It’s been a decade since Stargate last appeared on television, and ever since, there’s been some low-level chatter about a revival of the science fiction franchise.
Now, it sounds as though that potential revival might include at least one familiar face: Daniel Jackson, played by Michael Shanks. The word comes from a podcast interview (via Syfy Wire) with the actor and series creator Brad Wright.
Ever since Stargate went off the air with the conclusion of Stargate Universe in 2011 (and following a mini-revival with the now-defunct Stargate streaming service and community hub Stargate Command), there have been calls for the series to return in some form, especially given the appetite for new shows on streaming services. Stargate SG-1 (but not Atlantis or Universe) recently moved over to stream on Netflix, which could introduce the franchise to another generation of viewers.
Over the years, Wright has said that he’s working on something for MGM, and last year, fellow Stargate producer Joseph Mallozzi noted on his blog that “long-suffering Stargate fans may finally be rewarded. Provided a few crucial pieces fall into place.”
Of course, that was before the COVID-19 pandemic threw Hollywood through a loop, but it sounds as though those efforts to bring back the franchise are still underway in some form.
Wright interviewed Shanks for his podcast on a site called The Companion in which they reminisced about filming the show and shared a couple of updates on the potential series, including the fact that he’s been writing lines for Daniel Jackson (at the 11:38 mark):
“Writing [Daniel Jackson] — and I have written you more recently, to tease that — I gotta say how easy it is when you’re writing a familiar character, when you’ve written 10,000 lines for. I can hear your voice very clearly when I’m typing.”
Daniel Jackson was a major character for much of Stargate SG-1. First introduced in the original Stargate movie (played by James Spader) as a brilliant archeologist who unlocks the secret to activating the Stargate ring, he later returns to Earth after his wife is kidnapped by the Goa’uld, a civilization of parasitic aliens, and joins a military unit tasked with exploring the vast network of planets connected by Stargates.
While the Stargate franchise moved on from SG-1 with two additional shows, Stargate: Atlantis and Stargate Universe, the character does appear in a handful of episodes in each.
It’s unclear what a revival of the franchise might look like: Universe ended on a cliffhanger, so there’s potential for some sort of conclusion there, but that series featured a new cast and largely stood on its own. Going by Wright’s statement, it seems as though Jackson could play a role in whatever project they’re working on. Hopefully, it won’t be too much longer before we see what they’re up to.
