Why Michael Shanks Thinks Stargate SG-1 Is Assigned To History

It looks like Stargate SG-1 may finally be dead, at least according to star Michael Shanks, who played Dr. Daniel Jackson on the series, which ran for 10 seasons and spurred two DVD movies in 2008 and two Syfy spinoff series.

“Given the amount of time lag that’s gone on between us doing the movies, I suspect that we might be very far away from, if ever, doing another DVD movie. This might be the closing of the book on that particular [chapter of the] franchise,” said Shanks, whom we caught up with while he was promoting his guest-starring role as Hawkman in The CW’s two-hour film Smallville: Absolute Justice.

“Never say never. It’s always a possibility. But I think everybody’s moving on to a certain point, and with the new show doing well, everybody’s focusing their attention on that. The SG-1 idea is somewhat on the back burner, which is a little bit unfortunate, because I think one more story would have been a great way to bring Rick (Richard Dean Anderson) back in and really go there. But you know, business is business.”

The newest Stargate series is Syfy’s Stargate Universe, which is set to return with the second half of season one on April 2 and which has already gotten a second-season renewal. While SG-1 isn’t returning anytime soon, the same can’t be said for Dr. Daniel Jackson. He’ll guest-star in two upcoming SG-U episodes.

“It’s the job that never ends,” said Shanks. “I just finished the guest spot on Supernatural as well. I’ve covered all the ‘S’ shows that shoot in Vancouver. I think that’s about it. I may have covered all the ‘S’ shows that are on television. I have to find a different letter to move on to.” Hmm … Smallville, Stargate, Supernatural … yep, that could be all of them.

As far as his Supernatural gig, the episode is called “99 Problems,” and he plays a man who is part of a “Bible-thumping militia” that’s fighting to stop the apocalypse. “I think I get my ass beat by both Jared [Padalecki, who plays Sam] and Jensen [Ackles, who plays Dean] at different points in the show. It’s a lot of fun,” he said.

“The reason why I did that was because it timed in perfectly, because pilot season is underway. I’m reading for Danno in Hawaii Five-O,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know what to say about that. I haven’t read the script yet, so I’m going, ‘Really?’ I’ll have to wait and see.'”

If cast, Shanks would be appearing with Lost’s Daniel Dae Kim, who’ll be portraying Detective Chin Ho Kelly, a role played in the original series by Kam Fong, the Hollywood Reporter announced today.

While he doesn’t have any information about how they will reboot the iconic police procedural, which ran on CBS from 1968 to 1980 and spurred the famous catch phrase, “Book ’em, Danno,” Shanks knows one thing. “I’m sure there’s some updates, because I don’t think we could pull off that kind of brow furrowing with a straight face in this day and age. I’ll tell you one thing, to go to Hawaii to shoot a series would be a dream come true, that’s for certain. Not a bad gig there. … I don’t feel too bad for the people on Lost. Oh, you’re on Lost. Poor guys. Yeah. Boo-hoo. Go back to your cabana and have another mojito [laughs].”

What do you think? Is it finally time for us to bury Stargate SG-1? And would Shanks make a good Danno in a new Hawaii Five-O

News article courtesy of Sy Fy Wire