Stargate
Stargate is a military science fiction franchise originating from the 1994 feature film Stargate, directed by Roland Emmerich and co-written by Emmerich and Dean Devlin, which depicts the discovery of an ancient alien device known as the Stargate that enables instantaneous travel through wormholes to distant planets.[1][2] The core narrative revolves around human military teams, such as SG-1, using the Stargate to explore extraterrestrial worlds, defend Earth from hostile alien threats like the Goa'uld and Wraith, and uncover ancient human histories tied to advanced civilizations.[3][2] Produced primarily by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the franchise has expanded across multiple media formats, including television series, direct-to-video movies, animated shows, novels, video games, and webisodes, amassing approximately 350 hours of live-action content by 2011.[1][2][4] The franchise's television expansion began with Stargate SG-1, co-created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, which premiered on Showtime in 1997 and ran for 10 seasons (214 episodes) until 2007, becoming the longest-running one-hour episodic science fiction television series at the time.[3][5] This series was followed by spin-offs such as Stargate Atlantis (2004–2009, 5 seasons, 100 episodes), which explores a team based in the legendary city of Atlantis in the Pegasus Galaxy battling the Wraith, and Stargate Universe (2009–2011, 2 seasons, 40 episodes), focusing on survivors stranded on an ancient spaceship.[2] Additional entries include the direct-to-video films Stargate: The Ark of Truth (2008) and Stargate: Continuum (2008), which conclude major SG-1 story arcs, as well as the prequel miniseries Stargate Origins (2018, 10 episodes) set in 1939 during the device's initial discovery.[2] An animated series, Stargate Infinity (2002–2003, 26 episodes), was produced but is often considered non-canonical by fans due to its divergence from the live-action continuity.[2] Stargate SG-1 achieved significant popularity in syndication and international markets, particularly in Europe and Australia, drawing millions of viewers weekly and earning critical acclaim for its blend of action, mythology, and character-driven storytelling.[6] The franchise garnered numerous accolades, including five Saturn Awards (three for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series), twelve Leo Awards for technical and performance achievements, and two Gemini Awards, reflecting its high production quality and influence on science fiction television.[7][8] Culturally, Stargate has left a lasting legacy as a pioneering exploration of interstellar travel and human-alien interaction, inspiring references in broader pop culture and fostering a dedicated global fanbase; in November 2025, Amazon MGM Studios announced a new series for Prime Video, continuing the franchise as a new chapter.[6][1][9]Premise and Setting
Core Concept
The Stargate is an ancient, ring-shaped device that serves as a wormhole generator, enabling instantaneous travel between paired gates located on distant planets across the galaxy. Activation requires dialing a unique sequence of coordinates represented by glyphs on the device's outer ring, with nine chevron locks that progressively engage to establish the connection—typically seven for standard interstellar jumps. Once formed, the wormhole creates a stable, traversable vortex that dematerializes matter at one end, transmits it through hyperspace, and reintegrates it at the destination, allowing explorers to step through as if crossing a threshold.[10] At the heart of the franchise lies the premise of modern humans uncovering this long-buried artifact in Egypt and repurposing it for military and exploratory expeditions to alien worlds, where they confront existential threats from the Goa'uld—a parasitic species that inhabits human hosts and rules through advanced technology masquerading as divine power. Drawing initially from Egyptian mythology, the narrative posits that these aliens once enslaved early human populations, transplanting them to other planets as laborers, with the Stargate facilitating both the oppressors' dominion and humanity's eventual counteroffensives. This setup expands in later installments, such as Stargate SG-1, into a structured program of galactic defense and discovery.[11][12][13] Central themes underscore the Goa'uld's imperialistic expansion, where they seed human civilizations across planets only to exploit them as hosts, soldiers, and slaves, echoing real-world critiques of colonialism through sci-fi allegory. In contrast, the stories highlight human resilience, portraying underdog societies that rise against technologically superior tyrants using ingenuity, alliances, and rediscovered ancient knowledge. These motifs are rooted in the 1994 film's reinterpretation of ancient astronaut theories, where extraterrestrials shaped early Earth cultures rather than mythical gods intervening.[14] The franchise's foundational concept emerged from the 1994 film co-written and produced by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, who drew inspiration from Egyptian hieroglyphs, archaeological mysteries like the Giza pyramids, and Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods?, which speculated that ancient aliens influenced human development. Emmerich, influenced by the 1970 documentary adaptation of von Däniken's book during film school, envisioned a portal device blending these historical enigmas with classic sci-fi elements of wormhole travel and interstellar adventure.[15]Universe and Mythology
