Casting a known lead for SGU

[Major_Griff]

Does any one else think that they should try to get a lead actor for SGU that is more of a big name? Some one who they could say 'Blah Blah stars in Stargate Universe' in all the ads like they did with RDA for SG-1 to kind of give the ratings a boost. Don't get me wrong, I love the current cast of SG-1 and the cast of SGA, but I think both shows kind of suffer, ratings wise, from not being able to have that tag in the ads. It wouldn't have to be anyone huge, RDA was never Robert DeNiro or Johnny Depp but he was known enough to be a drawl. I'm sure there are plenty of known tv actors out there who would like to get a job in a franchise where the show has the potential to last 10 years to get that kind of steady work. Maybe some one like Scott Bacula (who despite being on Enterprise would be perfect in my mind. I loved Quantum Leap.) or David Duchovney. Both of them are mostly known for other scifi shows, and it would be better to have someone who would bring veiwers in from outside the genre but they were the only examples I could think of off the top of my head and I think both of them are big enough to bring that drawl that RDA did.

[ColCaldwell]

I agree we need some sort of well known. I love the SG-1 and Atlantis cast, but I feel SG-1 was hurt once RDA left.

[marty2006]

I agree we do need well known stagate character in sgu however not as the lead, still as a major character though

[somme]

No because then they're bigger than the show and it shouldn't be like that.

I love Lost because I didn't know who the hell they all were, except Charlie of course.

I don't mind recurring "knowns" but not one as a lead.

[Skydiver]

I think we need a nobody. In fact, i think the whole cast needs to be nobodies. Cast for chemistry with each other and don't sweat the names.

A known actor will bring baggage with him/her and if the show is to get off the ground, it doesn't need any baggage

[DelTrax1]

I agree with a nobody.....but a good nobody. If you have a big name the show won't last as long. To much money involved in that for sure.

[Nikki]

I agree, a nobody would be good but I think that we should have one or two actors from either SG1 or SGA like they did with SGA by bringing in Weir and McKay from SG1 to get more original fans to come over. I know that I started watching SGA from the first ep because TPTB said that there'd be appearances from the original cast of SG1 and now I love the show. Otherwise I don't think I would have watched it as I'm not an avid Sci-fi fan. SG1 and SGA are the only ones I watch.

But if TPTB were gonna go for a well known somebody...I'd love to see David Boreanaz (from Buffy, Angel, Bones) as a lead or co-lead. He's good looking and a brilliant actor with versatility. I think he'd be great . However, Bones seems to be doing really well ATM, which is great because I love the show, so I doubt they could cast him anyway.

[Ripple in Space]

RDA was never Robert DeNiro or Johnny Depp but he was known enough to be a drawl. I'm sure there are plenty of known tv actors out there who would like to get a job in a franchise where the show has the potential to last 10 years to get that kind of steady work. Maybe some one like Scott Bacula (who despite being on Enterprise would be perfect in my mind. I loved Quantum Leap.) or David Duchovney. Both of them are mostly known for other scifi shows, and it would be better to have someone who would bring veiwers in from outside the genre but they were the only examples I could think of off the top of my head and I think both of them are big enough to bring that drawl that RDA did.

That's a good idea. Personally RDA's name didn't draw me in, since I've never even seen MacGyver, but his acting skills helped make me a fan. No offense, but Scott Bacula isn't on RDA's level of fame. RDA is a household name in America (mostly from MacGyver I guess), SNL did a new recurring sketch in January '07 about RDA/MacGyver.

The guy did a big super bowl MasterCard commercial, and I saw him on a featured segment on Entertainment Tonight a little while ago (about him & his family, and their new house, not any of his characters). Scott Bacula would have to set himself on fire in time square (New York City) to get anywhere near that kind of coverage, and even then.....

Duchoveney could do it (fame wise), but I don't see him playing a jack/shep/cam alpha male type role. I do like him though.

Boreanaz would never do it. Aside from being the male lead on a major network now, I still don't think he'd do it even if he weren't working. He could've easily done a DVD/TV Movie to continue Angel, but he didn't want to. I think he resented being a SciFi icon.

I can't really think of anyone.

[Sparky13]

Who knew who Joe Flanigan was before SGA? Or Michael Shanks. Yes, whoever said it above, cast for chemistry, cast for talent and for the ability to inhabit the lead character, rather than choosing a known actor for his or her name. There are so many great actors out there, people we've never heard of. Let's see one of them!

[Admiral Mappalazarou]

Maybe the guy from 24 or someone from BSG...

[Ripple in Space]

Who knew who Joe Flanigan was before SGA? Or Michael Shanks. Yes, whoever said it above, cast for chemistry, cast for talent and for the ability to inhabit the lead character, rather than choosing a known actor for his or her name. There are so many great actors out there, people we've never heard of. Let's see one of them!

I'm saying do it for both name & chemistry, so maybe we'll get a rating jumps instead of stagnant or declining ratings like Atlantis.

I can only think of 1 or 2 bad casting choices on Stargate:

Wayne Brady - I'm a big fan of his, but I didn't see him as a believable First Prime.

Whoever played Zipacna - I didn't care for his original take on the role. He played Zipacna as androgynous, and despicable. This wasn't a lack-of-talent situation, I just didn't like his early appearances. Later on, when he was recruiting Osiris he was a bit better.

[Falcon Horus]

I'd say they start fresh, new cast and new writers.

And whether the cast be bodies or nobodies, I don't really care. The stories should be the ones that draw the people in. Tell good stories, add in a flavored cast and the audience will watch.

