Before STARGATE UNIVERSE, Ming-Na was most well known for her role on E.R. However, the acknowledged STAR WARS fan has numerous genre credits listed on her resume: STREETFIGHTER with Jean-Claude Van Damme; the 2008 remake of PROM NIGHT; and PUSH with Chris Evans. She contributed vocal performances to the animated series SPAWN and THE BATMAN, and provided the voice of Aki Ross in FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN and of the title character in Walt Disney Pictures’ MULAN. SyFy’s SGU series casts her as Camille Wray, a civilian leader often locking horns with the military over the course to take aboard the Destiny. As part of SyFy’s promotional effort to launch Season Two of STARGATE UNIVERSE, Ming-Na participated in a conference call interview with Lou Diamond Phillips, who has a recurring role as Colonel Telford on the series. Ming-Na’s portion of the transcript is included below. QUESTION: Can you talk about how you came to work on the show?
Ming Na: I met with the casting director because I was very hesitant about wanting to do a show that shoots in Vancouver. I haven’t taken a job outside of LA in a whilem since my kid was born. So that’s like what, eight years. But after speaking with Robert Cooper and him describing the character and the direction that they wanted to go with the show I was pretty much convinced from that conversation to come on board. What about you Lou? QUESTION: What was it like for you all to step into an established franchise like STARGATE?
Ming Na: I was just thankful to be coming into a show that was such a well oiled machine. Because, you know, a lot of times when you’re starting a new show there’s many bumps and hiccups and, you know, chaos in everyone figuring things out and, you know, what goes where and who does what.
And I think when there is that – that – when there isn’t that panic or frantic energy it just gave us all a chance as the actors to come together and be relaxed and have fun and really figure out, you know, the tone and the feel. And, you know, the focus was very different. So I really appreciated that coming into the franchise because I really didn’t know that much about the Stargate franchise prior to. QUESTION: Was it always intended that Camille would be such an integral character or did that evolve as you went along?
Ming Na: Well I’m very happy that the character has evolved the way she has. And it’s probably one of the most complex roles I’ve had the opportunity to play. Yes, that was something that was proposed to me very early on, that Camille Ray will be a more integral part of this series. And so far that’s come true. I don’t have any say as far as where the character goes. And I don’t certainly get paid to be a writer. I’m thankful for the writers for bringing such a strong female character to light. QUESTION: What about your role keeps challenging you?
Ming Na: I think Camille is interesting because she starts off as someone who really wanted to maintain the status quo of what she was used to on Earth and on Icarus Space.And she’s had to really learn to throw that book away and be more instinctual and think more on her feet. So for me I find it fascinating that here’s a woman that she feels like she can compartmentalize her two worlds, her personal life and life in the workforce. And now it’s kind of meshed into where her life and her work is just on Destiny.
And so she’s kind of had to let her hair down. She’s kind of had to resort to tactics that she normally wouldn’t use and finding allies and making friends with people she normally probably wouldn’t make friends with especially the military I think. She works alongside them but it’s interesting how those challenges have been brought to light with the character. QUESTION: What’s it like workign with the green screen, acting to effects that are added later?
Ming Na: I always feel like there’s two – two things that I feel sometimes. One is wow, I’m really being a five year old kid pretending that I’m in outer space and how great is that to be doing it as an adult. And then two, just when it’s such dire life or death situation that challenge is to really believe in that moment and selling it. QUESTION: Can you talk about coming back to Camille for season two and the challenges of finding where she is emotionally at the start of the season?
Ming Na: Yes I think for Camile, she has to come to terms with her situation. I think for season one her ultimate goal was to get everybody back home including herself back to earth and back to a world that she’s comfortable in, she’s familiar with. And now I think with season two it’s the realization that perhaps there is something else that is going to take over as the more important mission in her life and to just start moving forward and embracing that as her world for a while. Because if she can’t then I don’t think she’s capable of leading the civilians to adapt and have a better frame of mind. So I think that’s going to be a new change for a lot of the characters for season two is having this mission that they feel genuinely will help Earth and protect Earth from, you know, of a Alutien Alliance attack. QUESTION: Of the episodes that you filmed for season two so far which is your favorite?
Ming Na: You see, when you ask questions like that you’re just fishing. You’re fishing for some… [spoilers?] My favorite episode is the one that I get to do a lot of stuff. QUESTION: You’ve worked on film, television, and stage. Which do you prefer?
