I have been especially looking forward to Stargate Universe since Carlyle was anounced but this a fantastic added extra. Looking forward to seeing Dr Jackson again.

I am particularly pleased to see MS take a cameo role in the premiere of Stargate Universe as he and RDA were the only two from SG-1 to participate in the premiere for Atlantis, and it is quite fitting for him to continue and keep up the cameos for the premieres.

Good GRIEF! The headline and the first paragraph comprise a pretty hefty spoiler! PLEASE take into account that some of your readers enjoy the element of surprise and structure your posts accordingly. It's okay to post spoilers, but please post them in a way that gives us the option of skipping them!

Never been into the Stargate shows. Every time I watch it they're on an "alien" world that's clearly just some woods near by they film at all the time. Farscape set the bar too high for me with aliens and alien planets. And the drama can't compare to B-Star so, as far as I'm concerned, Stargate doesn't offer me anything. I liked the original movie though.

Wooo - Love Shanks!

Apparently the majority of this new series will focus on 'non-wooded' locations - which should offer up some good episodes with a more alien feel.

Didn't Jackson die on SG-1?

Jackson died several times. Never did stick, though.

That’s great news. People love Daniel Jackson.
It’s just remenber the episode ” The Lost Tribe” and “First Contact”. “First Contact” has got the highest grade from the fans here in gateworld poll and “The Lost Tribe” it was second highest rating just behind the series finale.
We wanna see a lot of more Daniel and O’Neill

Stargate Universe is a ripoff of Star Trek Voyager. I have always been a big Stargate fan, but this is so unoriginal its just sad.

I agree on the ripoff argument, the basic setting is too uninspired.

If Atlantis was Stargate: Deep Space 9, complete with a space station far away from Earth, this new series sounds like Stargate Voyager.

Wake me up when killer lady robots in skin tight suits appear. And remember, it could have been worse, it could have been Stargate Enterprise, the prequel nobody ever wanted to have.

Personally I would like to see Mckay as a guest in pilot episode. It stands to reason as Jackson and O'Neill were in Atlantis pilot.

Maybe Jackson and Mckay may be in pilot as I thought they worked well together in Atlantis episodes.

A ripoff of Star Trek Voyager? How can you possibly judge that when a series episode hasn't been shot yet, let alone aired? Talk to me after the series premiere!

@SacNews
The setting really speaks for itself. Some people on a spaceship, cutoff from home. If that's not Voyager, I don't know what is. So we get the whole storyline about resource management, later we get organized enemies of superior strength and in the spirit of Stargate, the crew will dump a Stargate here and there to rally the troops against the forces of Oppressistan. At least we will not get too many episodes containing "pencil pushers at home interfering with space heroism".

I am not judging the series without having seen an episode. I never said it would be good or bad. I am reasonably confident the quality of the series will be on par with SG1 and Atlantis. It's just that all that is being sold to the fan right now is a complete change of cast and a setting we have heard before. Then again, Galactica also did well with their wild west wagon trail setting. I guess we will have to see what "edgier" boils down to.

Why is it called 'Stargate Universe' if they're stuck on a ship?! 'Starship Universe' would make more sense but of course shows on ships have been done to death and then some. Sadly, I don't think even Michael Shanks can rescue this one. 8-(

Well, unless the ship's name is Serenity. 8-)
--

So... he's in the pilot? That's a spoiler? Give me a goddamn break.

Gosh, I love when people complain about reading information that they didn't want to know...especially before you open up the article, it states Possible Spoilers Ahead! Maybe Sci Fi should be even more careful, like putting a fancy border around it with big flashing stars, or a voice emote constantly stating Danger Will Robinson...You know, you could possibly sue for that, since you know, you may be emotionally distraught, kinda like the lady the sued McDonalds for spilling coffee on her lap, and it was hot...

"The best place to hide something is in plain sight."

I's sick and tired of you guys whining about spoilers. Like above, "Catatonic" complains that the headline and 1st paragraph contain, as he puts it "hefty" spoilers. Um, what are you talking about? Lets see, the headline is "Michael Shanks has a surprise about Stargate Universe." Okay, that's no spoiler. Doesn't really tell us ANYTHING.

