Robert Carlyle has been tapped as the lead in SCI FI Channel's new series Stargate Universe, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Universe is the third installment in the Stargate franchise, from Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis co-creators Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, who will write and executive-produce the new series.

SCI FI Channel is expected to give the MGM TV-produced Universe a 20-episode order.

Production on the series is slated to begin in February in Vancouver, Canada. It is targeted to launch in the summer with a two-hour premiere.

Described as edgier, darker and younger-skewing than its predecessors, Universe follows a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians left to fend for themselves when forced through a Stargate after their hidden base comes under attack. The survivors, who emerge aboard an ancient ship missing in the far reaches of space, are led by Dr. David Rush (Carlyle), who works to unlock the ship's mysteries and return the group home, but who also might have ulterior motives.

Scotland-born Carlyle, best known for his roles in Trainspotting and The Full Monty, recently starred opposite Kiefer Sutherland in Fox's 24: Redemption.

He reminds me slightly of Richard Dean Anderson and has the acting edge that it appears that they are looking for. I'm glad that they didn't go for a younger actor - I think that this may be a smart choice, but he'll need a good supporting cast. I'll be interested to see who else they announce.

I'll certainly be interested in seeing what he does in Stargate Universe. I enjoyed him in Full Monty.

Cast news from SCI-FI Wire:

Justin Louis, David Blue, Brian J. Smith and Jamil Walker Smith are set to co-star opposite Robert Carlyle on SCI FI Channel's new original series Stargate Universe, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The series, from MGM TV, follows a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians left to fend for themselves when forced through a Stargate after their hidden base comes under attack. The survivors, who emerge aboard an Ancient ship missing in the far reaches of space, are led by Dr. David Rush (Carlyle), who works to unlock the ship's mysteries and return the group to Earth.

Louis (Hidden Hills) will play Col. Everett Young, an experienced Stargate team leader.

Blue plays Eli Wallace, a slacker who just happens to be an utter genius with anything he puts his mind to—everything from mathematics to video games.

Brian J. Smith is Lt. Matthew Scott, a junior member of the Stargate team thrust into the role of leader well before he's ready.

Jamil Walker Smith plays Sr. Sgt. Ronald Greer, a Marine with a temper.

Stargate veterans Brad Wright and Robert Cooper are writing/executive-producing the series, which will debut in the fall as a two-hour movie and will be distributed by MGM Worldwide TV Distribution.

Buzz up!

So, we can expect Robert Carlyle to be killed off soon as per the rest of the doctors in this series

Stargate SG-1 star Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson) revealed to SCI FI Wire that he may have a role in the pilot of SCI FI Channel's upcoming new series Stargate Universe. (Possible spoilers ahead! Highlight to read.)

"I talked to [executive producer] Brad Wright a couple of weeks ago, and he asked me if I'd be interested in doing a cameo in the Universe pilot, and I of course said I would be," Shanks said in an exclusive interview. "And there's a great deal of talk about [it]. ... They've got a script going and everything like that."

Shanks added that he hasn't put Dr. Jackson away completely yet. "There will be a Stargate SG-1 movie [for DVD], probably filmed around the same time the [Stargate] Atlantis movie is filmed this coming summer," he added. "So that's all going to be going on."

Shanks played Jackson on and off for a decade in Stargate SG-1, as well as on the spinoff series Stargate Atlantis and in the made-for-DVD movies The Ark of Truth and Continuum.

The next SG-1 movie, "as far as I know, is pretty Rick-heavy [as in Richard Dean Anderson], pretty O'Neill [Anderson]-heavy," Shanks said. "So I don't know much more than that, but I will most definitely be involved in it."

Since SG-1 ended in 2007, Shanks has been busy with guest appearances on TV shows, including USA Network's Burn Notice and the upcoming telemovies Living Out Loud and Desperate Escape (with Angel's Elisabeth Rohm).

Shanks explained that it's the ideal situation to be able to stay in the Stargate game without being tied to it as an everyday job. "It's great," he said. "After 10 years and getting not picked up or canceled or whatever you want to call it, it feels almost a little bit odd, because you're so used to the process. But going away from it, it's great to be able to explore other opportunities. When you're doing a show for nine months a year, you always want to shake it up and do other things, but you don't have the time. Now, it's the best of both worlds. We can get on with it and have other experiences and still revisit the franchise and the great family environment that we have with the cast and crew. 'The further adventures of ...' is a nice treat."

Edgier and younger in tone than the two previous series, Stargate Universe follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth.

The cast includes Robert Carlyle, Justin Louis, David Blue, Brian J. Smith and Jamil Walker Smith. Production will begin in Vancouver, Canada, in February with an eye toward a fall premiere.

