After years of rumors, MGM and Warner Bros. announced yesterday that they will be partnering on a trilogy “re-imagining” 1994’s Stargate. Co-writers on the original film, Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, will return for the new franchise with Emmerich directing and Devlin producing.
The studios’ announcement yesterday made it clear the new films should preserve the dimension-hopping spirit of the ’90s box office success while introducing a new generation of movie-goers to the Stargate world.
Explained Jonathan Glickman of MGM, “There was no version of us further developing the Stargate franchise without Roland and Dean at the creative helm. This is their baby, and we cannot wait to bring their reenergized universe to the legions of fans around the world.”
Greg Silverman, overseeing the production for Warner Bros., added, “Stargate created an expansive cinematic universe that has engaged fans for two decades. Under the guidance of Roland and Dean, these new films will build upon the creativity and popularity of the first film, while delivering an original film-going experience for fans and those new to the franchise.”
A joint statement released by Emmerich and Devlin implies that returning to Stargate was an organic artistic decision for the pair:
We couldn’t be more excited to once again partner with Roland and Dean, the world-class creators of the original Stargate, to bring their reinvigorated vision of this wildly popular property to audiences of multiple generations. Stargate is one of the biggest titles in MGM’s vast library, and we look forward to adding this great franchise to our slate.
So what will a “reinvigorated” vision of a universe that’s already been explored so thoroughly on TV look like? It’s safe to assume that a new generation of Stargate fans won’t be following the escapades of Spader et al. Emmerich himself said in 2013 that Spader and Kurt Russell likely won’t play major roles in the new trilogy: “the actors look totally different… it would not work.”
Good luck, guys. Don’t Godzilla it up.
(via The Wrap and The Mary Sue, image via Stargate)