Ming Na: It really depends on, you know, from what perspective you want us to answer that, financially, emotionally? I love theater and sitcoms because I get an immediate feedback from the audience. That’s something that I always get a high from. So I think as an artist that’s very fulfilling. But also for me right now working on a Syfy show where I pretend that I’m in outer space billion… I’m a Star Wars kid, you know? So to actually be able to say that I’m on a show where I’m billions of light years away is so satisfying. I don’t know if that’s the artist in me or just the kid in me but yes, very happy about this ensemble work I’m doing. QUESTION: Could you tell us a little bit about some of the acting challenges you found playing the paraplegic role?
Ming Na: Yes, when that was first brought up to me I was quite nervous about playing a part where I really – I mean I’ve had no experience with someone with that condition or even just understanding it.So I had to do a bit of a research and I went on to YouTube and looked at Christopher Reeves. His was a little bit more severe because he [could not] move his head at all. And Camille was able to move just ever so slightly her head. But ultimately I think for me the challenge was to portray someone who’s not used to that body.That was the hardest thing and to be able to kind of not bring the sense of doom and gloom into being a paraplegic. Because I think as we see from someone like Christopher Reeves, even when they’re in that situation, they do the best they can to live the best life that they can. And he had such a positive approach to that. I wanted to respect all that. So and the challenge is pulling it off. So I hope I did a decent job. But it was very challenging. I was quite nervous about doing it all right…and….conveying the emotion with just your head. That was a lot of from-the-chin-up acting. QUESTION: You called Camile a strong character. What are her strengths and how does that affect your performance?
Ming Na: Well I think in the beginning she comes off as someone who really wants to muscle her way into situations or have her voice heard. And I think it’s just probably her reality in achieving the level of success that she’s had at the, you know, in the IOA and going by the books and doing all the right things and being the right diplomat in all the situations. So in that sense I think any woman who has to play in a man’s field and succeed in it is strong.
But now she’s also in a situation where on Destiny there are really no rules. You have to sort of re-create the rules and the guidelines. In a way we the crew aboard Destiny has to become tribal and learn to live with each other and work with each other. I think in that sense she has to force herself to take that leadership role in guiding or helping the civilians.
And I think what is part of the great intrigue and fun of Stargate Universe, you know…[is] when you are thrown into a situation where you have no other support system but what is in front of you, it does [force] you to have to have a better awareness of yourself. Ming-Na with Robert Carlyle QUESTION: Robert Carlyle directed an episode. What was it was like working with him as a director versus a cast mate?
Ming Na: Oh he was just fabulous. And I had no doubt from the start that he would do a great job. I mean because he’s just such an instinctual and yet at the same time analytical actor that I just knew that he would do a thorough job as far as what he was going to be as an actor and also bringing some of his insights to guide us as actors. But ultimately for me it was just fun to see Robert like he was a little kid in a candy store. He just had such a great time. And I really enjoyed him as a director. QUESTION: Any plans to return to the theater?
Ming Na: Oh sure. Unfortunately it’s more tough to do it in LA because…just the commute alone would kill to get to the 7 o’clock call. QUESTION: The ancient communications stones have been used more in SGU than any of the other Stargate series. What are your thoughts on body swapping?
Ming Na: Oh my goodness well, you know, the stone thing, even by the third time of doing it I was still thoroughly confused. I was really like wait, wait, wait. Now who…? It’s like okay now okay, I’m wearing the other person’s clothes. But why is my hair up and her hair is down? And do we keep the same hair? I don’t wear the jewelry because I’m not in my body; okay I don’t wear that jewelry. So, you know, it just took a little getting used to whose body I was actually in.
I think it’s really relevant and important for the Stargate franchise. Because one of the main elements of this show – for all three shows – is that there is always an attachment to Earth and in its current timeframe. This show isn’t set in the future. It’s not set in the past. It’s set in the now. And it’s quite important I think to the Stargate fans to always have that reminder and to maintain that connection with Earth. QUESTION: It provides interesting acting opportunities.
Ming Na: Yes. I have to say that of all the shows I’ve done this has been the most challenging role because a lot of times, you know, whether playing a gay character or someone who’s a quadriplegic and, you know, and some of the other stuff that we’re doing in season two, it’s great for an actor to be challenged this way. QUESTION: SGU is different from the other shows with more of a Battlestar Galactica tone. How do you think SGU furthers the Stargate franchise?
Ming Na: Wow. Well, you know, in a weird way, we are a show that stands on its own in its style and in its story telling. And that’s one thing that’s very different from the other Stargates. But I think it pushes the envelope so much more. I mean our show is quite serious and dramatic in a really dark way. I don’t know is – I think it moves it in a whole other direction but for the better in its storytelling and furthering the whole idea of what – who created the Stargate, what it’s about, you know, what is it for, you know, what is the ultimate wisdom and reason for these Stargates. I think, you know, we’re still searching for that answer. QUESTION: Your character along with Telford, Rush, and Young all seem like they think they should be in charge. Looking at it from the outside, who do you think is right?
