Conversations about how to move the Stargate franchise forward in this new, digital era are ongoing inside the halls of MGM — and Brad Wright is involved. 

Wright co-created Stargate SG-1 in 1997, followed by Stargate Atlantis in 2004 and Stargate Universe in 2009. 

After telling fans at Gatecon: The Invasion in September that he is talking to MGM again (after years of disconnect), Wright this week hinted at the discussions that continue to take place.  He spoke about Stargate — and Travelers, which dropped its third season on Netflix last month — with the Nerks of the Hub Podcast. 

AFTER ORIGINS

“MGM has recognized that they have a genuine franchise in their hands,” Wright said. “ And they’re looking at it quite seriously.  And so our first conversation was after Stargate Origins. …  They had reached out to interview me for the twentieth anniversary, which would have been lovely.  But I said, ‘I’m surprised you want to talk to me since you seem in your latest effort to be trying to avoid Stargate SG-1 canon, anything that I had contributed.’ 

“And that may have been so, but they have since changed their mind.” 

Set in 1939, the 10-part Web series Stargate Origins followed a young Catherine Langford (Ellie Gall) in a story that largely took its departure from the 1994 Stargate feature film — though there were a few notable references to the later TV mythology, including the presence of a Harcesis child. 

With Origins wrapping up its 10-part story last March, the studio has been cautious about where to take Stargate next.  Now that Wright is back in the mix, it means hewing closer to the TV mythology in that next project. 

“We’ve had conversations about what may or may not be able to happen going forward,” he said. “ And it’s sort of starting from scratch in so many ways.  And very much in the acknowledgment that whatever the next step forward is, it has to be of certain quality and honor the several hundred hours of show that’s already out there.  I don’t mean ‘honor’ — I mean acknowledge it.  And they agreed.” 

When Stargate’s next step does emerge, Wright noted that fans should not expect it to be something on the level of a full TV show. 

“That’s really still where we are,” he continued. “ I don’t expect — and certainly don’t anyone expect — another television show to appear around the corner.  But Stargate is an important part of their library.  And so … maybe we’ll think of something! [ Laughter] That’s all I can tell you!  We’re working on it.” 

WHAT HAPPENED TO STARGATE UNIVERSE? 

The writer-producer also discussed the impact of MGM’s 2010 bankruptcy on SGU‘s third season renewal. 

“What happened with Stargate Universe is MGM went through a major restructuring — basically a structured bankruptcy — that changed everybody,” he said. “ Everyone who I knew at MGM simply was gone within a month of this event.  And so even Syfy — who wanted to talk about a third season, or at least have the conversation — really had no one that they could talk to. 

“It was kind of sad.  And it was kind of a perfect storm of not great ratings and the studio disappearing.” 

Nearly a year after testing the waters with Stargate Origins, though, it sounds like the studio is ready to take another step forward.  And while the next production might not be a full-fledged TV show, it ought to be something that honors Stargate’s more than 20-year legacy on television. 

Check out the entire, 50-minute conversation with Nerks of the Hub now at Anchor, iTunes, or wherever you find your podcasts.  Wright also talks about working in the Canadian film and television industry, pitching SG-1 to Showtime (in the middle of a fire alarm), casting SGU‘s Patrick Gilmore and Jennifer Spence in key roles on Travelers, and what it will take for Travelers to win a Season Four renewal. 

And be sure to follow GateWorld for breaking news about Stargate in 2019!