Stargate Franchise Returning

Amazon MGM Studios has announced that the Stargate franchise is getting a new series. Even more importantly, MGM has tapped long time franchise writer and producer Martin Gero as creator and showrunner for the new series. The goal isn't to reinvent the wheel but do more with what was proven to work for over a decade. 

The intent is a continuation of the universe and not a reboot. What that will look like remains to be seen. The Stargate franchise got its start as a movie but really took off with Stargate SG-1 which exponentially grew the universe and its concepts along with additional series Stargate:Atlantis and Stargate Universe. No ETA on the series, I would estimate at least two years out so late 2027, maybe 2028 since this is just the announcement as no indication that a writer's room has even been assembled much less casting started.

I strongly recommend giving the original series a watch and the behind the scenes footage that comes with the disc sets is very much worth a viewing as collectively its almost a breakdown on how to make a show on time and on budget while still being able to tell the stories they wanted to tell.

R.I.P. Tony Todd 1954 - 2024

Actor Tony Todd died on November 6, 2024 at the age of 69. The news was revealed by his wife, Fatima, who said he died at home after a long illness. If you are an entertainment fan of any kind, chances are will recognize the name, the face or his voice.

For horror fans, may recognize him as the star of Candyman franchise or appearances in Final Destination movies among many horror movies he was in. For TV fans, he was the voice of Zoom in The Flash, was on Law & Order, three Star Trek shows, Homicide: Life on the Streets and many more. 

For movies, he was in Platoon, Lean on Me, Colors, Night of the Living Dead remake, and again many more. For video games, he voice Venom in Spider-Man 2, and voiced characters in Half-Live, Call of Duty and yep more. Animation he was the go-to voice for Darkseid in various DC animated movies among his many voice roles. Seeing the theme? He was basically everywhere in TV, movies, video games and animation with over 200 acting credits.

“You gotta have audience sympathy for the character in some way or another,” Todd told Deadline in a 2022 interview. “There’s gotta be something attractive about the character that makes people want to root for them but at the same time feel repulsed by the idea. And for me personally, for every film that I do, I create a backstory for all my tortured people and my heroes alike.” 

New Line Cinema summarized it best saying "The industry has lost a legend. We have lost a cherished friend. Rest in peace, Tony."

R.I.P. James Earl Jones 1931 - 2024

The acting world lost a giant on Monday as James Earl Jones died at the age of 93. The actor most famous for being the voice of Darth Vader throughout the character's appearances from the movies to the cartoon for nearly 50 years. He was also just famous for his voice. He voiced Mufasa in The Lion King, performed voices in all kinds of animated cartoons, performed voice overs, called the voice of CNN for their ads and more.

Jones was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi during the Great Depression. While his parents looked for work, he moved to Michigan to live with his grandparents. He attended the University of Michigan where he discovered his love acting. When he graduated in 1955 he began on stage, often in Shakespearean roles. Eventually he moved to New York, working a a janitor to support himself while he studied at the American Theatre Wing. This lead to occasional TV roles and in 1964 he was cast in the acclaimed movie Dr. Strangelove. 

His return to stage in 1967 to star in The Great White Hope earned him many fans and a Tony Award for Best Actor In A Play. He continued to work on Broadway with starring roles in The Iceman Cometh, Of Mice and Men and others. Then in 1977 he was cast as the voice of Darth Vader. During the 80s and 90s when not voicing Darth, he would guest on many TV series and work on bunch of movies including Coming To America, The Hunt for Red October, Field of Dreams and more. 

“Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, Robert Redford, Tom Cruise: those guys have well-planned careers,” Jones told The Guardian in 2009. “I’m just on a journey. Wherever I run across a job, I say, ‘OK, I’ll do that.'” To call him an acting legend is underselling his contributions to the arts and pop culture over his long career.