I'm looking forward to seeing Carlyle because I liked him in Full Monty but I certainly worry he won't last long. Either because of being a Doctor or because in SGA the actor who plays Terminator Silver guy was killed quickly!
Being cyncial I figure they killed off the well-known actor to save payroll costs.
I'll certainly watch Universe and see how it develops but I'm hesitant about the stated 'younger, hipper' vibe the producers are going for.

Here's a small picture of the cast:



Click HERE to see a larger picture.

The cast includes: Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ming-Na, Alaina Kalanj, Justin Louis, Jamil Walker Smith, Elyse Levesque, David Blue, Brian J. Smith

While I wasn't overly excited about Robert Carlyle, I AM excited that both Ming-Na and Lou Diamond Phillips are part of the cast! I hope they were locked in to multi-year contracts.

Watched the teaser trailer last week, doesn't give much away but I'm looking forward to seeing more. I like the new logo.

Brad Wright, co-creator of SCI FI Channel's upcoming Stargate Universe, told Gateworld that Stargate SG-1 star Richard Dean Anderson ("Jack O'Neill") will guest-star on the new show. SG-1 cast member Gary Jones ("Walter Harriman"), meanwhile, told fans he would also appear in the new series.

"Rick is doing episodes of Universe," Wright told GateWorld. "He was just here yesterday shooting an episode of Universe with us. So that relationship is always ongoing, and it's good to have him back."

The show's fifth episode, "Earth," is currently filming and is likely one in which Anderson will appear.

For his part, Jones appeared on stage at Creation Entertainment's official Stargate convention in Vancouver, Canada, and told fans that he is appearing in an episode of Universe with Anderson. He said that Gen. O'Neill will have been promoted to three-star general for the episode they filmed together.

Jones added that he was asked to appear in the Universe premiere, "Air."

Stargate Universe—a spinoff of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis—follows the adventures of explorers who start off on a reconnaissance mission to the Destiny, a ship built by the Ancients, only to wind up on a never-ending mission when the crew learns the ship can't return to Earth.

Stargate Universe will premiere later this year and stars Robert Carlyle, Justin Louis, Brian J. Smith, Alaina Huffman, David Blue, Ming-Na and Lou Diamond Phillips.

"Stargate Universe" nabs guest stars

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The Sci Fi Channel has lined up guest stars for its upcoming series "SGU: Stargate Universe."

"SGU," toplined by Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ming-Na, follows a group of survivors aboard an ancient ship who are unable to return to Earth.

Four veterans of the "Stagate" franchise, Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Gary Jones, will reprise their roles in guest stints.

Anderson plays General O'Neil, the former leader of the elite military team SG-1. Tapping plays Samantha Carter, an astrophysicist and U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel. Shanks plays Dr. Daniel Jackson, Stargate's archeologist and linguist. Jones plays Chief Master Sgt. Walter Harriman, commander technician of the team.

"Stargate" alumnus Christopher McDonald will play Sen. Alan Armstrong, the U.S. senator and head of the International Oversight Committee that governs the Stargate program. The character is the father to Chloe Armstrong (Elyse Levesque).

Grammy-nominated Janelle Monae will play herself and will perform two songs from her latest album.

Carlo Rota will play Carl Strom, head of the International Oversight Advisory, the civilian oversight committee that heads up the Atlantis expedition and its funding.

Kicks off October 6th in the UK.

I'll be giving it a chance.

.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kennywood,

Can I get into Stargate Universe without watching any of the other Stargates? I understand the premise of Stargate but didn't really get into SG-1? The trailer look good and I'm interested in seeing Robert Caryle in a TV series.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Potato Head:
Can I get into Stargate Universe without watching any of the other Stargates?

Yes. The new series is more like Star Trek: Voyager with the crew and interior designer recruited from Battlestar Galactica They've also been feeding the camera crew with the same stuff that gave BSG it's amateur video shaky-cam with really stupid points of view/camera angles tendencies If you liked BSG, then I think you're going to love SU. Otherwise, you're likely to lose interest fairly quickly unless you enjoy feeling depressed

Thanks Kevin.

I'll give it ago. missed it tonight (decided to watch the darts) but I'll catch it on Sky 2 later in the week. big fan of BSG.

Cheers

I thought it was a promising start but it seemed to be lacking some of the usual Stargate humour. I'll certainly be tuning in next week however it will need to become less chaotic quite quickly if it is going to sustain interest. Robert Carlyle's acting was head and shoulders above the other cast members who were basically acting by numbers. It needs something extra and hopefully we'll see it soon.

Unless the 3rd episode is a big improvement over the first two, I can't see myself watching anymore.

It's not Stargate IMO, Where's the humour?, The characters you can care about?, The P90's?

Unless it gets better I won't be watching Stargate: Battlestar Voyager.

I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to next week. It takes time to develop characters etc, and I thought they did their best to cram in as much info into it as they could without confusing the audience.

Sky managed to fit SGU in between the ads looking forward to seeing it again on DVD. The series looks very promising