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"Stargate" at 30: How a Science-Fiction dynasty came to be

We look back at how Stargate made it to the screen, was sold off to MGM, and became one of the biggest television franchises of a generation.

There is no reason to think Russell wouldn’t have been up for a Stargate sequel: in 1994 his paycheck for the first film — a reported $7 million — made headlines, and raised a few eyebrows (as Carolco was earning a reputation for paying big sums for marquee talent). It is a common misconception that the film was meant to be Stargate ‘s sequel: Ra’s species comes to Earth to exact revenge for what transpired on Abydos, with Spader’s Daniel Jackson recast as Jeff Goldblum’s David Levinson. And audiences quickly fell in love with the brilliant Captain Samantha Carter(Amanda Tapping), the comedically stoic and honorable alien warrior Teal’c(Christopher Judge), and the strong but compassionate General George Hammond(Don S. Davis).

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