Ming Na: I think ultimately it still should be Young because he has the persona and the personality for it personally. I believe Ray has tried out of necessity, not out of ambition, and realized that it’s just something that she’s not comfortable with, you know. I don’t think everyone can handle making life and death decisions for someone else. It takes special military mind I believe. And I think Young can handle that. You know, Rush, he doesn’t seem to have much of a consciousness for it. So and I think Ray has too much. You know, she would be too emotionally devastated if she has to send someone to their death, yes. QUESTION: Are you still fascinated by the level of detail and believability in the sets?
Ming Na: Oh yes absolutely. You know, I think because we do have to use our imagination so much when it comes to the green screens or the aliens and, you know, these situations that the writers put us in, it’s fabulous that they have spent the time and the energy and the artistry to create such a beautiful set for us. You know, it helps; every little bit helps.
And there’s this sense of importance in contributing because, you know, you see someone put so much work and detail into the set you’re like well, then I have to really put in my 200% to yes, to be respectful of it. Although I have been in theater where we have just like a cheesy block and we have to make something out of it…
And it’s so much fun. I just – I’m always tickled every time I go on our set and go wow, this is our sandbox. How much fun is it! QUESTION: Is it fun having these great guest stars in?
Ming Na: Yes. Kathleen Quinlan and, you know – I didn’t realize French Stewart had been in the original. So I had to rent that movie again just to watch him, you know. And the man really, he hasn’t changed that much, his face. It’s all – it’s still the same. But what a wonderful little bit of history that is. QUESTION: Why do you think people keep turning in to watch the show?
Ming Na: Oh because it’s so good. Am I being modest? I – you know what? I am so proud of our show. I just watched the season two trailer. And I never – I’m not the type of actor that like toots her horn or, you know, or like oh please, I’m on this commercial or oh I’m going to be on this talk show and I email and bombard everyone with an email. But I just watched the season two trailer and I’m so proud of our show and everyone who works on it that, you know, I’m sitting here this morning like sending out this trailer say you guys you have to watch this trailer. I’m so proud of my show. So I think that an actor that’s actually in it gets so excited there must be something that’s happening that’s right.
And when I watch that trailer – because a lot of times we’re just looking at green screens and then when the vis effects people are adding this amazing tableau of artistry – it blows my mind as a Syfy geek. I’m looking at the ship, I’m looking at the aliens, I’m like oh my God this is my show. It’s fabulous. QUESTION: For people who have never Stargate, why should they tune in this season?
Ming Na: Because if you’re looking for a show that has a lot of action and great writing and acting and is even if you’re not a sci-fi fan I think you would really enjoy Stargate Universe because it just has so much to offer.
It’s got the love stories. It’s got the, you know, life and death situation. And it’s got humor and just some really great characters to sink your, you know, teeth into so I think for all those reasons. And it’s just a great looking show.
[serialposts]
SyFy launches Season Two of STARGATE UNIVERSE tonight at 9:00pm. Back for the second season is Lou Diamond Phillips as Colonel David Telford, a recurring character who turned out to be brain-washed spy acting for the Lucian Alliance. This raises questions that need to be resolved, regarding how much Telford can trusted by the people of the Destiny. And it seems likely there will be screen time to address such questions, now that Telford is physically trapped on Destiny along with the rest of the passengers (instead of switching bodies from back on Earth via the Ancients’ communication stones). Recently, SyFy arranged a conference call interview with Phillips and SGU co-star Ming-Na, to promote the second season premiere. Below is a transcript of Phillips’ portion of the interview. QUESTION: Will you be a regular on the show this season?
Lou Diamond Phillips: Well I mean presently I’m still technically a recurring guest star. Without, you know, without giving too much away, I mean I will be much more present in the second season. But, don’t look for me in every episode. QUESTION: After what happened last season, how will your character be dealing with the things he has done?
Lou Diamond Phillips: I think it’s more in how he responds and reacts and deals with the people on the ship, you know, on the Destiny.He certainly has a history that’s hinted at. What we’ve seen is a – I think a change in the dynamic especially between himself and Colonel Young and…the lovely Ming Na is with us and she becomes a bit of a confidant to him because I think they both care very much about the welfare of the Destiny and how the decisions are made, you know, aboard the ship. So we’ll see a side of Telford that we haven’t seen yet but yet it’s all very true to the character and very layered into what we’ve seen of him before.
The fact that we’re going to see more of him I’m actually very happy about and we get a little bit more insight what makes him tick. But it’s not about him. I mean the storylines don’t revolve around him. So I mean there are definitely, you know, he’s definitely a team player in that respect. QUESTION: You’re an active participant on Twitter. Why is that such an important place for you to connect with the fans?
