 13, on Syfy at 9 PM ET.
David Hewlett – He’s been tweeting about his new film that in its early part of principal photography this week: “Wow! Looks like I just got a nice little role in a HUGE movie…but I’m not allowed to say anything…following me sucks! ;-)” … “Wardrobe fitting today…it’s a little worrying how easy it is to make me look like an uptight prick!” … “Day one on my latest primate movie 😉 Currently holding the key to a great performance: coffee and the ubiquitous breakfast burrito!” … “Very tempted to call Flanigan, just to run him through what I’ve eaten today on set! ;-)” … “Day 2 on the big movie that shall not be named…causing chaos on the streets of vangroovey as only Hollywood can!”
We’re still waiting to hear officially what the film is, but in the meantime, some fans have already concluded that it’s Rise of the Apes, which began shooting in Vancouver July 5 (to correspond with Hewlett’s Day One) and is scheduled to wrap on September 17. We’ll be sure to report it when we have more details.
[Thanks to vida_boheme and wraithfodder for taking the time to investigate the Hewlett project.]
