Category: SG-1

Includes the 10 seasons of SG-1 and the post-S10 movies.

Tapping on SG-1 Movies, Atlantis, Sanctuary

The Scifi World has published a lengthy interview with Amanda Tapping wherein she discusses her role as Samantha Carter in the Stargate franchise and her role as Helen Magnus in Sanctuary (for which she is also an executive producer).

Stargate SG-1 Movies

Tapping talks a little bit about her experience filming in the Arctic for Continuum and how “much bigger” it felt filming the two movies. She also speaks about her hopes that there will be more movies, but nothing has been confirmed as of the time of the interview.

For those fans curious as to where the movies tie into the two Stargate timelines, Tapping said, “The producers have decided they are not concurrent timelines but definitely these two movies happen before Sam goes to Atlantis.”

[Atlantis executive producer Joseph Mallozzi stated in his June 14 blog entry that Carter “will be a Full Bird Colonel for both the movies and Atlantis’s fourth season.”]

Stargate Atlantis

The majority of the interview is taken up with Tapping discussing her move to Stargate Atlantis in its fourth season. She talks about how much out of her element Carter is as the new base commander. She explained, “She is out of her element, she is much more comfortable taking orders running her own lab, you know she is very comfortable out in the field as a soldier, so this is very different for her being behind a desk making decisions that effect thousands of people. You know having to be more of a diplomat in some ways and not have own lab so she can do experiments, which was sort of her happy place. When ever things got too stressful Sam would just go down to her lab and run experiments or try to write short essays on nuclear physics and things like that, so she does not have that time and she does not have that luxury. So I think it is a little bit more stressful for her because she is not in her element. But she’s finding her feet. It’s just like I said she feels like playing a very, very different character.”

Tapping also hints that the second half of the season will have more conflict between Carter and McKay than the first.

Sanctuary

Once Atlantis has completed filming Season Four, Tapping is hoping she will go immediately into filming ten additional hours of her new on-line series Sanctuary. These additional hours would translate into 40 new webisodes for the series that was created by Stargate production veteran Damian Kindler. Tapping hopes that more backstory will be revealed about Helen’s retention of her youth (she’s currently 157 years old), and how her daughter Ashley will turn out having had two “gifted” parents.

When asked if there were any other projects she’d like to participate in, Tapping replied, “Really, honestly, I just want to get Sanctuary up and going, that’s my main motivation right now.”

With working these projects, Tapping said, “It’s keeping me pretty busy, literally that’s kept me shooting for a year solid so, no. I don’t have anything else, right now I have two weeks off right now and I’m going to spend it with my family. It’s pretty much my only two weeks off this year.”

Visit The Scifi World for the complete interview.

SG-1 Spoilers: Casting for "The Ark of Truth"

Even though filming has ended for Robert C. Cooper’s direct-to-DVD movie Stargate: The Ark of Truth, we’re still getting a few spoilers here and there about the film. Atlantis executive producer Joseph Mallozzi recently saw the director’s cut of the movie, and stated that it “does a terrific job of wrapping up the many arcs we’ve developed over the course of the show’s last two seasons: Ancients, Ori, Doci, Priors, Tomin, ship battles – and a couple of villainous surprises.”

Julian Sands as the Doci

We’ve already gotten confirmation that Morena Baccarin will return as Adria; Tim Guinee, as Tomin; Sarah Strange, as Morgan Le Fay; and Greg Anderson, as the Prior of the Ori (Administrator-turned-Prior from Ver Ager), but not about Julian Sands as the Doci. Additional doubt as to Sands’s return was cast when Gateworld recently published an interview with writer/director/producer Robert C. Cooper that was conducted before filming started.

In the interview (Part 1 of New Directions), Cooper talked about the difficulties they were experiencing in casting returning characters for the movie, especially in the obtaining of Julian Sands as the Doci: “Well, that is not a confirmation yet. We are juggling a lot of balls in the air right now, schedule-wise. Just in terms of bringing in so many actors. One of the problems with setting up all these regular — not just the regular stars of the show, but regular characters who come back into it, like Adria — that’s tough to coordinate and schedule and make sure that we’re going to get going. Hopefully — we are proceeding as though we would like to bring Julian Sands back as the Doci. But I don’t know for sure yet.”

Cooper added, “And, if not — if that doesn’t work out for whatever reason, we are still going to be back in Celestis. And who’s to say that there isn’t a different Doci in charge by now.”

