You know the saying about how when one door closes, another one opens? Well, when it comes to revivals of sci-fi franchises based on a 1994 Roland Emmerich movie, it’s more like when one Stargate opens, the same Stargate closes. Yes, just seven months after Amazon announced a new Stargate series from Blindspot creator Martin Gero would soon be heading our way, Variety is reporting that Uncle Bezos has closed his wallet and the show has already been axed before ever making it into production.
According to Variety‘s sources, Amazon’s top brass got cold feet around Stargate because they became worried “that Gero’s take on the series would not have broad appeal beyond the franchise’s already dedicated fanbase.” Given that the company happily hired Gero as writer-showrunner however, a Stargate veteran who’s worked on each of the franchise’s last three TV iterations, it’s unclear what ultimately proved the straw that broke the camel’s back for Amazon. If there is a silver lining to be found in this disappointing news though, it is that despite Gero’s series not moving forwards, Amazon is still exploring new ways to bring the franchise back to our screens.
With 16 years having passed now since the franchise’s last TV outing, Stargate Universe, hopes for a fully-fledged revival of the hard sci-fi saga are admittedly dwindling at this exact moment. But given the infinite potential of the premise — an ever-refreshing expeditionary team uses ring-shaped portals to virtually instantaneously travel anywhere across the universe — surely, surely it’s only a matter of time before the Stargate truly does open once more. Only then will the holy trinity of Star franchises — Wars, Trek, and Gate — be whole again. Fingers crossed!