The first paragraph reads :"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!)"

Note the key word "MAY" in there. That paragraph gives nothing away except the POSSIBILITY that Shanks may appear in the pilot. Oh boy, big surprise there. A new Stargate show, and Shanks might appear in the pilot. Of course he frakking might appear. Him or someone else form the SG shows is of course going to be in the pilot to give the show continuity to the rest of the series.

The complaint just doesn't hold up. Nothing was given away in the headline nor the first paragraph. To get anything else you had to click the "continue reading" link.

And then there is the fact that this site, well, scifiweekly.com at least, has always been a MAIN SOURCE for spoilers and news on upcoming stuff. Thats half the reason many of us come here and read stuff. If you don't want a spoiler, just don't read anything here.

I'm tired of seeing all of these people whining about spoilers. Just stop coming here. And stop taking up space in the comments with your juvenile complaining.

I'll bet Catatonic thought that a sentence saying "Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader" was a major spoiler for "Revenge of the Sith." Even though we've known that since Return of the Jedi.

Personally, I want to know more about this show now, and this article gave me basically nothing.

To Paul:

He died a lot, but he kept coming back, like a freakin' cockroache. But, no, he's awsome, I can't wait to see this!!

Stargate Universe sounds like it got its plotline from Stargate Infinity.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320969/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargate_Infinity

Stargate Infinity is set 30 years after the Tau'ri ("Tau'ri" is the official name for people located on earth) used the Stargate and traveled to Abydos (Stargate the film). According to the show, by that time the Stargate had become public knowledge, and some aliens had become citizens of Earth (or of countries on Earth). A veteran member of the SGC, Major Gus Bonner leads a team of young recruits through the gate after being framed by an alien infiltrator of the hostile Tlak'kahn race. The team must travel from world to world until they find the evidence to clear their names while learning about the unique cultures in the galaxy, alongside learning about themselves in the process. This plot was never resolved.

yeah it sounds alot like voayger just cuz these people are on a ship.if i recall voyager dint exactly create the lost far from home and must fen for ur self plot.get over ur self.SGU is called universe because they traveling the universe.they cant control the ship at all,they arent trained for this type of situation.if sgu is a rip off of voyager then voyager is a rip off of lost and space.its going to be nothing like voyager and people saying that it will be are well...frankly just ignorant

Fantastic news that, cameos are good, we shouldn't loose track of where the Stargate mythology started

So he'll be on for 2 minutes - big whoop.

Far more interesting is the concept - a bunch of people lost in a distance galaxy! Now that's novel thinking!!

I am addressing all of the comments about universe being a ripoff of voyager.

So what you are saying, that from now until eternity, ANY sci-fi show that centers around a ship and crew being lost in space can't happen? That's crazy.

I like Stargate and have watched every episode of every movie. Even if the premise is the same as voyager, I think they will do it justice.

More Michael Shanks is always a welcome thing. Hope he actually has some lines and not just a walk-by. :)

Also, re: Voyager rip-off -- in Voyager, they're trying to get back to Earth. In SGU, they're apparently headed *away* from Earth and not able to stop themselves (ship's on 'autopilot'). I don't know if that reassures anyone at all.....

Stargate Universe will be like Startrek Voyager as much as Voyager was like Lost in Space.
Voyager was not the first and Universe will not be the last.

No, it will not be the last... it will be cancelled just as soon as it gets to be too expensive... then we get another one... cheaper, younger, edgier. Ooo. I can hardly wait.

Of course, I am getting older.... younger and edgier does not appeal to me. Jewel Staite appeals to me.... but not younger and edgier.

Love it, I never watched Atlantis though. I will eventualy to see if I like it hehe. But I was sold with SG-1. Mean reason why I have it on DVD. Can't wait for the new movie. They may keep making movies as long as they can. Hope the next spinoff of Stargate is nice. Hope they will Show it here in Holland.

Bye

If People stranded in Space makes Stargate a rip off Voyager, than that makes Voyager a rip off of Space 1999. For those that haven't seen the 70's show. People on a moon base get stranded on the moon base after teh moon falls off it orbit, the people use space ships to explore planets they pass, but the moon never stops so there is only a limited time they can explore each planet.