The Stargate universe is a vast, interconnected fictional cosmos where ancient human civilizations on Earth and across the galaxy are revealed to have been influenced by extraterrestrial beings who masqueraded as gods from various mythologies. This lore posits that humans were seeded on many planets throughout the galaxy by the Ancients, an advanced precursor race, as part of a broader narrative exploring themes of creation, deception, and transcendence. The franchise's mythology integrates elements from Egyptian, Norse, and Arthurian legends into a science fiction framework, portraying interstellar travel and advanced technologies as the true origins of these earthly tales.[16] Central to the antagonistic forces are the Goa'uld, a race of parasitic symbiotes that bond with host bodies—primarily humans or Unas—to achieve immortality and control, often posing as Egyptian deities like Ra to demand worship and enslave populations. Originating from the planet P3X-888, the Goa'uld evolved from aquatic parasites into a tyrannical empire that dominated much of the Milky Way galaxy for millennia, using stolen technologies to maintain their god-like facade. Their society is hierarchical, with System Lords vying for power through Jaffa warriors and naquadah-enhanced weaponry, such as staff weapons and zat'nik'tel that draw energy from the mineral naquadah found in their hosts' blood.[17] In contrast, the Ancients (also known as Alterans) represent the pinnacle of benevolent advancement, having constructed the Stargate network for instantaneous interstellar travel and seeded human life on many planets throughout the galaxy, after fleeing persecution in their home galaxy. As near-immortal beings capable of ascension—a transcendent state where physical forms dissolve into pure energy, granting vast powers but bound by non-interference rules—they left behind artifacts like the Zero Point Modules (ZPMs), crystalline devices that harness zero-point energy from subspace to power entire cities or sustain wormholes across galaxies. The Asgard, another key ally, are diminutive, grey-skinned humanoids who inspired Norse mythology through their interventions on Earth, employing cloning for reproduction and beam-based technologies for defense, though their race ultimately faced extinction due to genetic degradation.[18][19][20] The Ori emerge as a later existential threat, a faction of ascended Alterans from a distant galaxy who rejected the non-interference doctrine, instead demanding worship from lower beings to amplify their power through faith-based energy. Unlike the pacifist Ancients, the Ori propagate their ideology via Priors and the Book of Origin, waging a crusade that introduces multiverse elements and ethical conflicts over ascension's rules. Naquadah-based technologies, integral to Goa'uld armaments, underscore the universe's resource-driven conflicts, while the overall lore evolves from the 1994 film's focus on Ra's rule over Abydos to the television series' broader explorations of alliances, plagues, and the Ancients' legacy as humanity's cosmic progenitors.[21][22]Development History
Origins and Initial Film
The Stargate franchise originated in the early 1990s when German director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin co-wrote the screenplay for a science fiction adventure film inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology and interstellar travel concepts.[6] Initially conceived as two separate projects—a spaceship story by Emmerich and a portal idea by Devlin—the concepts merged into a single narrative about a mysterious ancient device. The script was acquired for production by Le Studio Canal+ in association with Centropolis Film Productions and the financially strained Carolco Pictures, which provided partial financing amid its impending bankruptcy.[23] With a production budget of $55 million, principal photography began in September 1993, focusing on ambitious practical sets and location shoots to evoke an otherworldly atmosphere.[24] Filming occurred primarily in the deserts of Yuma, Arizona, for exterior scenes depicting ancient Egypt and alien worlds, including the excavation of the Stargate device, while interior sequences, such as the massive Stargate command facility, were shot at the repurposed Spruce Goose Dome in Long Beach, California.[25] These locations were chosen for their expansive, arid landscapes and large-scale soundstage capabilities, though the production faced logistical hurdles in coordinating desert heat with intricate set constructions. Casting emphasized contrasts between military grit and intellectual curiosity: Kurt Russell was selected as Colonel Jack O'Neil, a no-nonsense special forces leader; James Spader portrayed Egyptologist Daniel Jackson, bringing wry humor to the role; and Jaye Davidson, known from The Crying Game, played the enigmatic Goa'uld antagonist Ra, requiring extensive makeup and prosthetics.[26] Additional key roles included Viveca Lindfors as archaeologist Catherine Langford and Alexis Cruz as the young Skaara. Visual effects posed significant production challenges, particularly the activation sequence of the Stargate, which required innovative blending of practical and digital techniques at a time when CGI was emerging in Hollywood. The wormhole effect, featuring a rippling blue vortex, was crafted by a team led by Jeff Kleiser at Kleiser-Walczak Construction Co., using digitized water ripple simulations and self-scanning 3D animation to achieve a fluid, otherworldly motion without relying on major studios like Industrial Light & Magic.[27] Early test screenings revealed audience confusion over the plot's complexity, prompting script revisions and reshoots that strained the timeline, though the effects ultimately became a highlight. Released on October 28, 1994, by MGM/UA Distribution Co., the film grossed $196.6 million worldwide against its budget, achieving commercial success driven by strong international appeal and visual spectacle.[24] Critically, it received mixed reviews, praised for its ambitious effects and action but critiqued for thin character development and pseudoscientific elements, earning a 53% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[28] Ownership of the Stargate intellectual property shifted over time, with MGM acquiring distribution rights during production and retaining control of the franchise following Carolco's 1995 collapse and Le Studio Canal+'s library sales.[23] In March 2022, Amazon completed its $8.45 billion acquisition of MGM, forming Amazon MGM Studios and gaining full rights to the Stargate universe, including potential for reboots or expansions.[29] This film's foundational premise of a portal to alien worlds directly influenced subsequent television adaptations, establishing the core mythology for serialized storytelling.[6]Expansion into Television and Beyond
