Stargate Reboot: Is Amazon Resurrecting This Franchise?

While rumored for sometime, a Stargate reboot was not on the first run of programming after Amazon purchased MGM.

By Rick Gonzales | Updated

richard dean anderson stargate reboot

It’s now been more than a decade since Stargate fans have been treated to anything of significance within this franchise. And though there have been rumblings of late that something new could be around the corner where these space travelers are concerned, it would appear the Stargate reboot has some ways to go before seeing the light.

Seeing as how MGM has moved into Amazon, many thought we could see a Stargate reboot sooner than later, but it’s more guesswork than actual substance where a series or a movie is concerned.

With all this Stargate at our fingertips, and a dedicated fanbase hungry for more, are we getting it? Here’s what we know about the plans to do a Stargate reboot.

THE STARGATE REBOOT WAS NOT PART OF MGM’S MOST RECENT PROGRAMMING SLATE

stargate reboot

Amazon purchased the MGM library for north of $8 billion in a deal finalized in March 2022. Because Stargate was (and is) an MGM property, there were many who thought the infusion of Amazon’s dollars and streaming platform in Prime would mean that a new Stargate reboot would be among the early projects for the tech giant.

GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT even had the exclusive that eventually the Stargate reboot series would premiere on Amazon Prime. That could definitely be the case still moving forward. But in the short term, Amazon has opted to keep the MGM works separate by using the new MGM+.

The latter released its programming schedule and the Stargate reboot was not among the properties planned in the near future. What happens now is anyone’s guess, though the future doesn’t necessarily look bright where this franchise is concerned.

THE ORIGINAL STARGATE MOVIE DEBUTED IN 1994

Stargate reboot

The original Stargate movie premiered way back in 1994 and starred the likes of Kurt Russell and James Spader. It was co-written by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, with Emmerich handling the director’s duties.

The movie went on to spawn more Stargate, with the TV series Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe as well as the movies Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate: Continuum, and Stargate: Children of the Gods. There was also a web series titled Stargate Origins and even an animated series, Stargate Infinity.

The original

The original Stargate movie was the story of scientists discovering an ancient ring buried in the desert. Dubbed the “Stargate” the ring created a wormhole that, when entered, would take a traveler through a portal to another world.

Kurt Russell’s Colonel Jack O’Neil and James Spader’s Dr. Daniel Jackson were two who were tasked to go through the gate, to see what was on the other side, and determine if there were any potential military threats. Plus, they set out to explore what new world(s) may await them.

This original movie always begged for a sequel. In fact, the original idea was to make the features into a trilogy. Instead, they made TV shows that, in their own way, became even more popular. That means a sequel is basically impossible at this point and the only way to continue the franchise is with a full Stargate reboot.

STARGATE SERIES ENDED IN 2010 WITH MOVIES RUMORED SINCE

Once the TV run of Stargate TV shows ended, talk of rebooting Stargate into a feature film franchise resumed. So far though, it’s been all talk and no action.

Director Emmerich gave fans, via Comicbook, an update on the possibility of seeing a Stargate reboot, saying, “Yeah, I kind of talked a little bit with MGM about Stargate. But I think this is going nowhere because there was another TV show, and they kind of realized that if it’s like some sort of a mixed bag.” Definitely not what fans wanted to hear.

Emmerich also told Screenrant that even if a Stargate reboot was still in the works, his involvement would be minimal at best. “No, not really anymore. Yes, I’m involved, but also not. Because I have so many other things to do. I have, like, two or three other projects I want to do and they’re kind of more important than – I think somebody else has to do that. MGM is trying.”

For co-writer Dean Devlin’s part, it’s not so much of not wanting to be part of a sequel, it’s more a case of not wanting to work with the big studios anymore. He said back in 2018 on The Matthew Aaron Show about his involvement with a sequel, “After Geostorm, I really came to the realization that I’m not the kind of guy who should ever work at studios. I excused myself from both Stargate and from Independence Day, so they may be going forward, but I don’t know. I’m not involved anymore.”

Sounds like his experience on Geostorm, his feature film directorial debut, was not a pleasant one. And it was in another recent GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT exclusive that we reported Roland Emmerich was no longer attached to a Stargate reboot at all.

STARGATE’S REBOOT STATUS NOW

The future

While the makers of the original Stargate movie, as well as the 1996 hit Independence Day, have hinted that something might still be in the works, there is no official word from MGM about a movie sequel.

What about the many others who have starred in the franchise? Richard Dean Anderson and Amanda Tapping, stars from the Stargate SG-1 series, recently reunited and Tapping had this to say about the possibility of a Stargate franchise reboot: “I know that there’s interest from MGM, for sure, to try to revitalize the franchise in some way.”

Amanda Tapping

So is MGM interested in a Stargate reboot or aren’t they? With a world as big as Stargate possesses and a rabid fanbase, you’d think MGM would be looking intently at getting another version of Stargate rolling.

While the future of Stargate seems bleak at the moment, things can change, as they often do, in a heartbeat. Hollywood is fickle like that. We’ll keep this space updated on the status of Stargate‘s reboot.