Lou Diamond Phillips: I’ve actually loved connecting with them on Twitter. That way I’m never quoted out of context. I can say what’s on my mind. But at the same time I’m not given to ranting or going off on long dissertations. It allows me to share some thoughts. And I think I hope, it allows the fans to get a peek not only into my life but into what they might be interested as far as I’m doing. And when it comes to SGU the fact that so many of us are on Twitter I really, really do feel as if it’s a little gift to the fans out there to be able to peek into our real interpersonal dynamics and get a little bit of scuttlebutt about what’s going on behind the scenes without spoiling anything. And it makes the relationship very special. And interestingly enough I think the relationship between a science fiction show and its audience is different than any one of the other types of shows that are out there. […] It’s very intimate. It has this loyalty to it. It has this trust. They care about the characters and where the stories go. And it continues long into a future. It’s got a very long shelf life. So it is, it’s like a little romance that we’re maintaining with the fans of the show.
I’m incredibly proud of the show. I’m a fan of the show even in the episodes that I’m not in. I think the entire cast is just brilliant. And, you know… It’s a complete show. Everybody is bringing their A game. QUESTION: How did you join the STARGATE Universe?
Lou Diamond Phillips: I got a call saying they were interested in me, went to MGM and sat down and had a conference call because the boys were already in Vancouver. They just sort of told me, that yes Telford started out very slow…. And they just let me know that there would be a future with the character and that he would have some interesting things to do and would become a player as far as the dynamic of the show is concerned. So, I definitely took a leap of faith and jumped in there. And it didn’t hurt that they were bandying names around like Ming Na and, Bobby Carlisle and… QUESTION: Can you talk about working with green screen, acting to effects that are not there?
Lou Diamond Phillips: You truly have to commit to what you’re supposed to be seeing because if you’re apologizing for it or if you’re distancing yourself from it then the audience will never buy it. Then the effect itself will never work. Everything has to go to that place of completeness and utter believability. And as a result what’s really nice is that not only are the directors very descriptive in what we’re supposed to be seeing and they help set up the shots, but many times the art department and the effects department will have renderings and can show you at least in a two-dimensional plane what it is you’re going to be looking at.
I’ve got to relate one story. Was it (Andy)? I think it was (Andy McKee) talking me through something once. And sometimes it’s really hard to keep a straight face because it’s like, “And oh, okay here, here comes one here. Oh my God there’s… Oh Jesus well oh my God they’re all around you! Over there, there’s one. Oh, oh, no!” And you’re having to keep a straight face [and say] “You know, I really appreciate your enthusiasm and support but you’re cracking me up. Just tell me where to look and I’ll take it from there.” QUESTION: Since Telford has had such an interesting journey, can you talk about how you really get to know him as a character? Like what do you hang on to in terms of consistency?
Lou Diamond Phillips: That’s a very good question because you’re actually brainwashing. You go man, am I somebody entirely different? No, I think the writers have done an incredible job of maintaining a core of integrity to Telford. His mission from the start and even through season two quite honestly is very, very specific. And that is to be the hero to save these people to get them home. And whether that’s self (agrandizemant) or not he still feels very, very committed to this mission. I think that he feels very frustrated that he was not able to perform the duty that he was called to perform. I think when it comes to being a soldier and an officer that he has a very strong code and must adhere to that. I think we get to see him operate a little differently once the brainwashing has been taken away. But once again at his core he’s very, very focused and he doesn’t waiver from what he wants to achieve ultimately. What’s been interesting is that we get to know him a little bit better. We sense the dynamic between himself and (Rush) and Young and Camile Ray how he operates with them become slightly different.
But what we haven’t discovered about Telford yet — and I don’t think I’m spoiling anything – is we haven’t gotten a lot of details about his personal life just yet so that I find that very intriguing and that, you know, we’ll see if it ever becomes important to the storylines. QUESTION: Of the new episodes that you filmed, which would be your favorite?
Lou Diamond Phillips: [suspects the question is digging for spoilers] Nice try. We’re used to subterfuge and manipulation. We know how to handle that. Yes, there’s been a lot of really cool stuff going on. I will say that a number of the episodes have an increased amount of action in them. I think that there’s a definite membership out there in the fandom that will appreciate the action adventure aspect of some of the episodes coming up. We blow a lot of stuff up. And, yes, get into major firefights. So, I mean that’s always fun, the bang, bang. I mean it’s certainly something I’ve done my entire career in features and other things. So that’s always fun to get back and feel like you’re an action hero. I will say that early in the season there is an episode that involves aliens. And I’ve recently seen it and just amazed and thrilled about what Mark Savela and in the effects team do. It’s really, really beautiful to watch. And what these guys do for television, it’s comparable to anything out there. And I’ll go on record saying Mark should have won the Emmy. I really think so. QUESTION: You have worked on a lot of different projects both in film, television, stage. Which medium do you prefer?