[monkey_man132]

Anyone else find it funny we already all know what SGU stands for?

[Ripple in Space]

I hope it changes, because it's a terrible name.

[Krisz]

Who knew who Joe Flanigan was before SGA? Or Michael Shanks. Yes, whoever said it above, cast for chemistry, cast for talent and for the ability to inhabit the lead character, rather than choosing a known actor for his or her name. There are so many great actors out there, people we've never heard of. Let's see one of them!

Totally agree. I remember seeing the odd episode of MacGyver but I never connected that to RDA when I started watching Stargate. It was his portrayal of O'Neill and the interaction between the characters and great storytelling that got me hooked.

Again, I wouldn't be at all bothered who played the parts in SGU as long as it has a good story and believable well rounded characters.

[Skydiver]

i don't want any of the known cast members to be int his third series, if it ever really gets made. i think they'll be too much of a crutch. too much of a stunt.

If this show is to have any hope of lasting more htan 2 seasons, it needs to be 100% fresh...or at least 95%. anyone that has a past with the show will forever be compared to who they used to be. which is why i don't want a known actor. if david B is used....all it'll be is 'former angel star.....' and his fans from before will be drawn into the fandom with an endless 'oh he was so much better when he was playing angel'

and i'm not saying htis to diss anyone, i'm honestly not, but it's just an example of the baggage a known actor brings with him/her.

a cast of unknowns will be cheaper. they won't have the baggage of their career.

when they cast for sg1 originally, yes, they had rick as a name, but amanda, michael and chris were all cast not just because they had talent, but because they got along. they played well together adn that off screen relationship came through in the onscreen interactions.

and those interactions are part of what drew so many people to the show.

If SGU is to last and survive - presuming it ever happens - it needs

totally new unknown cast
new creative team
new writers

and the more they compromise and keep ahold of the old, the weaker the show will be. If they stunt cast for a big name, keep the same creative team and same writers...we're not gonna get a new show, we're just gonna get a retread of the same old stuff they've been doing for years....and the show will be effectively doomed.

[Major_Griff]

I agree that you should first and foremost cast actors on their chemistry with the other actors, but you have to start somewhere. On SG-1 they cast RDA and then picked AT MS CJ and DSD based on their chemisrty with him. If they could find a known actor who can play whatever the role is that they write for the lead the way the envision it being portrayed then get him in the show, if not then find an unknown, who ever is best for the part. But if a known actor is best, they can use his name to help sell the show which will help keep the SG franchise alive longer.

[MasySyma]

I agree with the idea that the cast should be mostly unknowns. Perhaps one actor with a reputation, but absolutely no one who is known for doing science fiction of any kind.

No Patrick Stewart, Chris Eccelston, Michael Shanks or anyone connected with Farscape, Firefly, Doctor Who, BSG, Heroes, Lost, or any of the Treks. Many of these actors are great, but they were great on their respective shows.

If anyone from another scifi show comes to the new series, the comparisions could bury the show. I already despise the Fargate remarks, even if I think they don't apply.

All characters from SG-1 and SGA should also be banned in anything other than the pilot or a 1 time appearance once a season, and frankly, no moving characters from one show to salvage mistakes on another. SG-1 had its issues. SGA should be allowed to have its own problems, and SGU (I agree that the name sucks) needs to have its own character development. No Carter, Teal'c, or any of the beloved SG-1 characters, no Jonas, no Weir, and no salvaging a minor character either. Either make a new show or retire the franchise for a bit. I already watched the Trek franchise die (Enterprise), and I don't want it too happen to one of my favorite shows.

Personally, I am not thrilled about the new show being ready so soon. I have enjoyed SG-1 for many years now, but I've already learned that the writers recycled SG-1 plots too often in Atlantis. I don't watch SGA anymore because of its lack of character development and old SG-1 plots, and I don't see how the new show will avoid rehashing what the writers have already done. I agree that new writers are needed immediately. The new Doctor Who series has too spinoffs, and the producers have brought in additional writers to help keep all three shows running well.

When I see the information regarding the new show, I see a plot that basically means that a team of adventurers in our universe will travel through a gate to have adventures. I enjoyed that plot for 10 years with SG-1, but I either want 10 more years of SG-1, which isn't going to happen, or a new show, and if the writers can't deliver a new product, they will soon find that the ratings for the new show will be worse than either the current disappointing numbers of SG-1 or SGA.

[Ripple in Space]

What about a semi-known cast?

A fresh, young cast:

Wylie Quinn Annarose Anderson - "a leader, someone who'll laugh in the face of" his her "enemy, even when it's inappropriate"

Tatiana Shanks - "a bookworm adventurer who can say "brains" and "guts" in twenty-seven languages"

Christopher Judge Jr. - "some new meat for the team: preferably something…bald, mysterious…you know, the warrior type with lots of, you know…muscles."

Olivia B. Tapping Kovacs - "the most beautiful, battle-ready, scientific genius"

[Dromag67]

What about a semi-known cast?

A fresh, young cast:

Wylie Quinn Annarose Anderson - "a leader, someone who'll laugh in the face of" his her "enemy, even when it's inappropriate"

Tatiana Shanks - "a bookworm adventurer who can say "brains" and "guts" in twenty-seven languages"

Christopher Judge Jr. - "some new meat for the team: preferably something…bald, mysterious…you know, the warrior type with lots of, you know…muscles."

Olivia B. Tapping Kovacs - "the most beautiful, battle-ready, scientific genius"

LOL, nice.