As reported last summer, Roland Emmerich is getting ready to return to the world(s) of his 1994 science fiction film Stargate with plans for a rebooted feature film trilogy. Today, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that screenwriters James A. Woods and Nicolas Wright have signed on to provide the screenplay. Although both talents are relative newcomers to Hollywood, they’ve already been working alongside Emmerich on the upcoming Independence Day 2.
Word of a Stargate reboot first broke in 2013 when Emmerich said that he and creative partner Dean Devlin approached MGM about building a reboot trilogy. Emmerich co-wrote and directed the original 1994 film, which starred Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson and Alexis Cruz. Devlin is attached to produce the new take, which is being developed by MGM and Warner Bros. Pictures.
MGM will be running production on Stargate, with Jonathan Glickman, President, Motion Picture Group overseeing the project on behalf of MGM and Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, overseeing for Warner Bros. Pictures. Worldwide distribution will be handled by Warner Bros. Pictures, with select international territories to be handled by MGM.
It’s unclear whether or not the new films will maintain any continuity with either the 1994 original or with the expanded “Stargate” television universe.
“These new films will build upon the creativity and popularity of the first film,” teased Silverman last year, “while delivering an original film-going experience for fans and those new to the franchise.”
At the time of its release, Stargate grossed nearly $200 million at the global box office. The franchise has since spawned three live-action television spin-offs, one animated series and two direct-to-DVD feature films.
