News, spoilers and updates in the Stargate world
Stargate Universe
When you go to MGM’s offical homepage, you’ll be greeted with a large countdown page. They’re counting down to the premiere of a teaser trailer for Stargate Universe to be shown with the series finale of Battlestar Galactica, happening this Friday, March 20, at 9pm.
The widget’s URL: http://stargate.mgm.com/widget.html
This article contains spoilers for the episode “Earth”, written by Martin Gero. It is currently slated to be the sixth episode in the first season of Stargate Universe.
The casting sides for DALE STROM call for O’NEILL (is this our Maj. General Jack O’Neill from Homeworld Security fame, played by Richard Dean Anderson?), WILLIAMS, YOUNG (Justin Louis), and WRAY (Ming-Na). The majority of STROM’s dialogue is with WRAY.
YOUNG and O’NEILL are discussing a problem that YOUNG believes they have some time to solve and O’NEILL supports YOUNG’s position as the one best to weigh the risks of survival.
In a park in Washington (D.C.?), STROM and WRAY discuss how WRAY is adjusting to her new circumstances (stranded on the Destiny). STROM tells her she’s their eyes and ears. WRAY knows that STROM had a hand in passing her over for promotion four times, so there isn’t any love lost between the two. STROM wants WRAY to push the solution that is being offered that could see the people aboard the Destiny return home, but she knows it is highly risky and could get them killed instead. This solution is experimental, but if successful, could enable the dialing to the Destiny without another Icarus-type planet (the Icarus Base was attacked in the series premiere “Air” and was lost). Not only do they hope to send the intended team, most likely led by COL. TELFORD (Lou Diamond Phillips), to the ship, but they hope that they can re-engineer one of Earth’s ships using the data (perhaps as a substitute base in the Milky Way). They have a great discovery on their hands now that they know where the ninth chevron leads.
WRAY realizes that RUSH would have been the better choice in discussing this solution, but STROM confides that the IOA believes that RUSH doesn’t really want to come home and sees their circumstances as a way to take a shot at leading the expedition. WRAY believes that COL. YOUNG will keep control, but STROM believes that this situation could improve WRAY’s vie for power on the ship. If WRAY is in charge, then so is the IOA.
ALL SPOILERS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WHILE THE EPISODE IS IN PRODUCTION.
Last night, during the airing of Sea Beast (featuring Stargate star Corin Nemec), the Sci Fi Channel flashed a brief notice to announce the Sneak Peek of Stargate Universe, which is to make its debut in the fall.
The announcement said that we can look forward to a Sneak Peek of the newest installment in the Stargate franchise during the airing of the movies for the oldest installment, Stargate SG-1. The Sci Fi Channel will be airing Stargate: The Ark of Truth on March 27 at 9 pm and Stargate: Continuum on April 3 at 9 pm.
The Sneak Peek, according to consulting producer Joseph Mallozzi, will give eager fans a look “at the ship, its crew, and the show.”
[Thanks to prion for the tip.]
The New Mexico Business Weekly has announced that Stargate Universe will be filming some scenes in their state.
Here’s the announcement:
Efforts to join tourism more closely with the state’s film industry might find an interesting intersection in a new television show that will shoot part of an episode here.
“Stargate: Universe” is the latest member of the Stargate franchise. The new MGM/Sci Fi Channel show will shoot in Alamogordo in late April and early May. It plans to hire about 75 local crew members.
(The New Mexico Tourism Department has been using its own version of space aliens to tout the state as the Best Place in the Universe to visitors.)
The series stars Robert Carlyle from “The Full Monty” and Lou Diamond Phillips of “La Bamba” and “Stand and Deliver.”
Producers are David Greathouse, Brad Wright, John G. Lenic and Robert C. Cooper. Andy Mikiti will direct.
“Stargate: Universe” is about a group of explorers stranded in space aboard a crewless ship with a preprogrammed mission to travel to the farthest reaches of the universe.