Following the success of the 1994 film, writers Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, who had been collaborating on MGM's revival of The Outer Limits since 1995, pitched a television continuation titled Stargate SG-1 to leverage the established premise of interstellar exploration through ancient portals.[30] The project was greenlit by MGM president John Symes, with Wright and Glassner serving as executive producers, and secured a deal with Showtime for its premiere in 1997 after arrangements for syndication to help cover the high production costs.[31] This marked the franchise's pivot to episodic television, where the core concept of a U.S. Air Force team venturing through the Stargate enabled expansive storytelling; across all series, 390 episodes were produced, spanning military science fiction adventures over two decades.[32] MGM maintained a central role in the franchise's television expansion, producing Stargate SG-1 alongside its spin-offs Stargate Atlantis (2004–2009) and Stargate Universe (2009–2011).[33] Showtime aired the first five seasons of SG-1, but in 2002, the Sci Fi Channel (later rebranded Syfy) took over broadcasting duties starting with season 6, while co-producing Atlantis and Universe to capitalize on the growing fanbase.[32] Syfy's involvement helped sustain the franchise through the mid-2000s, though production scales varied; for instance, the 2018 prequel series Stargate Origins was a low-budget web miniseries of ten short episodes produced by MGM on its Stargate Command digital platform, funded through a subscription model amid tighter financial constraints.[34] To bridge the end of SG-1's tenth season in 2007, MGM released two direct-to-video films in 2008—Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum—as narrative capstones resolving major arcs like the Ori threat, allowing the series to conclude on a cinematic scale without network constraints.[35] Diversification into other formats included the 2002 animated series Stargate Infinity, a non-canon production aimed at younger audiences that followed a team of cadets navigating alien worlds after a framing incident, airing one season of 26 episodes.[36] Licensing agreements further broadened the universe starting in the late 1990s, with ROC Publishing issuing novelizations and original stories based on the film and early SG-1 episodes, alongside comic series from publishers like Entity Comics and Avatar Press, and video games.[37][38] The franchise encountered significant hurdles during its growth, notably the 2011 cancellation of Stargate Universe after two seasons, attributed by Syfy to insufficient ratings performance despite a dedicated following and the highest viewership for its finale since mid-season.[39] This contributed to a broader hiatus in the 2010s, exacerbated by MGM's financial instability, including widespread rumors of impending collapse that culminated in the studio's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in November 2010, halting new projects like planned SG-1 films while prioritizing debt restructuring over franchise expansion.[40]Films
Stargate (1994)
Stargate (1994) is a science fiction film directed by Roland Emmerich and co-written by Emmerich and Dean Devlin, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on October 28, 1994. The story revolves around the discovery of an ancient Egyptian artifact known as the Stargate, a massive ring-shaped device capable of creating a wormhole for interstellar travel. Egyptologist Dr. Daniel Jackson is recruited by the U.S. military to decode the device's symbols after it is unearthed in Giza in 1928 and stored at a secret facility. With the help of symbols resembling constellations, Jackson activates the Stargate, transporting a team led by Colonel Jonathan "Jack" O'Neil through to the desert planet Abydos. There, they encounter a human civilization enslaved by the alien being Ra, who poses as the Egyptian sun god and has ruled for millennia using advanced technology and his Goa'uld physiology to masquerade among humans. The team uncovers Ra's plot to harvest naquadah—a rare mineral abundant on Abydos—to build a weapon capable of devastating Earth, prompting O'Neil and Jackson to rally the Abydonians, including local leader Kasuf and his daughter Sha'uri, in a rebellion. The climax features a battle against Ra's forces, culminating in the destruction of his ship and the apparent death of Ra, with Jackson choosing to remain on Abydos to aid in rebuilding while the survivors return home.[41] The film's central characters drive its narrative of exploration, conflict, and redemption. Colonel O'Neil, portrayed by Kurt Russell, is a battle-hardened Special Forces officer haunted by the suicide of his son, which initially renders him fatalistic and willing to sacrifice himself on the mission; his arc culminates in renewed purpose through protecting the Abydonians and preventing Earth's invasion. Dr. Daniel Jackson, played by James Spader, is an idealistic linguist dismissed by academia for his unconventional theories on ancient Egypt; his expertise in decoding hieroglyphs unlocks the Stargate's chevrons, and he forms a romantic bond with Sha'uri (Mili Avital), evolving from outsider to cultural bridge between worlds. Supporting roles include Kasuf (Erick Avari), the wise chieftain of the Abydonians who allies with the Earth team, and his son Skaara (Alexis Cruz), a young warrior who idolizes O'Neil and leads the youth in combat; Lieutenant Louis Kawalsky (John Diehl) and Lieutenant Porro (Steve Giannelli) represent the military contingent, highlighting themes of duty and loss.[26] Ra (Jaye Davidson), the enigmatic antagonist, embodies god-like arrogance, using his host body and Horus Guards to enforce subjugation.