Stargate

Stargate is a massive military science fiction media franchise.

It is owned by Amazon MGM Studios. The franchise is built around a specific piece of technology. This device is a ring-shaped object called a Stargate. An ancient, intergalactic race of beings originally built these gates. The Stargate allows for nearly instantaneous travel across the cosmos. It does this by creating a wormhole between two points. This type of wormhole is known as an Einstein-Rosen bridge.

Scientists and explorers use these gates to reach distant planets.

Working the Stargate involves a specific mechanical process. The device is part of a vast, interconnected network. Travelers must "dial" the gate to establish a connection. This dialing process links one Stargate to another specific location. Once the connection is made, the wormhole opens. This allows an expeditionary team to pass through the ring. Most stories follow these teams as they explore new worlds. They often face different villains or major threats during their journeys. The setting usually features realistic technology alongside science-fiction elements.

There are several distinct types of media within the franchise. The story began with a theatrical film in 1994. This was followed by many television series. Stargate SG-1 was the first major sequel series. Later, spin-offs like Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe were created.

There is also a prequel web series called Stargate Origins. Beyond television, the franchise includes books, comics, and video games. Some stories are even told through direct-to-DVD movies. These movies, such as Stargate: The Ark of Truth, help conclude specific story arcs.

The history of the franchise started with a single movie. Roland Emmerich directed the 1994 film. He co-wrote the script with producer Dean Devlin. In 1997, Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner created the Stargate SG-1 series. This show moved from the Showtime network to the Sci-Fi Channel. The production was quite large for its time. MGM invested an average of $1,400,000 into each episode of SG-1. Over time, the franchise expanded into many different directions. In 2016, American Mythology began publishing new comic book stories.

This allowed the stories to continue in new ways.

The scale of the Stargate franchise is very impressive. The main story arc ran for more than 15 years. This period included 18 seasons of programming. In total, there were 364 episodes of television produced. The original 1994 film was a major financial success. It grossed approximately $197 million at the worldwide box office. The film earned $71,565,669 in the United States alone.

Even the direct-to-DVD movies had significant reach. For example, Stargate: Continuum had a production budget of $7 million. These numbers show how much people cared about the series.

Many different examples of Stargate media exist for fans to enjoy. There are various video games, including the strategy game Stargate: Timekeepers. Other games include the mobile adventure game Stargate SG-1: Unleashed. Some fans even enjoy role-playing games based on the universe.

There are even amusement park rides called Stargate SG-3000. These rides are located at several Six Flags parks. Some media, like the 2002 animated series Stargate Infinity, exist outside the main story. These works may ignore or reset the established continuity. However, they always keep the essential element of the Stargate device.

The franchise connects to many different fields and interests. It blends military themes with advanced physics and space exploration. The stories often involve archaeology, such as the study of ancient Egyptian culture. This connection is seen when the team visits the planet Abydos. The franchise also touches on themes of leadership and teamwork.

Fans of the series are so dedicated they call themselves "Gaters." Even after the main television runs ended, interest remained high. A new series is currently in development for 2025. Martin Gero will lead this new production for Amazon MGM Studios.