There’s also going to be a live chat with Stargate: Universe’s Lou Diamond Phillips and executive producer Brad Wright on Thursday at FANCAST. Can’t wait!

Are you as excited about the upcoming premiere as I am? I can handle the evolution of the Stargate series as a whole, but I do so hope the show is just enough like the others to keep me interested over the long haul!

Highlights of “Stargate to appear at Comic-Con 2009”

• The cast of SGU: Stargate Universe will be at Comic-Con on Friday, July 24th (tomorrow!) at 10:30 am in Ballroom 20
• You can meet up with cast members Robert Carlyle, Brian J. Smith, Elyse Levesque, David Blue, Alaina Huffman, Jamil Walker Smith and Ming-Na
• You can meet series co-creators Brad Wright and Robert Cooper
• You’ll get a first look at Stargate Universe show footage
• You might get some autographs
• There’ll be a Stargate booth (#4319) with exclusive SGU content, giveaways, and special prizes

The article “Stargate to appear at Comic-Con 2009” can be found using this link to the news item at stargate.mgm.com.

• Colonel Telford (Lou Diamond Phillips)
• Chloe Armstrong (Elyse Levesque)
• MSGT. Tamara Johansen (Alaina Huffman)
• Camile Wray (Ming-Na)

Here are a few clips from the announcement itself:

New York, NY – February 25, 2009 – SCI FI Channel has confirmed Lou Diamond Phillips, Ming-Na, Elyse Levesque and Alaina Huffman as cast members of the highly anticipated new original series SGU: Stargate Universe, which began production last week in Vancouver. They join the previously announced stars Robert Carlyle, Justin Louis, David Blue, Jamil Walker Smith and Brian J. Smith in the latest adventure of the Stargate franchise produced by MGM television.

…

Lou Diamond Phillips (Che, La Bamba) is Colonel Telford, a proud lifelong military man, who puts his faith in the chain of command. Stubbornly confident, he’s highly regarded by his superiors. He is the chosen leader of the ill-fated expedition.

…

Elyse Levesque (Smallville, Men in Trees) stars as Chloe Armstrong, the daughter and aid of a U.S. Senator. Politically savvy, but with a wild side, she is considering following in her father’s footsteps, until she finds herself trapped on the ship. As tensions rise, her character will be tested and her place among the group revealed.

…

Alaina Huffman (Smallville, Painkiller Jane) portrays MSGT. Tamara Johansen. Unable to afford medical school, the Air Force was the best option for the strong-willed field medic. Faced with the mounting pressure and a lack of in-depth experience, she will be forced to rise to the extraordinary occasion of needing to treat the seriously wounded.

…

Ming-Na (ER,Vanished) is Camile Wray, a human resources executive with the international oversight committee that governs the Stargate program. Now the highest ranking member of that division left stranded on the ship, she carries herself with a misguided sense of superiority over the other military and civilian survivors.

The character descriptions in this press release also seem to have been tweaked somewhat from the previous press release, so I’ll be updating the character pages with any new information!

Also, one interesting note is the difference in the name of the character played by Robert Carlyle. In a previous press release about Stargate Universe from MGM, Carlyle’s character role was listed as Dr. David Rush. It’s neat to watch this evolution as the series enters production.

From SCI FI Wire (links are mine):

SCI FI Channel announced the casting of Justin Louis, David Blue, Brian J. Smith and Jamil Walker Smith in its upcoming original series Stargate Universe. The four join Robert Carlyle, who will play Dr. Nicholas Rush in the latest adventure in the Stargate franchise, which is produced by MGM television.

Production will begin in Vancouver, Canada, in February with an eye toward a fall premiere.

The relevant parts of the official SCI FI Channel press release:

JUSTIN LOUIS, DAVID BLUE, BRIAN J. SMITH AND JAMIL WALKER SMITH CAST IN SCI FI’S ‘STARGATE UNIVERSE’

New York, NY    January 16, 2009    SCI FI Channel has announced Justin Louis, David Blue, Brian J. Smith and Jamil Walker Smith will join the cast of the highly anticipated new original series Stargate Universe. The four will enlist alongside Robert Carlyle (Dr. Nicholas Rush) in the latest adventure in the Stargate franchise produced by MGM television. Production will begin in Vancouver in February 2009 with an eye toward a fall ’09 premiere.

Edgier and younger in tone than the two previous series, SGU follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth.

Justin Louis (Hidden Hills, The Fighting Fitzgeralds) will portray Colonel Everett Young, an experienced Stargate team leader. Married, with years of tough decisions under his belt, life has taught him never to take anything for granted. He stays on top of his team so they stay alive.

David Blue (Ugly Betty, Moonlight) stars as Eli Wallace, a total slacker, who just happens to be an utter genius with anything he puts his mind to – mathematics, computers, video games. A lack of confidence has left him with an acerbic sense of humor.

Brian J. Smith (The War Boys, Hate Crime) is Lt. Matthew Scott, a junior member of the Stargate team. Green and rough around the edges, he is thrust into the role of leader well before he’s ready for the responsibility and must learn to command, earn respect through action, and manage the diverse personalities aboard the ship.

Jamil Walker Smith (Waynehead, Sister, Sister) will portray Sr. Sgt. Ronald Greer, a Marine with a temper you don’t want to mess with. His past is mysterious but it’s clear something dark formed the hard shell around him.

Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, will serve as executive producers and writers on the new series.

Stargate Universe will debut as a two-hour movie event on SCI FI and will be distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.

MGM has also finally posted the Stargate Universe casting news release to their website. JUSTIN LOUIS, DAVID BLUE, BRIAN J. SMITH AND JAMIL WALKER SMITH CAST IN SCI FI’S ‘STARGATE UNIVERSE’

So, where are the women?

We couldn’t be more excited to set Robert Carlyle for Stargate Universe. He brings a depth, intelligence, and complexity to his roles, which will fit perfectly with the fresh, new reinvention of this franchise,” said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming for SCI FI & Co-Head Original Content, Universal Cable Productions.

The press release also gives some limited information about the role Carlyle will fill (Dr. David Rush). Emphasis mine. :-)

SGU follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship missing in the far reaches of space. As they fight to survive, Dr. Rush (Carlyle) works to unlock the mysteries of the ship and return the group home, but evidence of his ulterior motives soon arises.

And there might be even more news soon, since “additional casting is currently underway.”

Have you watched Robert Carlyle in any other television or movie roles? What do you think about him as the lead on Stargate Universe? Let me know in the comments.