[42] Production emphasized practical effects and immersive world-building to evoke ancient mythology fused with sci-fi. The Stargate Command facility, inspired by the real Cheyenne Mountain Complex but constructed entirely on soundstages in Long Beach, California, featured a vast gate room with hydraulic ramps and control consoles designed by production designer Holger Gross to convey Cold War-era secrecy. For Abydos, exterior scenes were shot in the sweltering Yuma Desert of Arizona during summer 1993, where Gross's team erected massive Egyptian-inspired pyramid structures and obelisks directly in the sand dunes, requiring constant sweeping to maintain an untouched alien landscape; prosthetic-enhanced horses served as the planet's "mastadges" beasts of burden. The score, composed by David Arnold and performed by the Sinfonia of London orchestra under conductor Nicholas Dodd, blends orchestral swells with Middle Eastern motifs and electronic elements to underscore the film's epic tone, earning acclaim for its dynamic integration of cultural and futuristic sounds. The official novelization, credited to Devlin and Emmerich and published by Roc Books, expands on character backstories and includes minor deviations such as extended dialogues during the Stargate activation sequence and additional details on Ra's ascension to godhood, diverging slightly from the film's streamlined pacing to provide deeper mythological context.[43][44][45] Initial marketing positioned the film as a gateway to a potential franchise, leveraging tie-ins to broaden appeal. Hasbro released a line of 3.75-inch action figures in 1994, including articulated versions of O'Neil, Jackson, Ra, and Abydonian characters with accessories like staff weapons and gliders, accompanied by playsets such as the Winged Glider vehicle to recreate battle scenes and promote imaginative play. The novelization served as a key promotional tool, released concurrently with the film to offer fans an extended narrative experience and hint at unexplored lore, while early merchandise like trading cards and posters emphasized the Stargate's visual spectacle to build anticipation for sequels. These efforts, coordinated with MGM's theatrical rollout, grossed over $196 million worldwide against a $55 million budget, establishing the property's commercial viability.[46][47]Direct-to-Video Sequels
Following the conclusion of Stargate SG-1's tenth season in 2007, two direct-to-video films were produced to wrap up key storylines from the series: Stargate: The Ark of Truth (2008) and Stargate: Continuum (2008). These movies continued the adventures of the SG-1 team, including characters such as Colonel Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder), Colonel Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping), Teal'c (Christopher Judge), Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), and Vala Mal Doran (Claudia Black), while incorporating elements that bridged to the ongoing Stargate Atlantis series.[48][49] Stargate: The Ark of Truth, directed by Robert C. Cooper, picks up immediately after the SG-1 series finale, with the team aboard the Odyssey pursuing the Ark of Truth—an Ancient device capable of revealing falsehoods—to end the war against the Ori in their home galaxy. The plot centers on SG-1's quest to locate the Ark on the planet Dakara, where they confront Ori forces, a resurgent Replicator threat, and ascension-related conflicts involving Adria (Morena Baccarin), the Ori's human vessel, culminating in the Ancients' intervention to de-ascend and defeat the Ori leadership. Production began in April 2007 with a budget of approximately $7 million, featuring a cast that included Beau Bridges as General Hank Landry alongside the core SG-1 ensemble.[48][48] In contrast, Stargate: Continuum, directed by Martin Wood and written by Brad Wright, presents a standalone time-travel narrative diverging from the main timeline. Ba'al (Cliff Simon), the last surviving Goa'uld System Lord, travels back to 1939 to assassinate the archaeologist who unearthed the Stargate on Earth, preventing the Abydos mission and allowing a full-scale Goa'uld invasion of the planet; SG-1, alerted during Ba'al's execution ceremony, must navigate this altered reality—where the Stargate program never existed—and restore the original timeline through a daring time jump to 1939. The film, also budgeted at around $7 million, reunited much of the SG-1 cast, with guest appearances by Richard Dean Anderson as General Jack O'Neill.[49][49] These films served as intended finales for Stargate SG-1, resolving major arcs like the Ori conflict in The Ark of Truth and lingering Goa'uld threats in Continuum, while setting up narrative threads for Stargate Atlantis seasons 4 and 5 without tying off every franchise loose end, allowing for potential future expansions. Released first as The Ark of Truth on March 11, 2008, followed by Continuum on July 29, 2008, both were produced by MGM and Sony Pictures Television as direct-to-DVD releases to capitalize on the series' fanbase.[50][48][49]Television Series
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a military science fiction television series that expands on the premise of the 1994 film Stargate, following a team of explorers who use an ancient alien device known as the Stargate to travel to other planets and defend Earth from interstellar threats.[3] The core team, designated SG-1, consists of Colonel Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), a pragmatic U.S. Air Force officer; Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), an archaeologist and linguist; Teal'c (Christopher Judge), a Jaffa warrior who defects from the Goa'uld; and Captain Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping), an astrophysicist and military officer.[51] The series centers on their missions through the Stargate, primarily battling the parasitic Goa'uld System Lords who pose as ancient gods and enslave human populations across the galaxy.[51] Over its run from 1997 to 2007, the show produced 10 seasons comprising 214 episodes, making it one of the longest-running sci-fi series at the time.[52] The narrative evolves through major story arcs that introduce escalating threats beyond the initial Goa'uld conflicts. Seasons 1 through 3 focus on the Goa'uld wars, including alliances with the Tok'ra resistance and confrontations with figures like Sokar.