The Stargate franchise has had several great spinoffs, but there are some characters with the potential to lead their own series that never got a chance. Of course, between Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe, and more, virtually all protagonists had the opportunity to lead out an episode or two, and each had their own exciting plotlines and character arcs. Still, For some of these Stargate characters, it has always felt like they could have been taken further.
The science fiction franchise got its start in the 1994 movie Stargate, starring Kurt Russel as Jack O’Neill and James Spader as Daniel Jackson. From there, Stargate SG-1 was born, with Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks replacing their respective predecessors. Of course, this wasn’t the end. The spinoff series Stargate Atlantis began in 2004, exploring the further reaches of this sci-fi reality. 2009 saw the first season of Stargate Universe, and the web series Stargate Origins arrived in 2018. Overall, there’s a lot to enjoy in the Stargate franchise—but we still want more.
Steven Caldwell only appeared in 22 of Stargate Atlantis‘s 100 episodes, but he certainly left a mark. He was the commander of the Daedalus, a ship made by the United States military to serve as a means of transport between Earth and the Atlantis. The Daedalus comes equipped with Asgard technology, including shields and weapons, making it a pretty serious piece of machinery. It’s for precisely this reason, combined with Caldwell’s unique character, that a Daedalus spinoff has been so highly requested.
As one of the military personalities of Stargate (rather than the brainy scientists), Caldwell came off a little rough around the edges at first. However, as time went on, it became clear that there was far more to his character than ambition and the desire to fight. The Daedalus’ commander was extremely brave and willing to lay down his life without a second thought to save the planet. Unfortunately, Caldwell stopped appearing in the Stargate Atlantis series as frequently, but this means there is a lot of unaccounted-for time aboard the Daedalus that could be explored in a spinoff.
As one of the original team members of SG-1, Teal’c got plenty of screen time. His character arc in Stargate SG-1 was among the more intriguing since he had a personal vendetta against the Goa’uld that surpassed that of his teammates. Ultimately, it was satisfying to see Teal’c lead his people to freedom and aid in the establishment of the Free Jaffa Nation, and the bond he developed with each of his team members was among the more touching aspects of the sci-fi series.
As satisfying as Teal’c’s character arc was in Stargate SG-1, StargateAtlantis, and the spinoff movies, it still doesn’t feel like enough. The stoic Jaffa served as the emotional motivator and the comedic relief of the series, and his literal way of thinking made him downright lovable. Therefore, it would have been great to see a spinoff series that took Teal’c’s character further. The show could have dived into his continued work as a leader, with a spattering of flashbacks to his past as well.
Dr. Janet Fraiser’s death was absolutely heartbreaking in Stargate SG-1. It was one of those moments that no one saw coming and has left a bitter feeling even all these years later. Though not among the major characters of the series, Dr. Fraiser was a key figure at the SGC, proving herself time and time again as she dutifully saved the lives of the members of SG-1. Of course, she cared for the other teams as well, but we never saw much of this in Stargate SG-1.
Even though Dr. Fraiser died in Stargate, it would have been interesting to see her lead out a sci-fi medical drama spinoff series. It would, of course, have been set before the character’s death, but it would explore all the interesting medical cases we never got to see, thus keeping Fraiser alive in a way. To make this prospective spinoff even better, other doctor characters from the franchise, like Carson Beckett, could have made some appearances.
Team SG-1 evolved over the years, and Stargate SG-1 (and somewhat Stargate Atlantis) explored what this looked like. However, after this flagship series wrapped up after season 10, it would have been interesting to get a spinoff that explored the next generation of SG-1. Though Samantha Carter, Jack O’Neill, Daniel Jackson, and Teal’c eventually moved on from their first SGC team, another character from Stargate SG-1 could have stepped in to lead the way.
Cadet Jennifer Hailey was introduced in Starget SG-1 season 4, episode 19, “Prodigy,” when Samantha Carter took the clever young girl under her wing. Hailey was hot-tempered and eager to prove herself, but with some guidance from a fellow military genius, she ultimately found her way, returning in Stargate SG-1 season 10 as a fully capable science officer. It seems only fitting that she and some other youngsters would continue SG-1’s legacy, and it would have meant the perfect continued series.
Egeria was a minor character in Stargate SG-1 and was discussed far more than she was seen on screen. However, her actions centuries before the SGC existed significantly impacted the events of the sci-fi series. Egeria was a Goa’uld System Lord who opposed her fellows‘ tendency to enslave humans and forcefully take them as hosts. So, she ran away and produced spawn that lacked the Goa’uld’s aggression and lack of empathy. As such, Egeria was the mother of all the Tok’ra.
The Tok’ra was one of the alien species of Stargate that were always a joy to see take part in episodes. There’s something disturbing yet fascinating about the way they live in harmony with their hosts, creating a bond that is supposed to be unlike anything a typical human would ever experience. For this reason, it would be interesting to see a Stargate spinoff series that centers around their past and evolution, especially if it explored what made Egeria different from the other Goa’uld and how everything went down when she defected.
Though Jack O’Neill can typically be considered the central protagonist of Stargate SG-1, Daniel Jackson is a close second. Therefore, a great many episodes are dedicated to his character. His genius often got him into mind-bendingly sticky situations that were precisely the sort of flavor expected from a science fiction series. Daniel Jackson died and came back to life in Stargate (many times), ascended, returned, started alternate timelines, and saved the world again and again. In all, this means the perfect opportunity to give the character a whole new plotline.
Daniel Jackson was never much of a military man, so the primary appeal of a Stargate spinoff that features his character in the lead role would be a sci-fi that moves away from this premise. Perhaps the series could pick up with Daniel still living on Abydos, and maybe he would be taken by the Goa’uld instead of Shar’e or Skaara. It would be an interesting twist that would result in a brand-new adventure. Unfortuantely, all these years after Stargate SG-1’s 10th and final season, it’s unlikely ever to happen.
Though the time for most Stargate spinoffs based on past characters has come and gone, a sci-fi series featuring Stargate Atlantis‘ Ronan Dex could still become a reality. The character was portrayed by Jason Mamoa, and given the actor’s increased fame, a spinoff series with him at the helm could be a massive success. What’s more, there’s a great deal about Ronan that Stargate Atlantis never revealed, which means plenty of opportunity for a great story.
Ronan Dex was originally from the planet Sateda until the Wraith attacked his home, killing his lover Melena in the process. After this (but before joining the Atlantis expedition), Ronan became a Runner, part of a group who were meant to be hunted by the Wraith until they discovered they could do the hunting instead. This would have been an action-packed period in the character’s life, and a dramatic action series (with a touch of comedy) could capture it perfectly.
Introduced in Stargate SG-1 season 8, Vala Mal Doran has one of the more bizarre and chaotic backstories in the franchise. She had been sold as a child to a weapons smuggler but killed him in order to escape. From there, she was taken by the Goa’uld and turned into a host for Qetesh and eventually freed by the Tok’ra, and this was only the beginning of her misfortune. Vala’s time with Stargate‘s Ori villains was especially interesting since she wound up giving birth to the Orici.
Vala eventually joined up with the SGC, but this was a turn for her character. Prior to this, she had been quite a scoundrel, and this is a significant part of what makes her so perfect for a spinoff. As a morally ambiguous character, Vala had several misadventures, most of which were only briefly discussed in Stargate SG-1. It would have been amazing to see this play out in a new series since it would have added even further foundation to her established story. Unfortunately, it never came to be.