Reminding you of how SYFY‘s popular series, Stargate SG-1, ran for nearly a decade and led to numerous movies and spinoffs, it’s fascinating to recall that its origins stemmed from an idea to transform a moderately successful sci-fi film into a television show. This included reinterpreting key characters and constructing a fresh mythology altogether.
In the end, they managed to recruit Richard Dean Anderson, famously known for his role in MacGyver, as the main character Colonel Jack O’Neill (with two Ls) for the show. However, it was discovered that Anderson wasn’t initially keen on the opportunity. This changed only after he watched the original Stargate movie, which is now available to stream on SYFY. Here’s what eventually won him over.
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Why Richard Dean Anderson signed on to join Stargate SG-1
Anderson became a part of SG-1 before its debut in 1997, already an established and recognized actor. In a 2018 retrospective, the creators of the show shared with SYFY WIRE that Anderson was attracted to the two-season deal from the start, but he wasn’t entirely convinced about the character as it was portrayed by Kurt Russell in the original Stargate movie.
It’s well known among Stargate fans that the portrayal of the character differs significantly from how it was presented in Anderson’s version. Russell’s interpretation, on the other hand, is all business and serious, reflecting a military man to the core. Anderson, however, wasn’t interested in such a grave role and aimed to inject some humor and levity into his portrayal (a nod to why they altered the character’s name from “O’Neil” in the movie to “O’Neill” in the TV series).
Michael Greenburg, producer of SG-1, stated that Rick initially felt unsure about playing the character for an extended period. The studio assured him he had full freedom with the role and offered a 44-episode contract. Upon hearing this, Michael contacted Rick again and relayed the offer. Rick agreed to take on the role, which marked the beginning of our creative process for Stargate.
The line that sold Richard Dean Anderson on doing Stargate SG-1
In the initial episode of Stargate SG-1, it was crucial to establish a solid foundation for the series, reacquainting audiences with the science fiction universe where an old extraterrestrial gateway allows travel between planets, and broadening the scope by introducing fresh planetary landscapes and novel alien perils.
Brad Wright, co-creator and executive producer, noted that during their initial conversation with actor Richard Dean Anderson, he focused on the comedic aspects in the script, particularly those instances where his portrayal of O’Neill could inject some humor into the action and adventure. It was a single line, specifically in a scene where future ally Teal’c assists SG-1 in their escape, that Anderson identified with the character.
In a meeting, we met with Richard Dean Anderson, who was holding a script at the time. He particularly enjoyed the humorous parts of the script. One line I wrote in the pilot stood out to him as defining the character – when O’Neill says to Teal’c, “Come on,” after Teal’c helps free them. Teal’c replies, “I have nowhere to go,” and O’Neill offers, “For this, you can stay at my place!” This was the perfect balance of action, drama, and humor that Richard Dean Anderson connected with. Indeed, he found it appealing that the show could be both intense and amusing, which is why our collaboration lasted for so many years – we had a shared appreciation for this blend of tones.
Over the subsequent ten years, Anderson collaborated with O’Neill to develop and establish a particular version of this character, resulting in one of the most cherished science fiction icons in contemporary times.
Stargate creators return to SYFY with The Ark
As a die-hard Stargate fan, I can’t contain my excitement! The original creators of this epic space saga are back, and they’re continuing their journey with SYFY’s series, The Ark. Guess what? It’s coming back for its third season in 2026! Let’s buckle up and prepare for more thrilling adventures among the stars!
Dean Devlin (known for “Independence Day” and “Stargate”) and Jonathan Glassner (“Stargate SG-1”) are jointly serving as showrunners and executive producers on the series “The Ark”. This production features Christie Burke in the lead role as a space ship captain guiding an eclectic team in search of a new world to inhabit. You can now stream the first two seasons of “The Ark” on Peacock.
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2025-06-06 22:16