[51] Seasons 4 and 5 shift emphasis to the Replicators, a mechanical nanite plague that overruns the Asgard and threatens the galaxy.[53] From seasons 6 to 8, the half-ascended Goa'uld Anubis emerges as the primary antagonist, driving plots involving ancient technology and the search for the Lost City of the Ancients.[54] Seasons 9 and 10 pivot to the Ori, god-like beings from another galaxy who seek to conquer the Milky Way through religious indoctrination and invasion.[51] The series concludes with the two-part finale "Unending," where SG-1 activates a time-dilation device aboard the Odyssey to evade an Ori attack, allowing them to resolve the conflict through temporal ingenuity.[55] The main cast underwent notable changes to refresh the ensemble and accommodate actor availability. Michael Shanks departed his role as Daniel Jackson at the end of season 5 due to creative differences but returned in season 7 after portraying Jonas Quinn, an alien ally, in season 6.[56] Richard Dean Anderson reduced his involvement after season 8, transitioning O'Neill to a recurring command position at Stargate Command while appearing in fewer episodes.[56] Production began with seasons 1 through 5 airing on Showtime, which provided creative freedom including more mature content in early episodes, before moving to the Sci Fi Channel (later Syfy) for seasons 6 through 10, broadening its audience reach.[57] The series garnered critical acclaim, winning the Saturn Award for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series in 2000, 2004, and 2005, along with multiple nominations for its cast and visual effects.[58]Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is an American-Canadian science fiction television series that served as a spin-off from Stargate SG-1, premiering on July 15, 2004, on the Sci Fi Channel (later Syfy) and concluding on January 9, 2009, after five seasons comprising 100 episodes.[59] The series centers on the Atlantis Expedition, an international team of military personnel and scientists dispatched through the Stargate to the distant Pegasus Galaxy to explore the ancient city of Atlantis, a submerged technological marvel built by the highly advanced Ancients. Upon arrival, the team uncovers a vast network of Stargates connecting countless worlds, but their discovery awakens the Wraith, a vampiric alien race that feeds on human life force, posing an existential threat to the expedition and the galaxy's human inhabitants.[60] The narrative emphasizes themes of exploration, survival, and interstellar diplomacy, with the team leveraging Ancient technology to defend Atlantis while forging alliances with Pegasus civilizations.[59] The core team includes Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, a U.S. Air Force pilot with an innate affinity for Ancient technology; Dr. Elizabeth Weir, the civilian expedition leader focused on peaceful outreach; Dr. Rodney McKay, a brilliant but acerbic astrophysicist; Teyla Emmagan, an Athosian leader with a psychic sensitivity to the Wraith; and later additions like Ronon Dex, a fierce Satedan warrior.[60] Key story arcs drive the series' progression: Seasons 1 and 2 focus on the Wraith's awakening from hibernation, initial culls of human populations, and experimental efforts like a retrovirus to transform Wraith into humans, notably creating the antagonist Michael.[61] Seasons 3 and 4 escalate with Michael's vengeful campaigns using hybrid armies and the invasion of human-form Replicators—nanite-based machines mimicking Ancient technology—that threaten to overrun Atlantis.[61] The fifth season features ongoing conflicts with the Wraith, including uneasy alliances and internal challenges, culminating in the finale "Enemy at the Gate," where the team obtains a Zero Point Module from a Wraith ally, powers up Atlantis, dials Earth, and flies the city through the Stargate to intercept a ZPM-powered Wraith hive ship approaching the planet; they destroy the hive in orbit using the city's drone weapons and nuclear missiles before landing Atlantis safely in the Pacific Ocean off San Francisco.[62] Cast highlights include Joe Flanigan portraying the charismatic and resourceful Sheppard across all 100 episodes, Rachel Luttrell as the empathetic and combat-skilled Teyla in 91 episodes, David Hewlett reprising his SG-1 role as the indispensable McKay, and Jason Momoa as the brooding Ronon starting in season 2.[60] Production milestones feature a shift to high-definition filming in season 4, enhancing visual effects for space battles and Ancient city interiors, alongside cast changes such as Weir's departure after season 3, replaced by Colonel Samantha Carter.[63][60] The series maintains ties to Stargate SG-1 through shared universe elements, including recurring characters like Weir and McKay from the parent show, and dedicated crossover episodes such as season 5's "First Contact" and "The Lost Tribe," which feature Daniel Jackson aiding the Atlantis team during a Replicator crisis, as well as appearances by Samantha Carter throughout the series and Jack O'Neill in episodes like "The Tao of Rodney."[64] These connections reinforce the broader Stargate mythology involving the Ancients while allowing Atlantis to develop its distinct Pegasus Galaxy lore.[60]Stargate Universe
