As a lifelong fan of Stargate SG-1 and a connoisseur of sci-fi series with strong character development, I can’t help but feel a pang of regret when I think about Christopher Judge‘s spinoff pitch for Teal’c and the Jaffa. His vision, reminiscent of Marvel’s Black Panther but set in the Stargate universe, promised to delve deeper into the cultural and technological advancements of the newly-freed Jaffa society.
In the role of the stoic and subtly humorous warrior Teal’c on Stargate SG-1, Christopher Judge featured in more episodes than any other cast member during the show’s 10 seasons. Initially joining forces with Earth’s Stargate Command to eventually overthrow the malevolent alien Goa’uld race that dominated his Jaffa heritage, Teal’c and his mentor Bra’tac (Tony Amendola) progressed to pivotal positions among their people, spearheading a late-series initiative to rebuild a liberated Jaffa society.
Fans eager to see the evolution of the Jaffa culture following their liberation from the Goa’uld were left with just a glimpse due to the storyline in “Stargate SG-1” that culminated in the defeat of the Goa’uld, which happened late in Season 8. The Free Jaffa Nation that followed, boasting control over the technology they obtained from their victory against the Goa’uld, often shared screen time with major “SG-1” storylines during the last two seasons, leaving room for a deeper examination of the Jaffas’ future. In fact, behind the scenes, the creators were already contemplating this aspect as a potential new direction for an “SG-1” spinoff series.
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Christopher Judge’s spinoff pitch aimed for “Stargate’s take on Black Panther“
On the “Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum” podcast (through GateWorld), Judge shared further insights into his concepts for a potential spinoff series focusing on the Jaffa. It’s worth noting that these ideas were found to be quite comprehensive and appealing by MGM, who held the rights to the Stargate franchise until 2022 when Amazon acquired all Stargate-related properties in a significant deal.
In an interview, Judge, known for voicing the gruff Kratos in God of War, revealed that during its production, he and his partner had pitched a spinoff idea to MGM. This concept revolved around Teal’c and his people (the Jaffa), who gained their freedom at the end of the series. With newfound technological resources from their former oppressors (the Goa’uld), they were left wondering, “What’s next?
It appears the idea being presented is a possible spinoff of SG-1, similar to how Black Panther elevated T’Challa and Wakanda in Marvel, would have focused on Tealc and the Jaffa. Judge, who wrote episodes ‘Birthright’ and ‘Sacrifices’ with Amazonian mythology, proposed this as a Stargate adaptation of the Amazonian mythology. Essentially, the pitch was for a story about an isolated people gaining freedom, utilizing advanced technology, and facing the question: should they help others or keep their advancements to themselves?
It appears that GateWorld’s brilliant idea resonated, as MGM seemed to agree: The judge’s spinoff concept was reportedly still under consideration for new Stargate projects by the studio as late as 2020. However, it turned out to be inopportune timing, occurring during the industry upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This disruption seemingly threw a wrench into the franchise’s long-term strategies, which had shown some progress with another project being developed by SG-1 co-creator Brad Wright separately.
According to GateWorld, even though the Free Jaffa spinoff was just an idea within the studio at that time, it was still a possibility. While Wright was working on his separate project, the studio was contemplating Judge’s suggestion for another Stargate Origins web miniseries (with Wright potentially taking on a creative consultant role), and then possibly move forward with Wright’s new series to usher in a fresh era for the franchise.
Coincidentally, neither Wright’s initiative nor Judge’s managed to weather the chaotic storm in the entertainment industry during the unpredictable COVID period, and it seems that neither survived after MGM was incorporated into a different media conglomerate later on.
During a podcast discussion, the judge mused that three studios were enthusiastic about his “Free Jaffa” spinoff idea. Later on, they were acquired by Amazon.
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2024-12-23 21:01