Amazon MGM Studios is having another go at reviving ‘Stargate’, with ‘WandaVision’ and ‘Agatha All Along’ creator Jac Schaeffer reportedly developing a new television series based on the much-loved sci-fi franchise. On paper, that’s a pretty interesting choice. The bigger question is why Amazon decided to throw away the previous version, particularly when it was already so far along.
According to Variety, Schaeffer is developing the project under the overall television deal she signed with Amazon MGM Studios earlier this year. Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell of Safehouse Pictures are attached as executive producers, with a writers’ room reportedly getting underway, although Amazon has declined to comment officially.
Schaeffer certainly has the genre credentials. She created Marvel’s wonderfully strange ‘WandaVision’, then followed it with ‘Agatha All Along’, demonstrating a knack for character-driven storytelling, mysteries and making some fairly complicated mythology accessible to viewers. There is plenty in that skill set which could work for ‘Stargate’, particularly if Amazon wants to introduce the franchise to an audience that has never stepped through the gate.
But What Happened To Martin Gero’s ‘Stargate’?
That’s where things get frustrating. Back in November 2025, Amazon actually ordered a new ‘Stargate’ series from Martin Gero, a writer and producer who had worked across the original television franchise, particularly ‘Stargate Atlantis’. This wasn’t a vague idea being kicked around in a meeting. The project completed a 20-week writers’ room and had reached pre-production in the UK, with filming being planned for later in 2026.
Gero also had some serious franchise experience alongside him. ‘Stargate SG-1’ co-creator Brad Wright and longtime writer-producer Joseph Mallozzi were involved as consulting producers, while original film creators Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin were executive producers. Crucially, Gero had made clear his series would take place within the established ‘Stargate’ continuity, rather than wiping the slate clean. It was meant to be a fresh entry point for newcomers without discarding the history that fans had spent years following.
Then, in June, Amazon pulled the plug. Reports at the time suggested the show’s creative direction no longer fitted the studio’s programming strategy, amid changes behind the scenes. Variety also reported concerns that the series might not appeal widely enough beyond existing fans. Those were reported explanations, rather than a detailed public account from Amazon of exactly why it made the decision.
Now, studios cancel projects all the time, but cancelling one after ordering it, completing months of writing and beginning pre-production is quite another matter. Especially when you’ve entrusted it to someone who knows the universe inside out. It seemed like a no-brainer, and dropping it at that stage was a spectacular way to annoy a fanbase that had already waited years for a proper return.
Can Jac Schaeffer Make It Work?
Absolutely, she could. ‘Stargate’ has always been more than soldiers walking through a giant metal ring. At its best, it mixed exploration, big sci-fi ideas, character relationships and a healthy sense of humour. Schaeffer has shown she can handle unusual concepts without losing the people at the heart of the story. That is a promising combination.
The concern is less about Schaeffer herself and more about what Amazon actually wants from the franchise. If the studio is looking for something with wider appeal, that’s understandable. Any expensive new series needs an audience beyond those of us who can identify a Goa’uld from fifty paces. But the previous team was already talking about bringing in new viewers while respecting the existing mythology. Those two aims are not mutually exclusive.
There’s also an enormous question hanging over this version: is it a continuation or a complete reboot? Unlike Gero’s proposal, nothing has been reported about its setting, characters or relationship to the existing continuity. Nor is there confirmation that Wright, Mallozzi or the other original creatives are involved this time. Harold and Tunnell, however, were also attached to the previous project.
The wider franchise began with the 1994 film before expanding into ‘Stargate SG-1’, ‘Stargate Atlantis’ and ‘Stargate Universe’, creating a sizeable universe with plenty of stories still worth telling. There is no shortage of material. The trick is finding a way forward without making longtime viewers feel as though all those adventures have been erased.
For now, this is a reported development project, not a confirmed series order. There is no announced cast, production schedule or premiere date, and it remains to be seen whether this attempt actually makes it through the gate. Schaeffer is a solid choice, but after the way Amazon handled Gero’s series, a little caution from fans would be entirely understandable.
The new ‘Stargate’ series is reportedly in development at Amazon MGM Studios for a potential Prime Video release. We’ll bring you more if and when we hear it!
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