The show is scheduled to premier in October with a two-part opening episode, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The production has been shooting in Vancouver, British Columbia. Eric Witt, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Bill Richardson, said there have been no discussions about additional production in New Mexico.
Since 2003, when Richardson, a strong supporter of the state’s film tax incentives, took office, more than 115 feature films and television series have shot in the state, adding more than $2.4 billion to the New Mexico economy, according to the governor’s office.
mkamerick@bizjournals.com | (505) 348-8323
Consulting producer Joseph Mallozzi mentioned that Robert C. Cooper and director Andy Mikita had taken a trip to New Mexico to look for a location to serve as an alien world (this location is most likely for the series opener “Air” which Mikita is directing). Mallozzi also stated that in the first ten stories, there will be no Vancouver forests seen, indicating that they’re doing their best to give the new show a different look and feel for out-of-this-galaxy worlds. Although the location wasn’t mentioned in the article above, it’s possible that alien terrain could be portrayed by the beautiful dunes of the White Sands National Monument Park (images at link). We’ll have to wait and see if that turns out to be the case.
FXWorld.com has posted an article titled “Sanctuary Goes International, Preps Season Two” that states, “Toronto-based producer and distributor Tricon Films & Television has signed a series of major international deals for the series SANCTUARY, whilst at the same time preparing for production on season two.”
Not only is the show going to premier its second season in the United States and Canada, but “Tricon has pre-sold SANCTUARY to ITV4 in the U.K., which also had success with season one, and has inked a major deal for seasons one and two with E1 Ent. for distribution of worldwide home video. Season one has been sold to TV3 Russia and NRJ 12 in France. AXN has also snapped up the series for Central Europe, while Sci Fi will air the series internationally in Asia, Australia and Europe.”
According to Amanda Tapping in a previous interview, Sanctuary is to premier its second season on the Sci Fi Channel on October 9, presumably in its original timeslot of 10 PM. Tapping said that Stargate Universe will have premiered the week prior and that the two shows will be shown together on Friday nights.
New Stargate star Lou Diamond Phillips is due to make an appearance tonight (February 26) on A&E’s The Beast (at 10 PM).
The storyline: “When a Chicago police officer goes missing, Barker ( Patrick Swayze) goes undercover as a tough guy with connections to Latino drug dealers and reconnects with an associate ( Lou Diamond Phillips).”
Phillips is currently filming in Vancouver with the Stargate Universe crew in the role of Colonel Telford, the designated leader of the Icarus Base. The show is scheduled to make a fall premiere with the series opener “Air”, written by creators Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright and directed by Andy Mikita.
SPOILERS – SPOILERS – SPOILERS – SPOILERS – SPOILERS – SPOILERS
Consulting producer Joseph Mallozzi announced in his weblog last night that veteran actor Christopher McDonald has been cast in the pivotal role of Senator Armstrong, Chloe’s father and mentor.
Here’s his announcement: “Christopher McDonald (Senator Armstrong): Another experienced Hollywood veteran, Chris brings gravity and charisma to the role of Senator Armstrong. When I was on set the other day, he approached me, shook my hand, and told me how happy he was to be working on the show. A class act.”
The Stargate producers were looking for a name actor to play Senator Armstrong, who has a two-episode arc on the show. Senator Armstrong is present in the Icarus Base when it comes under attack, and unfortunately, it appears he gets killed either during the attack or during the evacuation. What we know thus far is that his death is tragic and has a profound effect on his daughter Chloe, who is also present at the Base as her father’s aide. Chloe’s dream is to walk in her father’s political footsteps, but without his guidance, she’ll have to learn to survive on her own with mostly strangers. On top of that, she’ll have to learn the hard way how many of her “friends” were only interested in her because of her being a senator’s daughter.
With such talent as McDonald, perhaps fans can hope that he’ll be able to return to the show despite Senator Armstrong’s apparent death (it’s sci-fi after all).
