Key Takeaways:
– Roland Emmerich, writer/director of Stargate, shows no interest in returning to the franchise.
– He cited the complications related to Stargate’s intellectual property rights as the main reason.
– Amazon is keen on reviving the Stargate franchise, now that they own MGM.
Let’s start off by taking a trip down memory lane. Picture it: 1994, a year when flannel shirts were in style and the internet was just stepping into the spotlight. During this fine year, Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin unleashed a science fiction gem on the world – Stargate.
The massively popular film created a buzz, leading to TV shows, books, comic books, video games, and direct-to-video features, expanding the franchise by leaps and bounds. Fans were hooked! They kept demanding more storming through the “Stargate” and the series Stargate SG-1 became a fan favorite.
Now, it’s been a few years since we’ve seen any fresh Stargate material and frankly, fans have been feeling the drought. Way back in 2014, Arnold Emmerich and Dean Devlin toyed with the idea of rebooting the franchise, planning a new trilogy. But even after working on the plan for a couple of years, things didn’t go as planned.
Fast-forward to 2021, we found out something exciting. Amazon, which now owns MGM, the home of Stargate, is interested in reviving the franchise! But don’t hold your breath waiting for Roland Emmerich’s involvement.
While attending the San Diego Comic-Con, JoBlo’s Chris Bumbray got an opportunity to speak with Emmerich directly about the future of Stargate. Despite Bumbray’s hopes that Emmerich could potentially lead a new Stargate series, Emmerich responded that it’s not a straightforward process. The intellectual property rights of Stargate are divided among different entities, complicating things further. In his words, he doesn’t want to deal with such complications, basically saying “I’ve had enough!”
Recalling the original Stargate plot, you’d remember Dr. Daniel Jackson and retired Army Col. Jack O’Neil, who ventured through an interstellar gateway to an Egyptian-styled world. They landed on a planet with a tyrannical ruler, Ra, holding the key to their return to Earth. How they convince the planet’s inhabitants to overthrow Ra became the central plot of the story. The movie starred big names like Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson, Viveca Lindfors, and Alexis Cruz, among others.
So, what do you think about the prospect of a Stargate revival? Given everything we’ve discussed, would you still want Roland Emmerich to return? Leave a comment below and join the discussion!
Remember, the Stargate may lead to a universe wide and unimaginable, but every now and then, it’s fun to share your thoughts with fellow earthlings, too! Or as they say in the franchise, Jaffa kree!