Lou Diamond Phillips: The medium that pays me. There’s something different to like about every one of them. And they feed you and inspire you in different ways, you know? So just to be able to apply our craft as actors and do something that we love, and get paid for it and have a career at it I think is something to be grateful for… QUESTION: Can only speak in very general terms about the relationship between Telford and Young in Season Two?
Lou Diamond Phillips: It’s interesting because in season one it was only ever adversarial. And once he kills me and brings me back, that tends to change a relationship. But we get a sense of the fact that they were once friends, that they were in the academy together, that they had served together and have respect for one another as leaders. And I think there’s a window into that. And there, we see Telford sublimate himself to that. I mean the fact that he’s on, I’m sure quite overcome by guilt, for the things that he did that were beyond his control he still has memory of them. And so it certainly affects how he approaches his position on the Destiny now. Having said that, Telford’s still ambitious. He’s still full of confidence and cockiness to a certain extent that he is the best man for the job. And so that’s – that edge never really goes away. I mean he does not 100%, you know, just bow down and say you know what, I’m not worthy. He tries to be a contributor to the survival of the ship and to the decisions that will hopefully save these people one day. I still think he’s got a very high estimation of himself and thinks that, you know, perhaps fate led him down the wrong path. QUESTION: How is Telford going to deal with the fallout from Season One?
Lou Diamond Phillips: Once again, I think that what’s really sort of nice and it’s one thing I really truly appreciated about the – those last three episodes which played very much like one long movie, and it certainly felt like it when we were shooting it, was the fact that we got a glimpse into the humanity behind Telford. We’ve seen him in an official capacity. We’ve seen him as a soldier and a figure of authority. But to understand, you know, that this effects him emotionally on some levels as well I think was a real treat not only as, you know, for myself but for the audience. And I think it’s going to become complicated as time goes on. He’s certainly will have residual guilt. I think he certainly will have responsibility.
But in that respect that almost galvanizes him more into accomplishing what it is he set out to do. And that is to save these people and to bring them home at times almost at any cost. I mean in a way I really think this because his obsession, and in some ways a way to vindicate himself, to save others when he obviously has cost other lives in the past. So it he fortunately is not just a cardboard cutout of a villain or the guy that’s going to be the fly in the ointment. Telford has very interesting motivations and a lot of very interesting layers, you know, to how he will continue to be involved with the people on the Destiny. QUESTION: We have seenthe ancient communications stones more in SGU than any of the other Stargate series. What are your thoughts on body-swapping? Lou Diamond Phillips: Obviously for Telford it’s really been his way to stay involved which is great, you know. I mean it’s been very interesting, you know, device and one that, you know, I’m sure he finds very frustrating. What I think in the bigger picture what I think is very, very cool and I don’t mean to spoil it is to say that in exchanging consciousness we are putting forth the theory that consciousness is something that can transcend space and time, that it can transcend the physical. And this is a concept that will play out in different scenarios during season two in a way that I find just amazingly thought provoking and interesting and intriguing. And it’s one of the things that sci-fi does very, very well, you know, to give you an idea and then to expand upon it and make you think wow, is that kind of thing possible? And, I think that’s a very good point because it does raise the big questions, you know.
Good sci-fi does that. It is really against a backdrop that is virtually Shakespearean or larger than life asks very human questions. Where do we come from? Where are we going? You know, why? Why are we here? And, without sounding too pretentious, Stargate Universe attempts to do that and yet bring in the introspection of how do we survive, how – you know, how do we relate to one another in a way that’s going to ensure that we stick around.
I think that is the extension of the legacy that Stargate gave us previously. They had the action adventure. They had the larger than life characters. They had the sci-fi. And I would like to think that, you know, what Stargate Universe adds to the mix is a great dose of humanity and perhaps philosophy. QUESTION: Can you talk about becoming part of a franchise with an established history.
Lou Diamond Phillips: I was not all that familiar with the television series. The film was done by a good friend of mine, Dean Devlin.So, you know, I certainly had respect for the tradition and the legacy of it all. But it was a win-win because as I said before, I could tell that they wanted to do something different. I could see from the script that, you know, they were going in a different direction than they had in the past and the kind of people that were already attached. So, you know, you’re dealing with something that has an expectation that has a through line to it but, you know, the added plus of saying okay we’re going to do it differently. And, you know, in today’s television landscape you see how quickly, you know, things come and go. They can promote the hell out of something and then it’s gone in a month. If anything had a chance to survive it was certainly something that had, you know, the track record of a Stargate. So, you know, as far as future employment was concerned it was a good bet.
