While Stargate (1994) was extremely well received, the spinoff TV series (Stargate SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis) gathered more of an audience than the original tale ever did. The Stargate series veered off the known track laid down by the original film and expanded on the universe in new and imaginative ways. With a charismatic cast lead by Richard Dean Anderson, and a rich universe filled with endless possibilities and changes in setting, it's of no wonder why the show captivated as many hearts as it did. Myself included.
However, news of the reboot has left fans of the show less than enthusiastic about it. There is a growing concern among the Stargate fanbase that the movies will not follow the show's long-established canon and could dull what is otherwise an enjoyable and refined storyline, much like the Star Wars prequels did for die-hard fans.
It really is a delicate subject to touch on, but a consideration needs to be made that even though Stargate SG1 (and the less popular Stargate Atlantis) has formed a rather large fan-following, the shows themselves were not in line with the original direction of the Stargate film.
There were quite a few key differences between the film and the series, particularly the concept of the Goa'uld, which are the protagonists in the show, being a parasitic alien entity capable of fully controlling their host. In the film, it was left to mystery, but was rather strongly implied that Ra was a Grey. The show jumped this hurdle by creating a race called the Asgard, which bear a significant likeness to the Greys and using him as a vessel controlled by the Goa'uld. Other notable differences include the location of planets, symbol differences used on different Stargates and that in most universes, everyone speaks English, where the movie portrays evident language barriers.
As an avid Stargate fan, having enjoyed both the movies and the series, I accept these differences only on the premise that the film and the series should be looked at as completely different entities that share a common theme. As soon as we start tying the movie and the show together as progressive canon, the whole universe falls apart at the seams due to the difference in writing direction.
Popular opinions aside, I would love for Emmerich and Devlin to unearth Stargate's original intentions. The 1994 film had a magnificent sense of mystery and wonder to it that unraveled itself to the viewer in a way that left them yearning for more by the end of the film. It felt well-rounded and provided a sense of closure, while at the same time being vague enough to leave a slight hint of mystery in the viewer.
I'm remaining positive that the Stargate trilogy will return to its roots and give us another intriguing universe to explore, more new concepts and ideas to stir our minds and ultimately come out as a series of films that can stand alone and not be overshadowed by the show's success.
....and since it's Emmerich, I'd like to see some grand-scale destruction as well, while we're at it.
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