Fans Unite: Stargate Reboot Rises From the Ashes!

What began with much fanfare, the announced revival of the beloved Stargate franchise by Amazon, has now been quietly cancelled. The proposed new series, developed by Stargate veteran Martin Gero, aimed to write the next chapter of the long-running saga but was ultimately axed in pre-production. The reported reason for its cancellation was a perceived over-focus on the existing fanbase, which Amazon felt did not offer enough appeal to new viewers.

However, that devoted existing fanbase is far from giving up, launching the #SaveStargate movement to protest the cancellation. Their efforts are escalating, with a rally planned for tomorrow in New York City's Times Square. This follows a previous rally held on June 16 in Culver City, the studio's home. The movement has also employed eye-catching tactics such as erecting billboards and hiring planes to tow banners. Furthermore, they have garnered significant support from past Stargate stars, including Michael Shanks, Rachel Luttrell, and Robert Patrick, amplifying their message.

James Kerfoot, an organizer who has raised funds for the initiative on GoFundMe, emphasized the global and enduring nature of the Stargate fandom. "There is a global fanbase that is still going strong nearly thirty years after Stargate SG-1 first premiered. We knew we couldn’t limit our efforts to California, so this week we rally in NYC to have our voices heard," Kerfoot stated. For those unable to attend the Times Square rally, it will be livestreamed online, and a Change.org petition has already amassed 100,000 signatures. Kerfoot expressed hope that "Amazon MGM hears us and realizes that current fans are the best free advertising they could ever ask for. Times Square is just the next stop, not the last one. We’re not going away anytime soon." More information on the campaign is available at SaveStargate.com.

The Stargate franchise originated with the 1994 film, written and directed by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The movie introduced audiences to a US military team attempting to reactivate an ancient alien machine discovered in the Egyptian desert. This machine was, in fact, a stargate. A team, led by hardened veteran Jack O'Neill (Kurt Russell) and brilliant researcher Dr. Daniel Jackson (James Spader), journeyed through it to a distant planet where human slaves were ruled by a powerful alien entity.

The film's success paved the way for the critically acclaimed spin-off TV series, Stargate SG-1, starring Richard Dean Anderson as O'Neill and Michael Shanks as Jackson. SG-1 ran for an impressive ten seasons, cultivating a deeply devoted fanbase. It subsequently spawned two more successful series, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, along with a number of TV movies. The franchise largely remained dormant after Universe concluded in 2011 until Amazon announced its intention for a revival after acquiring MGM and its extensive library of properties. Despite the cancellation of Gero's specific project, the conglomerate reportedly remains interested in developing a new Stargate series.

The current #SaveStargate movement draws parallels to historic fan campaigns that have successfully saved beloved science fiction series from cancellation. Most notably, an enormous write-in campaign in 1967 convinced NBC to renew Star Trek for a third season, demonstrating the significant influence a dedicated following can have. This devoted fanbase subsequently helped cement Star Trek as an enduring and iconic part of the pop culture landscape.