Stargate Universe (SGU) is a science fiction television series that premiered on Syfy in 2009, serving as the third live-action installment in the Stargate franchise. The show follows a multinational team of military personnel and civilians who are accidentally transported via Stargate to the ancient spaceship Destiny, an automated vessel launched by the Ancients billions of years ago to explore the farthest reaches of the universe. Stranded billions of light-years from Earth with no immediate way home, the crew must contend with the ship's automated systems, dwindling resources, and encounters with hostile alien species while unraveling the purpose of Destiny's mission.[65][66] The series spans two seasons and 40 episodes, emphasizing a serialized narrative format with ongoing character development and interpersonal drama, a departure from the more episodic structure of earlier Stargate shows. Central characters include Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle), a brilliant but self-serving scientist who dials the ninth chevron of the Stargate, leading to the evacuation; Colonel Everett Young (Louis Ferreira), the military leader grappling with command decisions; Eli Wallace (David Blue), an ordinary gamer thrust into genius-level problem-solving; and Chloe Armstrong (Elyse Levesque), a young civilian whose personal connections influence crew dynamics.[67][68] The tone is notably darker and more morally ambiguous than predecessors like Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, exploring themes of isolation, betrayal, and human frailty in a high-stakes survival scenario.[65] Season 1 centers on the crew's initial conflicts, including power struggles for leadership and efforts to understand Destiny's automated functions, such as its star-seeding program designed to deliver gates to life-bearing planets. Tensions escalate with internal coups and external threats from the Lucian Alliance, culminating in an invasion that forces uneasy alliances. Season 2 builds on these divisions, introducing potential allies like the Ursini, an alien species encountered on a derelict seed ship who seek Destiny's aid against robotic drones, while deepening personal arcs like Chloe's physiological changes from alien influence. The season ends on a cliffhanger with the crew facing overwhelming drone forces and debating extreme measures, including a potential self-destruct sequence, to evade capture.[69][70][71] Production began in early 2009 after Syfy ordered the series straight-to-air for a fall debut, with creators Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper aiming for a grittier, character-driven approach. The budget saw increases over prior Stargate series to support enhanced visual effects for Destiny's interiors and space sequences, filmed primarily in Vancouver. Despite critical praise for its mature storytelling, Syfy canceled Stargate Universe on December 16, 2010, citing declining ratings—averaging around 1 million viewers per episode—despite the unresolved finale, marking the end of the original run without a planned resolution.[66][72][73]Stargate Origins
Stargate Origins is a 2018 American science fiction web miniseries that serves as a prequel to the Stargate franchise, set in 1939 during an archaeological excavation in Egypt led by Professor Paul Langford and his daughter, Catherine Langford. The series depicts the uncovering of the ancient Stargate device and the ensuing dangers faced by the team. Consisting of 10 short episodes, each approximately 10-15 minutes long, it stars Ellie Gall in the lead role as the young Catherine Langford, with supporting performances by Philip Alexander as Professor Langford and Aylam Orian as the antagonist, Nazi officer Wilhelm Brugger.[74][75] The plot follows Catherine and her allies as they confront Brugger, a rogue Nazi seeking to harness the Stargate's power for the Third Reich, which leads to an expedition through the device to an alien world where they encounter the Goa'uld System Lord Set, disguised as the ancient Egyptian goddess Aset. This narrative explores themes of colonialism, ancient mythology, and interstellar threats, while establishing key backstory elements such as the Langfords' involvement with the artifact. The story directly connects to the 1994 Stargate film by detailing the device's discovery and Catherine's early experiences, including her father's pivotal role in its study.[74][76] Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in collaboration with New Form Digital as a low-budget digital project, Stargate Origins was created and written by Mark Ilvedson and Justin Michael Terry, with Brad Turner directing all episodes. Filming took place primarily in Vancouver, Canada, reflecting its constrained $1-2 million overall budget, which impacted the scale of sets and action sequences. It premiered exclusively on MGM's Stargate Command subscription platform, with the first three episodes released on February 15, 2018, and the final episodes concluding on March 7, 2018; as of 2025, it is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.[77][78][75][79] The canon's status within the broader Stargate universe remains debated among fans and creators; while MGM producers confirmed it as official canon, adhering closely to franchise lore during development, certain timeline adjustments—such as Catherine's direct involvement with the Stargate—deviate from implications in Stargate SG-1, positioning it as a semi-standalone entry with deliberate nods to the 1994 film's setup.[80][80]Stargate Infinity
Stargate Infinity is an animated science fiction television series produced as a spin-off from the Stargate franchise, specifically designed for a children's audience. Set roughly 30 years in the future after the original 1994 film, the series centers on Major Gus Bonner, a seasoned Stargate explorer voiced by Dale Wilson, who is framed for orchestrating a devastating attack on Stargate Command by the Tlak'kahn, a militaristic reptilian species that has usurped much of the Goa'uld technology and influence. To evade capture and clear their names, Bonner leads a team of Air Force Academy cadets—including his niece Stacey (Tifanie Christun), tech-savvy R.J. Harrison (Mark Hildreth), and psychic Seattle Montoya (Bettina Bush)—through the Stargate network, joined by alien allies Ec'co, a shape-shifting Hrathi (Cusse Mankuma), and the enigmatic winged Draga (Kathleen Barr).[81][82] The narrative simplifies the intricate mythology of the live-action series, introducing original elements like the Tlak'kahn as primary foes while briefly referencing the defeated Goa'uld as predecessors whose parasitic rule shaped galactic history. Episodes typically involve the team allying with diverse alien cultures on uncharted worlds, resolving conflicts through ingenuity and collaboration rather than combat, and imparting moral lessons on topics such as trust, environmental stewardship, and prejudice. This focus on educational content was mandated by U.S. Federal Communications Commission regulations for children's programming, resulting in self-contained stories that prioritize character growth and ethical decision-making over serialized plotlines.