Save Daniel Jackson | Brad Wright on the New Series

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The Stargate Premise and Team Dynamic

BRAD WRIGHT on his hopes for new TV series Stargate SG-1, July 1997

Based on StarGate, MGM's 1994 hit film, the series Stargate SG-1 marks the return of one of television's most popular stars, Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver), in the role of Air Force Colonel Jack O'Neill, who led the first-ever U.S. military mission through the Stargate. With the discovery that there are other Stargates, perhaps hundreds, O'Neill and his SG-1 team take viewers across the universe with action/adventure storylines that will showcase some of television's best special effects and production values.

Stargate SG-1 is executive produced by Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright, two of the creative forces on The Outer Limits for Showtime and MGM Television. Michael Greenburg serves as co-executive producer. [Michael Greenburg and his partner Richard Dean Anderson took on executive producing duties in the second season.] The two-hour premiere of Stargate SG-1, entitled Children of the Gods and directed by Mario Azzopardi, premiered on Showtime on July 27, 1997 at 8:00pm ET. It generated the highest ratings ever for an original movie on Showtime, and it continues to remain the number-one rated weekly series on that network according to Nielsen Media Research.

Joining Anderson as members of the SG-1 team are Michael Shanks as scientist Daniel Jackson (the role played by James Spader in the feature film), Amanda Tapping, who originates the role of astrophysicist Air Force Captain Samantha Carter, and Christopher Judge as Teal'c, the fiercest of the serpent guards. This exciting ensemble cast joins Colonel O'Neill for a new and far more dangerous mission through the Stargate.

In addition to the characters of Kawalsky, Ferretti, Casey and Warren -- four of O'Neill's soldiers -- the series features veteran actor Don S. Davis in the role of General Hammond. The success of the theatrical film, and the imaginative possibilities raised by galactic travel through the Stargate, presented an irresistible lure to Glassner and Wright. Both approached John Symes, President MGM Worldwide Television with the desire to create a Stargate series and coordinated jointly to develop the ambitious project, which received a 44-episode commitment (later extended to 88 episodes) from Showtime.

"This show taps into our society's ongoing fascination with the idea that life exists elsewhere in the universe and the concept of alternate realities," says Glassner. "The series will explore the premise that human beings were once transported from Earth to other planets and now live in varying stages of advancement, from primitive to highly-evolved. The SG-1 team will explore these places through the Stargate."

Says Brad Wright, "Stargate is our ticket to experiencing other worlds. Through the adventures of SG-1 we will learn more about what it means to be human and how unlimited the future is. The show is intentionally complex, and presents mysteries that will be answered in subsequent episodes. It will also address some of the perplexing questions that were raised in the film."

Having established himself as the thinking man's action hero in the popular long-running ABC series MacGyver, Anderson steps into the equally adventurous but more military-minded character of Jack O'Neill, one year after O'Neill completed the Stargate mission to the planet Abydos. Returning to Vancouver for Stargate SG-1 marked a homecoming for Anderson, who worked in the city for four seasons of shooting MacGyver.

"I was interested in doing another action adventure series and was intrigued by the character of Jack O'Neill," says Anderson. "He's a man trained to obey orders but with a need to follow his own moral compass. O'Neill is compassionate, which he tries to balance against the duty to give orders that may place people in peril. I'm interested in drawing out his humanity and sense of humor in situations where he's under pressure and the team is confronted with dangerous circumstances."

"Richard is one of the most capable and well-liked actors on television," says co-executive producer Michael Greenburg. "He brings a high level of intelligence and charisma to action adventure roles, which has enormous appeal to audiences. I think fans of MacGyver will especially enjoy seeing a different dimension to Richard's acting and watching him reveal his character through each episode."

Stepping into the role originated by James Spader is newcomer Michael Shanks, who, ironically, was inspired to become an actor by Anderson. "I was living in Vancouver during my early 20s and was trying to decide if I really wanted to pursue an acting career," says Shanks. "I happened across a production crew shooting an episode of MacGyver. Watching Richard act and seeing the enormous effort that goes into such productions made me immediately realize it was something I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to become an actor."

Amanda Tapping, a Toronto actress, says her role as scientist Samantha Carter puts her smack in the middle of an adventurous boys' club -- a challenge she relishes. "Samantha can hang with the men and do anything that's asked of her. She's smart, determined, adventurous and definitely not afraid of a little excitement," says Tapping.

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