[serialposts]
Here’s a new look at highlights of Season One and previews of Season Two of SyFy’s STARGATE UNIVERSE.
The Official Description of the season opener, Intervention.
“Control of the Destiny hangs in the balance as the battle continues between the crew and the Lucian Alliance.
Colonel Young and most of his military personnel are held at gunpoint by the Lucian Alliance. While Dannic has no hesitations to kill them, he is convinced by Varro to leave them on the nearest planet. Shortly after arrival the Destiny crew find themselves joined by Varro and those of his men now deemed as traitors by Dannic. When a deadly electrical storm begins to brew, all must work together to find safe shelter and survive.
“Meanwhile Dr. Rush, Brody, Chloe and Eli have sealed themselves off in the hydroponics lab and have managed to obtain some control of the ships power. Dr. Rush conceives a risky plan to force Dannic and the Lucians to surrender by draining the power from most of the ships shields killing anyone outside hydroponics by radiation.
Not willing to give up, Dannic locks into a standoff with Rush knowing his plan will also kill those members left aboard not protected by the lab. Chloe and Eli plead with Rush to think of Lt. Johansen who’s trapped in the infirmary recovering.”
STARGATE UNIVERSE: ‘Intervention’ airs Tuesday, September 28th at 9:00 PM ET/PT.
If you need to catch up on the story so far, there’s an all day marathon Tuesday, with the two-part Season One Finale ‘Incursion’ airing from 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
“Syfy unveils an impressive roster of guest stars set to make appearances throughout the second season of the drama-adventure series, STARGATE UNIVERSE, including Victor Garber, David Hewlett, Robert Picardo, Kathleen Quinlan and French Stewart, along with the previously announced guest appearances by Robert Knepper and Julie McNiven, who will both appear in multi-episode arcs. STARGATE UNIVERSE follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth.
In the new season, the team fights to take back the ship from the Lucian Alliance, who transported themselves on board Destiny with plans to take control. The team also discovers their true mission. It’s not about going home, it’s about going further.
STARGATE UNIVERSE stars Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full Monty) as Dr. Nicholas Rush; Louis Ferreira (Hidden Hills, Grey Gardens) as Colonel Everett Young; Brian J. Smith (The War Boys, Hate Crime) as 1st Lt. Matthew Scott; Elyse Levesque as Chloe Armstrong; David Blue (Ugly Betty, Moonlight) as Eli Wallace; Alaina Huffman (Smallville, Painkiller Jane) as Lt. Tamara Johansen; Jamil Walker Smith (Waynehead, Sister, Sister) as Master Sergeant Ronald Greer; Ming-Na (ER, The Joy Luck Club) as Camile Wray; and Lou Diamond Phillips (Stand and Deliver, Young Guns) as Colonel Telford.
This season, series star Robert Carlyle makes his directorial debut in episode four, “Pathogen.”
Second Season Guest Stars Include:
Victor Garber (Alias, Titanic) Acclaimed stage and film actor Garber stars as Ambassador Ovirda of planet Langara. David Hewlett, STARGATE: ATLANTIS
David Hewlett (Splice, Whistleblower) reprises his role as Dr. Rodney McKay, the lead scientist of the Atlantis team.
Robert Picardo (Stargate SG-1, Star Trek: Voyager, China Beach) reprises his role as Richard Woolsey, commander of the Atlantis expedition.
Kathleen Quinlan (Apollo 13) stars as Senator Michaels, who replaced the late Senator Armstrong as the new head of the off-world spending committee.
French Stewart (3rd Rock From The Sun) guest stars as Dr. Andrew Covel, the new head of research at Stargate Command.
Robert Knepper (Heroes, Prison Break) portrays a member of the Lucian Alliance in a multi-episode arc.
Julie McNiven (Supernatural, Mad Men) portrays a member of the Lucian Alliance in a multi-episode arc.
Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, serve as executive producers and writers. SGU is produced and distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.”
The second season of STARGATE UNIVERSE debuts Tuesday, September 28 at 9PM (ET/PT) on SyFy.
Gateworld.net features an interview with long time STARGATE writer/producer Robert C. Cooper on his announced plan to leave SyFy’s STARGATE: UNIVERSE.
Cooper, who has also directed episodes and the direct-to-DVD feature THE ARK OF TRUTH, will exit the long-running franchise after an appearance at San Diego’s Comic-Con next month.