[81][82] Developed by writers Eric Lewald and Michael Edens under DIC Entertainment, with executive producers Andy Heyward and Michael Maliani, the series was co-produced by MGM Television Entertainment and Les Studios Tex S.A.R.L., with animation outsourced to Hong Ying Universe in Taiwan and pre-production in Luxembourg. It debuted on September 14, 2002, within Fox's FoxBox programming block (formerly Fox Kids), airing 26 half-hour episodes through March 24, 2003. Budget limitations led to modest animation quality, and minimal oversight from the live-action producers contributed to continuity discrepancies, such as reimagined ancient races and a divergent timeline, rendering Stargate Infinity non-canon to the broader franchise as confirmed by MGM and Stargate SG-1 co-creator Brad Wright. The show concluded after one season in the U.S. due to insufficient ratings, though its full run aired in international markets like France on M6 and Disney Channel.[81][82][83] Critically, Stargate Infinity faced backlash from longtime fans for diluting the franchise's mature themes with juvenile tropes and inconsistent lore, earning a 3.6/10 rating on IMDb from over 800 user votes. Creators noted the challenge of balancing fan expectations with kid-friendly mandates, with Lewald stating, "Having to shoehorn 26 ‘age-appropriate lessons’ into what fans expected… was an unfortunate condition." Despite the poor commercial performance and cancellation, the series garnered modest appreciation for broadening access to the Stargate universe for younger demographics and fostering values like teamwork amid its exploration of interstellar diversity.[81][84][82] In November 2025, Amazon MGM Studios announced a series order for a new untitled Stargate television series to stream on Prime Video, with showrunner Martin Gero (executive producer on Stargate Atlantis) leading the project.[85]Expanded Media
Literature
The literature of the Stargate franchise encompasses novelizations of the original 1994 film and television episodes, as well as original prose stories that expand the universe through character backstories, unexplored missions, and crossovers with historical or sci-fi events. These works, primarily published under licenses from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), have contributed to the franchise's expanded media by providing deeper narrative explorations beyond screen adaptations, totaling approximately 50 titles across various imprints.[86] The novelization of the 1994 film Stargate, written by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, was published by Roc Books (an imprint of Penguin) in November 1994, closely adapting the screenplay while adding minor details to the ancient Egyptian mythology and interstellar travel elements central to the story. For the television series, early novelizations under Roc Books included adaptations of Stargate SG-1 episodes, such as the 1998 novelization of the pilot "Children of the Gods" by Ashley McConnell, which introduced the SG-1 team's dynamics and the Stargate program's military structure. McConnell authored three additional original novels for Roc between 1999 and 2001—The Price You Pay, The First Amendment, and The Morpheus Factor—focusing on standalone missions involving alien threats and ethical dilemmas, available exclusively in the United States. In 2004, UK-based Fandemonium Ltd. acquired the license to publish original Stargate SG-1 novels, producing over 30 titles by 2011 that tied into episode arcs while filling narrative gaps, such as James Swallow's Relativity (2006), which examined interstellar diplomacy with nomadic aliens during season seven. Other notable Fandemonium works include Do No Harm (2008) by Karen Miller, which delves into medical crises and Samantha Carter's scientific expertise amid a Goa'uld-induced plague, highlighting her backstory as an Air Force officer and astrophysicist. The publisher also ventured into crossovers, like Roswell (2007) by Sonny Whitelaw and Jennifer Fallon, where SG-1 time-travels to the 1947 Roswell incident to aid an Asgard ally, blending franchise lore with UFO conspiracy tropes.[87][88][89] Fandemonium extended its catalog to Stargate Atlantis with 24 original novels starting in 2005, including the Legacy series, which continues the series post-finale; the inaugural book, Homecoming (2010) by Jo Graham and Melissa Scott, depicts Atlantis's return to the Pegasus Galaxy and the unification of Wraith factions under a new queen, expanding on expedition members' personal growth and alliances. A single Stargate Universe novelization, Air (2009), adapted the pilot miniseries, while eight anthology volumes under the SGX imprint featured short stories bridging SG-1 and Atlantis narratives. Publication shifted toward digital formats after 2010, with eBooks becoming the primary medium for new releases and backlist titles, enabling global accessibility amid declining print sales.[90][86]Comics and Video Games