Born 15 February 1955, in New York City, New York, McDonald has an impressive filmography, including his early works in such films as Grease 2,Thelma & Louise, and Grumpy Old Men. His most recent television appearance, according to his IMDb profile, is on Law & Order as John ‘Jay’ McIntyre. Also according to IMDb, McDonald has either finished work on or is attached to seven movie projects for this year alone. Sci-fi fans might recognize him as Lt. Richard Castillo in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise”.
Visit McDonald’s homepage for more about the actor.
Spoilers are subject to change as the episodes are in production.
TV Guide has announced that Alaina Huffman has been cast in Stargate Universe as Tamara Johansen, “a strong-willed — if inexperienced — field medic who will need to rise to the occasion to treat the seriously wounded.”
The character has also been known as Tamara Johanson and Tamara Jon from previous casting announcements. Additionally, her ethnicity and rank have also been changed since those earlier breakdowns. Originally, Johansen was described as having “off world experience” and “Beautiful, tough, smart, capable. Paramedic level training. Able to triage serious injury. Modest background. Dreamed of being a doctor but couldn’t afford medical school and the Air Force was her best option. She ends up being the most medically inclined person on the ship but is overwhelmed by the lack of knowledge and experience treating seriously wounded and ill patients. She also lacks the medicine and supplies and has to make do.”
Huffman was born 17 April 1980, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is probably familiar to sci-fi fans as Smallville‘s Black Canary and as Maureen Bowers on Painkiller Jane. Huffman has also appeared on CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, and NCIS.
Spoilers are subject to change as the episodes are in production.
TV Guide has announced that television and film star Lou Diamond Phillips has joined the cast of Stargate Universe as Col. Telford, “a lifelong military man and the chosen leader of the ill-fated expedition.”
Originally, Telford’s character name was “Collins” and was described in the casting breakdown as “Handsome. A born military man proud of himself with great faith in the chain of command. The intended leader of the expedition who plans to reclaim his place as commander regardless of what he must to do. Stubbornly confident and highly regarded by his superiors.” Col. Telford gets left behind after a valiant, but unsuccessful, attempt to protect the Icarus Base from its attackers. He’s a F-302 pilot and when he recognized that the Base was about to be overrun, he ordered Young, the temporary commander of the Base, to evacuate through the Stargate to Earth. Unfortunately, the base personnel, as well as visiting dignitaries, inadvertently evacuate to the Ancients’ long-abandoned exploration starship Destiny.
Born 17 February 1962, at the Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines, Phillips has had an incredible television and film career. His recent television appearances include guest roles on Numb3rs and The Beast. SGU consulting producer Joseph Mallozzi hinted about Phillips recently in his weblog about some of Phillips’ movie appearances, all the while trying not to drop the actor’s name because the official announcement had not yet been made: “I got some nice behind-the-scenes pics of Bobby and Justin along with “the actor playing Telford” (not sure if his identity has been announced yet but I have to say – and did say – I’ve enjoyed his work, especially his performance in my very favorite Mark Wahlberg movie. And, no, it’s not the movie you’re thinking of. Or the next one. Or the one after that.).”
To learn more about Phillips, visit his fan-made website.
Spoilers are subject to change as the episodes are in production.
Michael Ausiello of Entertainment Weekly has been given the exclusive on the casting of Elyse Levesque as Chloe Armstrong, daughter and aide of Senator Armstrong, a member of the United States committee who is given access to the secret off-world base that is home to the project studying the ninth chevron on the Stargate.
Ausiello describes Armstrong as “the wild and immature daughter of a U.S. Senator.” Ms. Armstrong will have to grow up quickly once she becomes stranded on the Destiny along with many different types of people and without her father to guide her. Before having to struggle to survive on a one-way trip to a distant galaxy, Ms. Armstrong wished to follow her father in his political footsteps.
Levesque was born 10 September 1985 and has recently appeared in the telemovies Journey to the Center of the Earth and Storm Cell. Fans of Smallville might be familiar with Levesque when she appeared in two episodes as Casey Brock.
Spoilers are subject to change as the episodes are in production.