Stargate Universe

"The only mission is survival."

- Tagline

Stargate Universe is the title of a science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise. Produced by MGM, the show enters production in early 2009, with a projected premiere in the fall of 2009 on the Sci Fi Channel. Stargate Universe will be filmed and produced in Vancouver, Canada, as with the preceding series.

Development
Stargate Universe Trailer g13I9vtr6jc

According to showrunner Robert C. Cooper, the "series maintains the spirit of Stargate, but opens up a whole new 'universe'." It is currently being developed as "a completely separate, third entity" - as opposed to Stargate Atlantis, which was created as a spin-off from the first series Stargate SG-1.

Robert C. Cooper has revealed that the new series will revolve around the ninth chevron on the Stargate and will take place during the present time and not be in the distant future. It would be the first time that this topic is used in a series of the franchise. According to him, "It plays a major factor in the third series". The current plan for the series is to follow a single story arc per season, with 20 episodes per season. The show began production in early 2009 and principal photography began on February 18, 2009.

Plot
The show's plot is: After unlocking the mystery of the Stargate's ninth chevron, a team of explorers travels to an unmanned starship called the Destiny, launched by The Ancients at the height of their civilization as a grand experiment set in motion, but never completed.

What starts as a simple reconnaissance turns into a never ending mission, as the Stargate Universe crew discovers the ship is unable to return to Earth, and they must now fend for themselves aboard the Destiny.

The crew will travel to the far reaches of the universe, connecting with each of the previously launched Stargates, thus fulfilling the Destiny's original mission. Challenges will arise though as the ship comes into range of Stargates placed centuries ahead of the Destiny and the crew is unable to control the ship's navigational schedule. If someone is left behind, there is no way to go back for them, adding to the drama of encountering new races, enemies and adventures.

According to an interview with Robert Carlyle, Universe will be the darkest from the other series'. It will be about a crew being ill-equipped onboard the Destiny in the far reaches of the universe. It will do less with alien encounters and more to do with human survival, particularly from the first six or seven episodes. There will be three deaths in the series opening episodes, and a suicide by the sixth episode.

The Cast

 * Justin Louis has been cast as Colonel Everett Young, “an experienced and married Stargate team leader”. Early casting documents described the character as a former SG team leader who is the temporary commander of a secret, off-world base. He has been married just two years to his wife, Hailey.
 * Robert Carlyle has been cast as Dr. Nicholas Rush, the "the ship's brilliant Machiavellian scientist".
 * David Blue has been cast as Eli Wallace. The character is described as “a total slacker who just happens to be an utter genius with anything he puts his mind to — mathematics, computers, video games. A lack confidence has left him with an acerbic sense of humor.”
 * Jamil Walker Smith has been cast as Sr. Sergeant Ronald Greer. Sergeant Greer was named Ron “Psycho” Stasiak in early casting documents.
 * Brian J. Smith has been cast as Lt. Matthew Scott, a junior member of the Stargate team thrust into the role of leader well before he's ready.
 * Lou Diamond Phillips has been cast as Col. Telford, a lifelong military man.
 * Ming-Na has been cast as Camile Wray, a human resources executive with the IOA.
 * Elyse Levesque has been cast as Chloe Armstrong, daughter and aide of a U.S. senator.
 * Alaina Huffman has been cast as Tamara Johansen, a field medic assigned to treat the seriously wounded.

Episodes

 * Air; the three-part premiere episode, as stated by Joseph Mallozzi's blog
 * Fire; the fourth episode
 * Earth; the fifth episode
 * Water; the sixth episode
 * Life; the seventh episode
 * Time; the eighth episode
 * Justice; the ninth episode
 * Space; the tenth episode
 * Divided; the eleventh episode
 * Faith; the twelfth episode
 * Darkness; the fourteenth episode
 * Light; the fifteenth episode