The Stargate franchise expanded into comic books through several publishers, beginning with adaptations of the original film and evolving to original stories tied to the television series. Avatar Press launched the first Stargate Atlantis comic series in 2006 with Wraithfall, a three-issue miniseries written by Stuart Moore and illustrated by Mauricio Melo, which depicted the Atlantis expedition team confronting a Wraith siege on a besieged planet, directly continuing elements from the show's first season.[91] This marked the initial foray into visual storytelling for the Atlantis spin-off, emphasizing high-stakes action against the Wraith vampire-like race. Subsequent Avatar Press titles, such as P.O.W. and Fall of Rome, explored SG-1 team dynamics in over 15 issues across various arcs, including prisoner-of-war scenarios and Goa'uld confrontations, blending canon lore with new threats like Replicator incursions.[92] Dynamite Entertainment picked up Stargate SG-1 licensing from 2009 to 2011, producing character-focused miniseries such as Stargate: Daniel Jackson #1-4 (2010), where archaeologist Daniel Jackson investigates ancient artifacts on a primitive world, and Stargate: Vala Mal Doran #1-4 (2010), highlighting the rogue agent's infiltration missions. These issues delved into post-television arcs, including time-displaced adventures reminiscent of "Back to the Future"-style temporal anomalies, expanding on unresolved SG-1 plotlines like alternate timelines and artifact hunts without altering core canon.[93] American Mythology Productions revived the franchise in 2017 with post-cancellation continuations, notably Stargate Atlantis: Back to Pegasus #1-3, which followed the team's return to the Pegasus Galaxy to address lingering Wraith threats and internal conflicts, and Stargate Universe: Back to Destiny #1-6 (2017-2018), resolving the TV series' cliffhanger by depicting the Destiny crew's struggle against alien invaders and ship malfunctions. These comics shifted toward ensemble-driven narratives, incorporating over 15 issues of unexplored arcs such as Replicator-like self-replicating machines in isolated sectors, prioritizing visual tension over textual exposition. Video games in the Stargate universe began with early adaptations of the 1994 film, progressing from 2D platformers to ambitious but often cancelled action titles. The 2003 PC shooter Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, developed by Perception and published by JoWooD Productions, featured first- and third-person gameplay where players controlled SG-1 members combating Anubis's forces and Replicator invasions across multi-stage missions, including gate travels and base defenses; though announced with voice acting from the cast, it was cancelled in 2005 amid development disputes.[94] Later entries included the 2013 mobile adventure Stargate SG-1: Unleashed for iOS and Android, an episodic interactive story with voiceovers from the original cast, where players navigated missions against Sekhmet's plot in an alternate timeline, focusing on puzzle-solving and dialogue branches rather than combat. Fan-driven content proliferated through unlicensed mods, such as the Stargate Invasion overhaul for Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion (2012 onward), which integrated Replicator invasions as adaptive AI threats in real-time strategy battles across Milky Way and Pegasus sectors. The franchise's gaming evolution reflects a transition from linear 2D adventures in the 1990s—exemplified by the 1995 SNES platformer—to modern digital formats, though commercial titles remained limited, with no comprehensive sales data publicly released beyond niche mobile downloads exceeding 100,000 for Unleashed. A more recent title, Stargate: Timekeepers (2024), is a real-time tactics game developed by CreativeForge Games and published by Slitherine, featuring an original story-driven campaign set in the SG-1 universe.[95]Franchise Timeline and Continuity
In-Universe Chronology
The Stargate franchise's in-universe chronology spans millions of years, encompassing the ancient origins of interstellar travel and human seeding across galaxies, through to contemporary Earth-based explorations and conflicts with extraterrestrial threats. This timeline integrates events from the primary series Stargate SG-1, spin-offs like Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, and related media, maintaining a shared continuity where humanity uncovers and utilizes ancient technologies left by precursor races such as the Ancients. Key events are presented below in sequential order, focusing on pivotal developments without revealing outcomes.- Millions of years ago: The Ancients, an advanced human-like race originating from the Alterans, develop the Stargate network—a system of wormhole-generating devices enabling instantaneous travel between planets—and seed human populations on Earth (designated Terra) and numerous other worlds in the Milky Way galaxy.[96]
- Approximately 10 million years ago: The Ancients form the Alliance of Four Races with the Asgard, Nox, and Furlings, establishing a utopian society on the planet Heliopolis to advance knowledge and technology.[97]
- Around 5-6 million years ago: A devastating plague ravages Ancient colonies in the Milky Way, prompting survivors to relocate to the Pegasus Galaxy, where they construct additional Stargates and continue seeding human life on planets.[98]
- Over 10,000 years ago: The Ancients wage a century-long war against the Wraith, a vampiric species in the Pegasus Galaxy; after initial successes, they suffer catastrophic defeats, leading to the submersion of their city-ship Atlantis on the ocean floor of Lantea around 8,000 BC Earth-equivalent time.[99]
- 1928: Archaeologists uncover the Stargate device buried beneath the Giza Plateau in Egypt, marking the first modern human contact with Ancient technology, though it remains dormant for decades.[100]
- 1994: The United States military activates the Giza Stargate, dispatching a team to the planet Abydos and confronting the Goa'uld System Lord Ra, resulting in his defeat and the device's temporary shutdown.[100]
- 1997 onward: The Stargate Command (SGC) establishes the SG-1 team for ongoing exploration and defense; over the subsequent decade, this leads to widespread engagements with the Goa'uld Empire across the Milky Way, culminating in their systemic defeat by 2007 through alliances with other races and the activation of ancient weapons.
- 2004: The Atlantis expedition, launched from Earth via the Antarctic Stargate, arrives in the Pegasus Galaxy and uncovers the submerged city of Atlantis, initiating a new era of exploration amid ongoing Wraith threats (corresponding to approximately 10,000 years after the Ancients' withdrawal from the region).[98]
- 2009: Following an attack on Icarus Base, survivors flee through a Stargate to the Ancient starship Destiny, an automated vessel launched millions of years prior to seed life in a distant galaxy, stranding the crew in uncharted space with limited resources.[101]