Curious fans wanted to know if Cooper was successful in getting Sands to return after reading the interview, so they asked Mallozzi in his personal blog. Mallozzi confirmed in his July 2 blog entry that Sands will indeed be in the movie.

Look for a movie trailer on Season Ten’s DVD Boxed Set (North America), scheduled to be released July 24. Stargate: The Ark of Truth will be on sale sometime in the first half of 2008.

Sci Fi Wire: SG-1's Shanks Looks Ahead

SCI FI WIRE talked with Michael Shanks about the end of the TV run for Stargate SG-1 and about the upcoming direct-to-DVD movies, Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum, both of which are now scheduled for a 2008 release.

About shooting the last scene for the series finale “Unending”, Shanks said, “It was great, but it didn’t change things that much, because we were still at the end of a long season, and everyone was quite tired and emotional, and we knew it was still the end of something. But we were very happy knowing there wasn’t a wrecking ball waiting outside or four guys with crowbars waiting to tear our stuff down, or we might have been far more emotional about it.”

[About the SG-1 sets, executive producer Joseph Mallozzi stated in his June 24 blog entry, “If Atlantis does get that fifth season pick-up, a decision will have to be made on the SG-1 standing sets. We won’t be able to keep all of them.”]

Concerning the movies, Shanks offered, “We knew [we] were going to come back and see each other. We knew we’d get a chance to play these characters, and that did take the curse off the last moment of walking through the gate.” But still, the end of the series was significant for them and Shanks added, “It was the end of an era for us, and we didn’t really know 100 percent what the movies would be or how it would all pan out.”

Read the interview at SCI FI WIRE.

DVDs for SG-1 Movies and SGA S3

SG-1 Movies

Gateworld is reporting that the two direct-to-DVD movies will be released in 2008 instead of the previously announced fall of 2007 date. This word is said to have come directly from Twentieth Century Fox, MGM’s partner in the production of the films. Gateworld had no reason for the delay, but stated that Stargate: The Ark of Truth was “visual effects heavy”, implying that this might be a factor as to why the DVD won’t be released until “the first half of 2008.” Stargate: Continuum‘s release is expected to follow the first movie’s sometime in 2008.

Atlantis S3 and SG-1 S10 DVD Sets (R1)

Amazon.com now has Season Three of Stargate Atlantis for pre-order with a September 18 release date. You can also pre-order Season Ten of Stargate SG-1, scheduled to be released July 24.

Shanks Interviewed by TV Guide Network

Michael Shanks in TV Guide Network interview

Michael Shanks was interviewed on the TV Guide Network show “Watch This” recently (broadcast on June 21), and he shared that he felt “old and unemployed” after the show’s ten-year run was over. He talks about Daniel and Vala, teasing the audience with the possibility of seeing romance in the strange circumstances in which they find themselves in the show’s finale “Unending”. Shanks implied that he’s in “negotiations” about moving from his home in Canada, his “nest”, but didn’t go into details about what’s currently going on in his career. He did mention the DVD movies and answered a “fan” question about why the show no longer showed frost on the Stargate travelers when they arrived on the other side. Shanks teased that they found out that the substance was toxic! Clearly relaxed and enjoying his visit, Shanks smiled throughout the interview.

[Thanks to Parsifal for the clip.]

Get a Sneak Peek of "Continuum"

The official MGM Stargate website has a video sneak peek of Stargate: Continuum, Brad Wright’s stand-alone SG-1 movie directed by Martin Wood.

Can’t wait for ‘Stargate SG-1 Continuum’? Click on our videos page for a sneak peek at the upcoming Stargate movie! Amanda Tapping (Samantha Carter) and Ben Browder (Cameron Mitchell) talk about what’s in store for the SG-1 team and what it’s like filming in the Arctic.

Tapping gives away a major part of the plot, so don’t go there unless you’re ready to be spoiled!

You’ll need Quicktime (and a high-speed connection is recommended) to play the video, which is in their Behind-the-Scenes Video Gallery.

[Thanks to SueS for the heads-up.]

Shanks Closes His Blog As SG-1 Ends

Along with the airing of Stargate SG-1 series finale “Unending”, Michael Shanks has entered his final post at his TV Guide blog. He talks about how much the last ten years have meant to him, especially about the friendships he’s formed as the cast and crew produced over 200 episodes of ‘gating adventures.

