With the breaking news last week that MGM (the studio who owns the Stargate Franchise) has completed its bankruptcy restricting protection and securing an additional $500 million in new financing, the next big question will be where will the studio if at all devote any of this funding to the Stargate Franchise?
In a new questions and answers with fans on his popular web blog, executive producer of the Stargate franchise for several years Joseph Mallozzi offers his personal opinion where things currently stand for the future of Stargate Universe and the first Stargate Atlantis movie.
Joseph Mallozzi was clear that the end of Stargate Universe does not mean that time and money has now been freed up to put the Stargate Atlantis film into production. Mallozzi co-wrote the script for Stargate: Extinction with Paul Mullie after the movie was first announced following SGA‘s cancellation in 2008.
“I’m sorry to say but the cancellation puts the brakes on whatever progress the SGA movie had made in the past month, shelving it indefinitely,†he said. “… Contrary to what some may think, the cancellation of SGU is very bad news for those looking forward to an Atlantis movie.â€
He also said that a fourth television series in the franchise is not on the table at this point. “A new Stargate series isn’t even being considered,†he said. “… There are no plans to create or move forward on a new series. We love the one we have now.â€
This of course means, the producers are still hoping to find a way to finish Stargate Universe storyline, Mallozzi echoed Wright’s sentiments on this point. “All options are being considered at this point, but a third season would be ideal,†Mallozzi said. “We’re investigating all possible avenues.â€
The Destiny sets will remain standing until all avenues have been exhausted, he said.
He said that, while the show’s ratings this season haven’t been good, the cancellation decision was surprising in its abruptness. “Those early Season Two ratings were admittedly a downer. The move to Tuesday night was not good for us (and, speaking to the franchise as a whole, the move from summer to fall did us no favors either) and I firmly believe that time-shifted viewing and internet downloads have bled off a significant portion of our younger, tech-savvy audience.
“Still, we held out hope and, as production continued on Season Two, positive word from various places gave us hope that the show would come back for, at the very least, a third and final season (much the same way Battlestar did). Many of us were shocked by the abruptness of the cancellation decision.â€
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