Robert Cooper told them: “I’m not leaving completely, actually just stepping back to more of a consulting role for the end of this season (Season Two).
However, my credit will remain Executive Producer. We’ve already developed most of Season Two and I feel very confident leaving the show in good hands.”
As to why he’s leaving:
“To be honest this has been a very difficult decision.
I love UNIVERSE as a show and working with this cast and crew has been the best experience of my career thus far. However, it’s been a long time working on one franchise and a number of factors have contributed to my feeling that it’s time to move on.”
“I keep telling people this is not good-bye. In fact, I can’t rule out returning to Stargate in the future.”
Robert C. Cooper began as a writer and story editor of the MGM Television series STARGATE SG-1, starting with in the first Showtime season. (After five years, it was picked up by the then Sci-Fi Channel.)
With co-producer Brad Wright, he created STARGATE: ATLANTIS and STARGATE: UNIVERSE.
STARGATE UNIVERSE just ended it’s first year on SyFy this past Friday. ‘Incursion Part 2’ left a number of threads dangling, which this trailer for Season Two will tease.
In the second season premiere, ‘Intervention’ we’ll meet Simeon, a “dangerous Lucian Alliance soldier”, to be played by Robert Knepper (THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL [2008]). Julie McNiven (SUPERNATURAL) will play Ginn, also of the Lucian Alliance, which has boarded and seemingly taken over the Ancient’s starship, Destiny.
Simeon’s character will be a recurring nemesis, and eventually have a showdown with Dr. Rush (Robert Carlyle). He can be seen in the trailer at screen left, holding a rifle on the scientist.
STARGATE UNIVERSE returns this October on SyFy.
STARGATE UNIVERSE’s two-part Season Finale begins this Friday, June 4th.
I’ll give the production info & comments first, to avoid putting the episode description SPOILERS on the front page. Incursion: Part One
Guest Stars: Rhona Mitra, Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping.
Written by Joseph Mallozzi
Directed by Andy Mikita
In the trailer (above, left), Colonel Young (Louis Ferreira) is attempting to force the treasonous, possibly brain-washed Col. Telford ( Lou Diamond Phillips), who is in Dr. Rush’s (Robert Carlyle) body to confess the details of the Lucian Alliance’s plot.
In case you were wondering, characters can switch bodies with host across the universe via transfer stones that also come from The Ancients.
Meanwhile, the captured Dr. Rush, in Telford’s body, is being compelled to give the Alliance the Stargate dialing codes (with the mysterious and vital “ninth chevron”) in order to travel to the advanced ship.
Confused? If you haven’t been watching the show, you might well be, as it’s not all that friendly to the casual viewer—or even fans.
Just in the last few episodes has the audience been given clearer reasons to care about the often difficult to like characters trapped on the ship.
The Spoiler? The Lucian Alliance does indeed board the Ancients’ starship Destiny, and takes several crewmembers hostage in an attempt to sieze control of the advanced universe-tranversing vessel, and the secrets that it holds..
Airs this Friday on SyFy.
Lionsgate’s second run at a Blu-Ray release for STARGATE is a mixed-to-good affair, but it does represent an upgrade from their first, embarrassingly shoddy, barebones release.
While flogging his controversial theories on the origin of the Giza pyramids to a less than enthusiastic audience in New York, Dr. Daniel Jackson (James Spader) is approached by the elderly Catherine Langford (Viveca Lindfors) with an interesting job – to translate the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics on a tablet unearthed in 1928 by Langford’s father, which is now the centerpiece of a top secret military project in Colorado. Once Jackson correctly interprets the tablet as describing a “stargate”, the the actual device – circular, metallic, ringed with a pattern of hieroglyphics that, thanks to Jackson, can now be correctly aligned – is taken over by the military in the form of Col. O’Neil (Kurt Russell), and the gate is opened. A probe sent through reveals that the gate leads to a planet on the other side of the solar system with an Earth-like atmosphere. O’Neil and his team (including Jackson, brought to interpret the symbols on the other gate for the return trip) enter next, and find themselves inside a near duplicate of the great pyramid of Giza in the middle of a vast desert. The inhabitants of this world resemble in appearance and language those of ancient Egypt, even to the point of worshipping the symbol of the sun-God, Ra. But the God they worship is no deity, but the last of an alien race that used the gate to bring slave labor from Earth’s past, even stealing the body of a young Egyptian boy (Jaye Davidson) to extend its life. The creature has enslaved the people, who mine for the minerals that fuel its technology, and with a reactivated gate, now sets its sights on modern-day Earth. Stargate carries some interesting baggage: it’s not a particularly great film; in fact, it actually looses dramatic momentum soon after the men step through the gate itself. But the idea is so intriguing that it lures us back for a peek every few years to see if we’re missing something – not for nothing has the film spawned (at my