How the Original Stargate Film Turned Yuma, Arizona into the Alien World of Abydos

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In the 1990s, two influential figures in science fiction collaborated to develop a sprawling sci-fi series that linked ancient Egypt with outer space. Director Roland Emmerich, known for films like “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow,” had been brainstorming a tale about an extraterrestrial spaceship hidden within the Great Pyramids. At the same time, writer Dean Devlin, who co-created “Independence Day” and produced “SYFY’s The Ark,” was developing a story reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia, but set in space. Fresh off their collaboration on “Universal Soldier,” they reteamed to merge their concepts, incorporating the concept of teleportation across the stars.

The outcome was the film titled “Stargate” (currently available on SYFY), featuring Kurt Russell portraying Colonel Jack O’Neil and James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson, an Egyptologist. The narrative commences in ancient Egypt during the year 1928, where archaeologists have unearthed a mysterious stone structure. Hidden beneath it lies a massive metallic ring adorned with strange, untranslatable symbols.

In the passage of time, Dr. Jackson is called upon to decipher those symbols, revealing whatever secrets the ancients had hidden beneath the sands. Instead, it unveils not a glance at history, but a portal – a stargate – that transports humans (and any who dare to step through) across immense cosmic distances. Beyond this gateway, adventurers discover Abydos, a planet shrouded in sand, inhabited by humans who were abducted and enslaved by the alien entity called Ra, deceptively known as a god.

For More on Stargate

1. Title Option 1: The Original Color of the Stargate – An Unexpected Change and Its Consequences

2. Title Option 2: How the Final Stargate Movie Set a Remarkable Guinness World Record

3. Title Option 3: Unveiling Abydos’ Alien Language: Stargate’s Fascinating Recreation of an Ancient Egyptian Dialect

These new titles maintain the original information while providing a fresh and engaging perspective that is easy to read.

Transforming Yuma, Arizona into Stargate‘s Alien World of Abydos

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In the original 1994 film, the planet on the other side of the stargate, referred to as Abydos, was not explicitly named. However, it became a recurring element in the TV series “Stargate SG-1”. This is because the Stargate franchise, inspired by the original movie, expanded into various media forms such as video games, novels, an animated series, and three live action television series, providing ample opportunities for world building.

The sets for the TV show “Stargate” were constructed within an old airplane hangar that previously housed Howard Hughes’ “Spruce Goose.” However, the exterior scenes were filmed in the Yuma desert. Filming took place during the summer of ’93, under the intense heat of the July desert sun, to minimize disturbances from dune buggies and tourist activities. To maintain a desolate and alien appearance for the sands, workers were hired to clear the dunes between filming sessions, erasing footprints and other man-made traces.

To create the breathtaking spectacle of the stargate’s activation, complete with a rush of powerful energy that approached onlookers, they used an air cannon to blast water. Throughout the filming process, practical effects were prioritized, although this sometimes led to frustrating incidents. The initial attempt to capture the air cannon effect went awry when the power was set too high, resulting in everyone getting drenched. The rest of the time, sand would find its way into every nook and cranny, and the intense heat made filming a tough task. Nevertheless, sets were constructed on location, featuring massive alien structures modeled after ancient Egyptian designs, rising majestically out of the sand. Huge alien creatures were brought to life by suspending prosthetics over horses, while hundreds of extras were hired for crowded wide shots.

In all the Stargate series, scenes set on Abydos have often been shot in various deserts, but surprisingly, the entirety of Abydos as seen in the first Stargate movie was constructed right at a location in Yuma, Arizona. This very desert has been a popular choice for filming in numerous movies that you love, such as Star Wars, Dune (1984), The Scorpion King, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. For many years, if you needed a substitute for Egypt or an alien desert planet while shooting, Yuma was the go-to place.

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2025-06-04 22:46