BORING . . . SO TIRED AND UNINSPIRED . . . SG 1 = BRILLIANT . . . I am thinking that the Deloise Bros and crew and stars just HAD the "right stuff" - - ATLANTIS - lost it's way and was too DS 9 - - - UNIVERSE ??? Hmmm - I wonder HOW they sold this one? I am not buying.

the only ripoff i saw was voyager. the only thing it had going for it was the doctor.

http://stargate.mgm.com/specialops/link.php?urlid=50&id=9121

YOUR GOOD MR. OBVIOUS....isnt it the truth. Maybe give the whole page a bright yellow color to notify the reader...

(Gosh, I love when people complain about reading information that they didn't want to know...especially before you open up the article, it states Possible Spoilers Ahead! Maybe Sci Fi should be even more careful, like putting a fancy border around it with big flashing stars, or a voice emote constantly stating Danger Will Robinson...You know, you could possibly sue for that, since you know, you may be emotionally distraught, kinda like the lady the sued McDonalds for spilling coffee on her lap, and it was hot...

"The best place to hide something is in plain sight.")

Suppose all the sci-fi shows since the 70's are to be true or become true in near future I would have to say atleast STARGATE starts you off from a real world prespective. Almost like an ambilical cord to universe, having us work our way up the ranks. Instead of a show consisting of a ship like the enterprise. Which to me is such a pretty boy gay version of human race way of handling deep space. Galactica is the opposite, it is the ghetto version where humans are battling each other in a bunch of ratty, crusty ships. and in neither of those did they really build up to how we got there as a race.
regarding stargate and so many humans...
it would make sense if we found humans on the planets flying around our galaxy since they were used for so many tasks by other beings. And it is always good find other creatures once we leave the comfort of home.

i am not a big fan of being stuck on a ship forever with the new stargate...like the enterprise, galactica and if stargate turns out to go that route, then this may be the stop at which I get off the ride and head back to earth from atlantis.

hopefully they wont completely destroy the new stuff. Stargate has an amazing way of always reminding you of where you came from, when moving forward. THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS ABOUT IT. IT GIVES YOU A START TO FINISH SENSE OF COMPLETE-NESS. if ya know what i mean

ONE LAST THING MCGIVER RULEZ!!!!
SO DOES CARTER RODNEY JACKSON ELIZABETH SHEPHERD ETC ETC....GOTTA RUN

So...it's an "edgy" sci-fi show about people from Earth who get "forced through" a portal of some sort and they end up on the opposite end of the universe on an unknown ship, and then these "desperate survivors" are stuck on an "unknown course" and are "unable to return to Earth." Hmmm. Sounds like Farscape to me. I read an interview with the creators of Stargate wherein one of the guys (don't remember which creator) mentioned that SGU would delve into the idea of the alien in a creative way instead of in a "waxy-faced English-speaking" way. Hmmm...sounds even more like Farscape.

personally i dont care if its a spoiler or not
i watch shows over and over.. so knowing ahead of time what the plot is doesnt mean i wont watch it...
i got all 10 seasons of sg1.. just know finishing up with my 5th time around em all

only thing that is pan frying my grits is sci fi channel putting on all this garbage...
these reality shows,, ghost hunter crap..
sounds like the owners (NBC) is wanting to drag this channel down like they done with thier own channel

Hello! I agree with "hirsty". It would be great if they give the "Mckay and Jakson" decent roles for the pilot. They are both great characters and actors.

And so what! Space 1999, Voyager, Farscape, Lost'n Space, Atlantis, where great shows. There's literally tons of garbage out there. If they can make it work . . . More power to them. Keep it coming guys!

hmmm.... statement "Never been into the Stargate shows. Every time I watch it they're on an "alien" world that's clearly just some woods near by they film at all the time."....I guess that the alien worlds being like some woods etc was accidental and not because the worlds needed an atmosphere like earths for the human slaves who were taken there, to survive... i believe sams father was told the same thing when he was first taken off world to the Tokra planet... dont you hate it when people criticise a complete 10 years of work on the 23 minutes they have watched half way through the 3rd season....

