How the Final Stargate Film Broke an Incredibly Cool Guinness World Record

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The “Stargate” series was a cornerstone of the SYFY channel for a full decade, and while it’s renowned as one of the most cherished science fiction franchises, it also holds an exceptionally peculiar (and quite frosty) Guinness World Record.

2008 saw the arrival of the concluding movie in the primary saga of the Stargate franchise, titled Stargate: Continuum. This series, initially introduced through SG-1, continued via Stargate Atlantis and ultimately concluded with Stargate Universe. The entire journey of the Stargate universe was encapsulated within these shows.

The movie functioned as an unofficial conclusion to the SG-1 series, reuniting the primary cast consisting of Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, Ben Browder, and Claudia Black for a final journey through time and space. It’s a massive time travel adventure filled with clever surprises throughout.

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The Darkened Stargate Saga

Originally, the creators of the popular ‘Stargate’ franchise had planned to produce a movie that would have merged the storylines of ‘SG-1’, ‘Atlantis’, and ‘Universe’. However, due to creative differences and changes in production, this never came to fruition. Here’s why they decided to alter their plans:

The Darkened Stargate Saga: A New Vision for a Combined ‘Stargate’ Series

The Darkened Stargate Saga would have taken place in a universe where the Ancients, the advanced civilization that created the Stargate network, had left behind not only the gates but also a darker legacy – a shadowy organization known as the Ori, who sought to control and subjugate humanity. The story would have followed a multi-team approach, with characters from ‘SG-1’, ‘Atlantis’, and ‘Universe’ working together to combat this common enemy while exploring new galaxies and uncovering ancient secrets.

One of the key reasons for the abandonment of this concept was the creative differences between the various producers and writers involved in each series. Each team had their unique vision for the storylines, making it challenging to merge them coherently without compromising the original ideas or character development. Additionally, the production challenges associated with managing such a large ensemble cast and complex narrative proved to be insurmountable at the time.

Joining ‘Stargate SG-1’ – Claudia Black’s Experience

“Joining ‘Stargate SG-1’ was both exciting and intimidating. I had been a fan of the series before I even auditioned for the part, so it was surreal to suddenly become a part of that world. The cast and crew were incredibly welcoming, and I felt right at home almost immediately. However, I quickly realized the challenges of working on such an established show – the high production values, complex storylines, and dedicated fan base meant there was no room for error. But it was an amazing experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

In this alternate timeline, Black would have played a significant role in the Darkened Stargate Saga, using her skills as a versatile actress to bring depth and complexity to her character while contributing to the overall narrative. With the combined efforts of the talented cast and crew, this ambitious project could have potentially redefined science fiction television.

Alas, it remains a fascinating “what if” scenario in the history of the ‘Stargate’ franchise. The enduring popularity of the individual series serves as a testament to their quality and lasting impact on fans around the world. Who knows what might have been if this grand experiment had come to fruition?

However, it was the movie’s initial sequence that caught the eyes of the record-keeping experts at Guinness World Records.

Stargate: Continuum‘s opening scene in Alaska

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Using funds for production, the team embarked on a journey to capture crucial scenes on-site, including what later became known as the “Northmost Film Shoot” ever documented. The filming took place on March 28, 2007, when the movie Continuum dispatched a team of 18 individuals to Alaska’s Northern coast, out onto the ice surrounding the Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS), to film a sequence featuring a submarine.

It’s interesting to note that prior to Stargate, no other film had dared to venture so far north for an on-location shoot in the harsh, frozen tundra. This unique fact earned Stargate a surprise entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

This opportunity is exceptionally rare – you’ll be living on a shifting ice floe, right smack in the heart of the Arctic Ocean. You’ll witness an incredible event as a nuclear submarine breaks through the ice, and then, remarkably, you’ll get to board that very submarine! All while filming a movie. As Ben Browder and I strolled along, awestruck during our helicopter shot, we exclaimed, ‘Oh my goodness!’ Nobody has ever set foot here before – this is uncharted frozen ocean, and it’s unlikely anyone will ever walk here again.

The movie titled “Stargate: Continuum” marked the conclusion of the Stargate film series up until now, with the exception of the 2018 Stargate Origins web series, which was later transformed into a direct-to-video film.

Stargate creators return to SYFY with The Ark

If you’re a fan of the thrilling space adventures from Stargate, some of the original creators have come back to SYFY with the ongoing show The Ark, which will resume for its third season in 2026.

Dean Devlin (known for “Independence Day” and “Stargate”) and Jonathan Glassner (“Stargate SG-1”) serve as joint showrunners and executive producers for the series “The Ark”. In this sci-fi production, Christie Burke portrays a space captain guiding an eclectic team in search of a suitable new world to inhabit. Catch the initial two seasons of “The Ark” on Peacock immediately!

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2025-05-30 22:02