Following news that Nineties blockbuster INDEPENDENCE DAY is getting a sequel, another memorable movie from the same stable is headed back to the big screen, this time as part of a trilogy. Presumably “inspired” by the revival of STAR WARS, producer/director team Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich are to create a new version of their pyramid-heavy sci-fi epic from 1994. STARGATE was seen as a gamble at the time, with its ambitious storyline of a portal to an Egyptian-inspired fantasy world and a relatively modest cast of Kurt Russell, James Spader and THE CRYING GAME’s Jaye Davidson. But the release saw it break the box office the way a minion hammers a foundation stone, and though STARGATE 2 never materialized there was a long-running TV spin off starring Patty and Selma’s favourite star Richard Dean Anderson, as well as Stargates: Atlantis and Universe in addition to various associated merchandise.
MGM and Warner Bros will be the project’s Almighty Pharaohs and Emmerich & Devlin have released a surprisingly emotional statement:
“The Stargate universe is one that we missed terribly, and we cannot wait to get going on imagining new adventures and situations for the trilogy. This story is very close to our hearts, and getting the chance to revisit this world is in many ways like a long lost child that has found its way back home.”
It is amazing what reaction a studio chequebook can get, though on a more serious note their affection for the franchise is clearly evident. The duo have had an intermittent success rate since they sent another pair of non-A Listers (Jeff Goldblum and a certain Will Smith) up to thwart some aliens. They struck rich with THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (2004) but largely goofed with GODZILLA (1998). A trilogy will give them room to devise a more expansive take on their beloved property, but whether the effort will be worth it is, as ever, a question for the ages.
Source: Deadline
Vos_L
May 30, 2014 at 5:58 pm
Somebody inform Hollywood that every freaking movie doesn’t need to rebooted and/or made into sequels and trilogies and franchises. The current state of movies might not suck so bad if these guys spent more time on making a good movie instead of spending half of the movie trying to set up sequels and franchises.