I am into time travel, worm holes, aliens. If Stargate Universe is like that then I know it willbe a hit. Hurry up and finish I cant wait.

Hope it works out for him. Could someone ask MS to come to a European convention this year? It would be great for the European fans....

Hope Stargate Universe works out for him.
Could someone ask MS to come to a European convention in 2009? It would be so great for the European fans....

The information is important. listen to it and evaluate. Opinion is not science. Opinion is fiction...

i like your aket in stargate on unvesre

The "it's a Voyager ripoff" complaints aren't the main problem with SGU. The main problem is that it's a series nobody wanted. It would've been better to keep Atlantis going, rather than giving it a poorly-conceived rushjob finale to clear the way for SGU.

Wow...2 stargate series down, and yet one more to go. Looks like the sequel rumors will be starting up very shortly, especially if this series doesn't look to last that long. Besides, James Spader was always Dr. Daniel Jackson to me.

Edgier, younger Stargate?

"200", anyone?

"yo, dawg, I was still gonna tap dat." LOL

I saw the premiere, and it's ok. It has a much better footing than Atlantis, or most other Sci-fi shows in their first season. Farscape was rather on-dimensional until the end of the first season.

This one started off strong, except for the 9th chevron thing. Nine? Seriously?

I do like the look of the ship, and the interior, better than Atlantis. It actually looks old, and ancient.

well shanks didnt even actually appear, it was a tape recording..see but they didnt say that because shank fans would not have tuned in...i was disappointed ..RDA was awesome to see...although the rank is something to get use to...im so use to COL.oneill and amanda tsapping had more cameo than shanks...she commanding the ss hammond...so far the acting is blah..like i cant get use to it..eli isnt really funny he's just a clown...and honestly dr.rush is annoying..it kinda seems like he thinks he owns destiny...

i figured that they would incorporated some of the atmosphere that was present on the previous shows even if they are targeting the younger audience.

im not really going to continue watching...and no ive seen all three episodes...the lack of character growth is painful

maybe down the road when the show mature from snale pace/clowsns and bad a acting will i return as a loyal fan

People compare "Stargate: Universe" to "Star Trek: Voyager"...but even that was a ripoff of the early '70's "Space: 1999"...where the moon (due to a man-made disaster) left Earth's orbit to drift through space with about 300 or so multi-national people (stranded on the Moonbase Alpha) along for the unstoppable ride ... searching, with a limited time window to return, any habitable planet they passed in range of for possible relocation as they ambled through other solar systems, with no hope of return to Earth. They even had the same problems (as SGU) of immediate/long-term survival with limited resources, damaged facilities, people questioning chain of command and decisions to stay or move on, 'cabin-fever', mutiny, scientist vs. non-scientist opinions, etc. (whoa...sounds almost like the early episodes of 'Stargate: Atlantis'). The main characters in "Space: 1999" were the commander, a medical doctor (who had a romantic relationship with the commander), a lead scientist, a hot-shot pilot who followed orders, a few re-curring troublemakers, and eventually a shape-shifting alien scientist who became a permanant resident. They were even able to, due to a fluke of physics, recieve a transmission from Earth at one point. And this show concept fell smack in between 'Lost In Space' and the original 'Battlestar: Galactica'. Its not a new plot device by any means. So I don't know where the producers get off touting it as this new and edgy concept. I like the show, but so far have seen nothing I haven't seen before. Even the camera work is re-hashed from the new 'Galactica' series.

As for the Shanks appearance, it was inevitable....as was Anderson's. Still waiting for Tapping to show up (Shanks is also appearing on her new 'Sanctuary' show). Despite initial reports that no one from the other two franschises would ever appear on SGU, we knew they would...they said the same thing about 'Atlantis'...yet Shanks and Anderson were both in the pilot, and everyone on SG-1 has appeared as either a guest or part-time regular since then. No cross-overs, huh? Yeah, right. I'm waiting for Shanks to 'ascend' again and become their 'advisor' in ...oh, let's say...season three maybe?