rough estimate) 4 different television series that all took the core plot point of the film and ran like hell with it. Director Roland Emmerich came to the project hot on the heels of the surprisingly effective Universal Soldier, wherein he proved himself adept at dealing with the rigors of sci-fi-action filmmaking without costs spiraling out of control. Stargate seemed like natural follow-up material, but the script by Emmerich and producing partner Dean Devlin isn’t quite up to the load capacity placed on it. We vividly remember the crush of disappointment once our heroes stepped through to the alien world, only to find the burlap sack-costumed extras running around a village set that wouldn’t look out of place on an episode of Xena (imagine if Star Wars began on the Death Star and then moved to Tatooine where it remained for 2/3rds of the running time). We’ve already been prepared for the alien civilization looking much like ancient Egypt, thus killing any ‘chariots of the Gods’ excitement about the origin of ancient Egyptian culture. The film simply stalls out too long in the initial contact between our protagonists and the peasant people of the planet, with our heroes showing the natives the miracles of butane lighters and 5th Avenue bars in scenes that wouldn’t seem out of place in a ’30s Tarzan film. The arrival of “Ra” makes things a little more exciting, but the script can’t do much with it other than have Davidson vamp about (the actor’s famously androgynous appearance does more to sell the concept than anything else) while the audience waits for action beats that the expensive production seems shy about delivering.
The strong cast does much to help us buy the concept, with Russell (with military hair cut in the most aggressively geometric pattern we’ve ever seen) turning in typically strong work as a stoic military man shattered by the recent death of his son. Spader brings a lot of humor to Dr. Jackson, and adds welcome notes of masculinity to the traditional “nerd” role. There’s also fine support from Lindfors (her final role) who could effortlessly lend even the most outrageous moments total credibility, and also from the mysterious Davidson, who left acting and returned to the fashion industry after this film. Sharp-eyed viewers will catch an unlikely French Stewart as one of O’Neil’s military team, Deadwood’s Leon Rippy as the military head of the Stargate project, and Dijmon Hounsou as one of Ra’s guards. The picture is aided immensely by David Arnold’s lush score, a cross between John Williams and Maurice Jarre, along with the superb production design of Patrick Tatopoulos.
Lionsgate picked up the home video rights to Stargate along with numerous other pictures from the Carolco library (a once formidable mini-major studio brought low by the disastrous Cutthroat Island in 1995). Lionsgate’s second run at a Blu-Ray release for the title is a mixed-to-good affair. They seem to be working off the same film master, but there’s less obvious print damage and the 1080p image is serviceable, if not much more (this does count, to us anyway, as an upgrade from their first BD, an embarrassingly shoddy, barebones release). The audio too, has received a bump, with a lossless 7.1 DTS track. Both cuts of the film have also been included; the original theatrical version, running 2:00:47, and an extended cut running 2:09:36.
The most substantial of the new extras is a featurette on the production and legacy of the film, split into 3 parts but playable in 1 (presented in HD and running just over 20min); it features new interviews with Emmerich and Devlin – who are also featured in a recycled audio commentary track. There’s also a bizarre film, apparently made by and for the crew during production, billed as a “gag reel”, a P-I-P info feature, and a trivia track. The original theatrical trailer is also included in HD.
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Before STARGATE UNIVERSE, Ming-Na was most well known for her role on E.R. However, the acknowledged STAR WARS fan has numerous genre credits listed on her resume: STREETFIGHTER with Jean-Claude Van Damme; the 2008 remake of PROM NIGHT; and PUSH with Chris Evans. She contributed vocal performances to the animated series SPAWN and THE BATMAN, and provided the voice of Aki Ross in FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN and of the title character in Walt Disney Pictures’ MULAN. SyFy’s SGU series casts her as Camille Wray, a civilian leader often locking horns with the military over the course to take aboard the Destiny.
QUESTION: Was it always intended that Camille would be such an integral character or did that evolve as you went along?
QUESTION: What’s it like workign with the green screen, acting to effects that are added later?
QUESTION: Could you tell us a little bit about some of the acting challenges you found playing the paraplegic role?
QUESTION: SGU is different from the other shows with more of a Battlestar Galactica tone. How do you think SGU furthers the Stargate franchise?
QUESTION: Why do you think people keep turning in to watch the show?
QUESTION: How did you join the STARGATE Universe?
QUESTION: Can only speak in very general terms about the relationship between Telford and Young in Season Two? 
Gateworld.net features an interview with long time STARGATE writer/producer Robert C. Cooper on his announced plan to leave SyFy’s STARGATE: UNIVERSE.