Three decade ago , before they had their biggest break withIndependence Day , screenwriters Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich launchedStargateinto field of operations with Emmerich also directing the film . When the motion-picture show was released in 1994,Stargatedefied expectation by performing well for an October release , even if it did n’t take in enough to get a theatrical sequel .
The irony ofStargateis that it was far more successful as a TV dealership than it ever was as a movie . And the flick is good ! It ’s far from utter , of course . But the thing that the film did well pave the way for the television serial that take after it , and there would n’t be a Stargate fandom 30 year later without this picture .
It’s a kitschy fusion of Star Wars and Indiana Jones
Devlin and Emmerich were n’t exactly subtle about theirStargateinfluences . The premise of the moving-picture show take over a few component from both Star Wars and Indiana Jones . As part of the film ’s story , a Stargate is discovered on Earth that can link to a planet across a vast distance in space where aliens — that utilize armor and symbols that look Egyptian — still rule over humans .
A military military expedition is sent through the gate before the people on Earth discover what ’s waiting for them on the other side . And abruptly this group is facing innovative alien technology while attempt to free the people who have been enslaved for centuries . It wreak astonishingly well , and sci - fi fans embracedStargate .
The film had an excellent cast
Of of course , it ’s fortunate thatStargatehad two wonderful leading histrion that helped sell the mythology . Kurt Russellheadlines the moving-picture show as Colonel Jonathan J. “ Jack ” O’Neil , a humankind who is self-destructive after the accidental destruction of his son . Jack signs on for the charge because he does n’t bear to come up home awake . Russell evidence Jack ’s riotous state of mind throughout the story , and he discovers young reasons to keep living by the ending .
James Spader ’s Dr. Daniel Jackson represented the civilian perspective in the picture . Like Indiana Jones , Daniel is an archaeologist who was well - versed with ancient Egyptian acculturation and symbolic representation . That was why Daniel was brought on the commission , and subsequently why he was the first one from Earth to forge a alliance with the local humans .
Unless you ’ve seenThe Crying Game , you may have forgotten the androgynous actor Jaye Davidson . In this movie , Davidson present the otherworldly Ra , an foreigner who ruled the newfound planet with an branding iron fist . This turned out to be Davidson ’s final major office in a movie , but he does give Ra a credibly alien vibe that made him an effectual villain .
David Arnold gave the movie a soaring score
It would be a fool ’s secret plan to endeavor to match what John Williams work to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones pic . disregardless , composer David Arnold successfully wrote a rousing score forStargatethat was n’t too far removed from Williams ’ endeavor while also retaining its own melodic identity .
The opening theme of Stargate was later repurposed and remixed for the TV serial , Stargate SG-1 , and Arnold ’s music has remain a beloved part of the dealership .
The leap to TV
BecauseStargateonly earned $ 71.5 million domestically and $ 196.6 million worldwide , it was n’t deem successful enough to pull in the theatrical trilogy envisioned by Devlin and Emmerich . Instead , Showtime ordered a boob tube spinoff , Stargate SG-1 , which acted as a sequel and light reboot for the film while keep most of the same continuity . Some of the change were small-scale , like Jack O’Neill ’s last name adding an extra “ l ” at the terminal . Others were more pronounced , including the reveal that Ra was not the last of his kind or even what he initially seemed to be .
Richard Dean Anderson took over the role of Jack for the series , while Michael Shanks portrayed Daniel Jackson . The series also introduced two unexampled main characters — Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter andGod of War‘s Christopher Judge as Teal’c — while boom the Stargate web to include multiple planets as well as multiple SG teams to explore them throughout the galaxy .
Stargate SG-1ran for five season on Showtime before Syfy picked it up for an additional five seasons . At the meter of its conclusion in 2007 , it was the longest - running literary genre series until that platter was break bySupernaturala few years later on .
The expanded franchise
Unlike the film , Stargate flourish on television . In increase toStargate SG-1 , there were two live - action spinoffs : Stargate AtlantisandStargate Universe . Game of Thrones ‘ Jason Momoa had one of his first gaolbreak roles onAtlantis , which ran for five seasons . But by the timeStargate Universeended after two seasons , the enfranchisement ’s moment seemed to have passed .
Stargate SG-1got two direct - to - DVD movies that wind up the show ’s lingering plot threads , but that was the last call for many of the doer on that enfranchisement . The last unrecorded - action project to engagement was the 2018 web seriesStargate Origins .
For now , the franchise is in hibernation mode , although the theatricalStargateand its TV spinoffs are readily usable to stream on Prime Video . Amazon MGM Studios has also indicate that it will eventually reboot or relaunch the Stargate franchise . The only question is when .
WatchStargateonAmazon Prime Video .
