The Stargate writers’ room kicks off this Monday, January 12th, in Los Angeles. It’s hard to believe that some 15 years since sitting down to break “Gauntlet”, the Stargate: Universe season 2 finale, with series co-creator Brad Wright and my former writing partner Paul Mullie, I will be once again returning to the franchise. This time, it’ll be Stargate veteran Martin Gero at the helm of the new series, presiding over a carefully curated, expertly chosen artisanal selection of scriptwriters who will, over the course of the ensuing months, brainstorm, break stories, pitch ideas, and, of course, eat rotisserie chicken. Just like old times!
I will be zooming in from Toronto for the first four days of the room and then flying into L.A. this Friday. This will give me time to ensure Akemi, Sharky and I are all settled in before catching my Monday morning waymo to my first in-person appearance. While I would have preferred to be there from Day #1, timing wouldn’t allow it. I had the option of flying in early this week but as any veteran of the t.v. show Survivor will tell you, being present early allows you to establish crucial alliances while also making it more difficult for everyone to conspire against you.
The first couple of weeks will be spent discussing the Big Picture. Things like… What shape is the gate? What are our character and story arcs? How does our first season conclude? Who are our villains and what do they want? And do we really want to name a character Fabian?
From there, we move on to breaking the stories, mapping out every beat of every scene of every act (We still doing acts?) of every episode. What’s the first scene that hooks our audience and compels them to keep watching? How does Hortensia react to seeing the stargate for the first time? What kind of planet are we visiting and how does that first contact moment play out? How do our heroes turn the tables on the bad guys? What’s the last scene that surprises our audience and compels them to keep watching?
Back in the old days, it would take us an average of three days to break an episode of Stargate. For the first season of my series Dark Matter (The 2015 ship-based series, not the Apple show that is also a science fiction series with the exact same name…and title font), we averaged a single day per episode. Since Martin was part of that first season writers’ room, I assume he will attempt to beat that record, thus ensuring I will be spending my last month in L.A. visiting the Getty Center and hanging out at the city’s various anime-themed coffee houses.
But between the expressionist portraiture of George W. Bush and the Gum Gum Devil Fruit Mousse Bomb at the One Piece Cafe, there will be outlines and scripts to be rewritten and revised and in many cases, re-revised after which every one of them will be revised once again by Martin Gero because as the series creator and showrunner, that’s what you do. And then sometime in the not too distant (but not too immediate either) future, will come the casting and the location scouts and the VFX discussions and the all-important choosing of the caterer – the innumerable crucial steps in the lead up to that first day of principal photography…wherever, although I’m holding out hope for P7J-989 (Note: I will be regaling my fellow writers with so many classic Stargate deep cuts that I am fully prepared to be sent home well before my scheduled return flight).
Although the secrecy surrounding the new Stargate series has been pretty tight (Internally classified as TS/SI/TK/NOFORN Need-To-Know For-Your-Eyes-Only Above Top Secret Level 10 Clearance), I will try to offer insight into, and keep you updated on, the latest writers’ room happenings. For instance, yesterday I was sent a Stargate Snack and Allergies Form to complete, ostensibly to help plan lunch orders but more likely, I suspect, to weed out breatharians and crudivores. Interesting, no?
Stay tuned for equally enlightening observations in the days and weeks to come!
While in L.A., we’ll also be looking to adopt another pug, a brother or sister to help Sharky with his separation anxiety. A few rescues have already reached out and we are looking forward to meeting potential candidates. We have a soft spot for seniors and special needs dogs but, at the end of the day, the deciding factor will be how well they get along with Sharky.
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Yeaa.. Uh i can imagine the excitement level in that room even when many of you have known each other for over decade & worked in same projects 🙂 Or should especially because of this.. 😏 I wish good new week to everyone working for beautiful new Stargate stories. I look forward to stream season episodes as they drop weekly on Prime Video 🙋♂️
Very excited to hear! I only just discovered that SG1 is on Crave and so have started another rewatch! I’m hoping that streaming this in Canada will prompt them to release the other series’ to streaming platforms, which will show the interest that never left! I have all the box sets, but there is something much more convenient about watching 10 hours without having to change the disc!
May there be smoooth sailing throughout 2026 and into 2027 for the production. (And I would consider it an honor to contribute character names.)
We need a Pug in the new series , Dune had them , MIB had them , Patrick has one , cyberpunk has them in arts ..,
Oh yes. Cameo or few for Sharky & to Sharky’s future furry buddy that joins home in near future 🙂🐶
Cool,,,a new StarGate series,,,complementing the new Star Trek series,,,Y’Alls timing is impeccable,,,🤪my son in law is a graphic artist that just got laid off,,,wonder if he or any of his compadres will gain employment from these series,,, best of luck with your endeavor,Joseph.🤟
So exciting! I suspect it will feel pretty strange (in a good way!) with everyone sitting down again to discuss SG stories. I guess the biggest questions though are will there be a decent chocolate shop somewhere in the vicinity and are we going to get back to the Weird Food of the Day posts? I wonder if a KFC Quadruple Down is a thing yet?
Good to see it getting started.
Sounds fun. Good luck with everything sounds like a busy visit to L.A which is the only way to visit L.A. The only time I have been there it was a 10 day trip and I only had half a day to visit Universal studio the rest of the time was jam packed with meetings and script reading.
Looking forward to the behind the scenes on what you can share from the writers room.
LOL!!!
Looking forward to your new Stargate. Excuse me… Martin Gero’s new Stargate. The behind-the-scenes you provide are always epic. Do you know what station it will air on? I bet it won’t be one I get.
It will be for Amazon Prime
You must be so excited 😍 can’t wait for any SG Pug updates!
If there isn’t a character called Fabian, we riot!
#WeWantS̵t̵a̵r̵g̵a̵t̵e̵Fabian
being present early allows you to establish crucial alliances while also making it more difficult for everyone to conspire against you 😬That sounds like high school. I think you’re selling yourself short. You’ve known a few of those people for years and you’re very likeable.
I’ll send positive thoughts that the big move goes smoothly! 🙏🏻 🤞🏻🍀
Very very excited. Joseph totally understand the Top Secret clearance levels but… Could you leak a few names of the other writers being assembled we promise to keep it a secret 🤣
I have the tracker on the IMDb page for this new series running. Informed my team to bolo for any breakdowns. Would be an absolute dream to just read for this.
I’m looking forward to seeing SG with today’s special effects, so cool to see what SG will look like now that we have congressional hearings on UAPs and a Space Force flying secret X-37B Orbital Test Vehicles; our current reality is bleeding into the sci-fi realm.
Great! Thanks for sharing!
Wishing you, Akemi and Sharky safe flight.
Word of advice: Regardless your three month rental is fully furnished, and likely has reasonably decent pillows on bed, go on Amazon as soon as you unpack and have two king size fluffy pillows you really like overnighted to you. It’ll make all the difference in helping relieve any stress.
And here’s hoping your LA rental is near a decent coffee place and bakery. xo
This is brilliant advice.
I will be very disappointed now if there is no character named Fabian.
What bothered me about Origins was the fact that it was no longer the gate from the series, but rather the one from the movie. That was forgivable, since the content was also more closely related to the movie. However, if the new Stargate series is set on Earth, it must also use the Earth gate from the series with its iconic sounds. Please, please, please make this a credible continuation. Everything else can change, but not the main character 😉
Wow! incroyable!