He closes with “So, as we say goodbye, and move on to whatever happens next, I leave you with these borrowed words: “Life is too short.” I aim to really enjoy the rest of my years. Hopefully, as much as I’ve enjoyed the last 10.”

Read the full entry at: “Unending”.

Sci Fi Wire: SG-1's Shanks Retraces Steps

SCI FI WIRE talked with Michael Shanks about the last day of filming the show:

“One of the first things that Christopher and Amanda and I had done when we first showed up for the first season of the show was we walked up to where they were still building the SGC set,” Shanks said in an interview. “We walked up to where the briefing room was going to be, and we looked down at this huge set and this huge prop Stargate, and we all just sat there stunned. It was like, ‘Wow, this is real. They’re building this for us. This is the beginning of something amazing.'”

Shanks, Judge and Tapping returned to that same spot after shooting the last scene of the finale, which also happened to be the very last SG-1 scene to go before the camera. “So we made a point, at the very end, after we’d wrapped, of running back upstairs to that briefing room and taking a final look,” Shanks said. “It was bittersweet, but at the same time it was a nice way to bookend the emotional journey we’d been on for a decade.”

Shanks, Judge, and Tapping reprised their SG-1 roles in the two direct-to-video movies Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum, both currently in post-production and due to be released this fall.

To read the full article, visit SCI FI WIRE.

Sci Fi Wire: Browder Froze In "Continuum"

SCI FI WIRE talked with Stargate SG-1 star Ben Browder last week in Vancouver, and the actor shared some of his experiences filming in the Arctic for the direct-to-DVD movie Stargate: Continuum.

Browder’s adventurous spirit comes through in his relating of what it was like to share a “plywood box” with other men in the crew, including co-star Richard Dean Anderson: “Me and Martin [Wood] and Richard Dean Anderson and the naval captain of the base and a guy who works for the CIA were in this plywood hut, stacked on bunk beds in sleeping bags, and the bathroom facilities were two port-a-potties. At 35 below [zero], a port-a-potty is an interesting experience.”

Although the experience in the Arctic was full of fun, there were also serious dangers: extremely low temperatures and polar bears. Browder relates how he had to use a flashlight before ever leaving his hut at night, “To look for eyes. You’re looking for polar bears. Polar bears are a real threat up there. They are the top of the food chain, they eat people, and they can outrun you. When they come to town, they’re looking for food, because no one’s outside. We were all inside, huddled up, because it’s 50 below outside.”

Read the rest of Browder’s interview at SCI FI WIRE.

Canada's "The Province" Visits the Stargates

Reporters were invited to Bridge Studios last week and were given a tour of the sets for Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Several of the actors from both shows also got some time in with the reporters, and the some of the cast of SG-1 shared what they’ll be doing now that the two movies have completed filming.

Stargate secrets revealed at last

In this article by Frank ‘Teal’c’ Luba, readers are given a brief description of the various departments and sets involved with the shows’ production. Of course, the tour began in the ‘Gate Room at Stargate Command, and then proceeded through General Landry’s office (decorated with Beau Bridges’ family photos), Atlantis’ Gate Room, puddle jumpers, and the set for Stargate: Continuum (spoilery comments, so beware!). Luba also visits the in-house special effects, set decoration, and props departments.

Luba also mentions Andee Frizzell while she’s being made to look like a Wraith Queen, Jason Momoa as he plays his electric guitar in his trailer, and Joe Flanigan as he zooms by on his skateboard.

Visit Canada.com for the full story.

Stargate cast members ready for new portals

In this article, Frank Luba shares some of his time with the cast of Stargate SG-1 and determines what each will be doing after the filming of Stargate: Continuum completes:

  • Amanda Tapping – She’s now a regular cast member of Stargate Atlantis and comments on the pressure she feels to continue the franchise.
  • Christopher Judge and Michael Shanks – Judge has written a pilot for MGM called “Rage of Angels” that is about “Archangel Michael dying on Earth” and in which Shanks will play Lucifer. There’s the possiblity that the pilot will be shot in British Columbia.
  • Ben Browder – He plans to spend more time with his family after only seeing them for 15 hours during the last five weeks. He might be coaching football and high school pole vault.

As far as Stargate Atlantis stars go, David Hewlett is writing a movie script called “Design of the Dead”, and Luba comments on how the writers cleverly worked around Rachel Luttrell’s pregnancy.

To read the complete article, visit Canada.com.

[Thanks to PG15 for the tip.]