Stargate Reboot Could Finally Happen After Amazon Exec’s Controversial Exit

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As a cinephile, I find myself on the brink of an exhilarating journey reminiscent of the classic “Stargate” saga, with a potential reboot or revival now seemingly within touching distance at Amazon Studios. Interestingly, this development appears to be precipitated by the departure of Jennifer Salke, who had previously hindered its progression.

Salke’s Exit Tied to Bond, Rings of Power, and Stargate

Jennifer Salke has recently resigned from her position as head of Amazon’s MGM Studios. However, industry sources suggest that she may have been dismissed because of her management of the James Bond series.

Her participation in “The Rings of Power” and the significant setback experienced with “Citadel,” are believed to have played a role in her termination as well.

Now it’s claimed her handling of Stargate might have also added to the reason.

Amazon Bought MGM for Bond — But Got Stargate Too

To start off, let me mention that Amazon made a significant acquisition of MGM Studios in 2021, largely for the ownership rights to the James Bond franchise. They’ve only just gained complete control over these rights, an event which seems to have precipitated the departure of Salke.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that MGM’s collection encompasses numerous well-known intellectual properties, and among these, “Stargate” was mentioned specifically in Amazon’s official announcement.

Have any of these, James Bond, Robocop, Tomb Raider, or Stargate become a reality under Salke’s leadership? The answer is none. A report suggests that the Tomb Raider series starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge might have been scrapped, which could be connected to Salke’s departure.

Amazon Had the Perfect Stargate Setup — And Blew It

Now let me set this up for you:

Amazon acquired the rights to broadcast “The Expanse” starting from 2019, which was its final three seasons. This popular series was created by Mark Fergus, who is also known for writing Marvel’s initial “Iron Man” movie. The series concluded in 2022.

Amazon bought MGM and with that the rights to Stargate.

Under the leadership of Jennifer Salke’s superior, Mike Hopkins (Amazon’s second-in-command after Jeff Bezos), there was a strong interest in developing fresh Stargate-themed projects. It is rumored that Hopkins aimed to construct a Stargate universe akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As a die-hard Stargate fan, here I am, none other than Mark Fergus from The Expanse, who has been eagerly planning to create a fresh spinoff.

Sounds like a match made in heaven, right?

Stargate killed by woke studio politics

So what happened?

As reported by YouTube user Tachyon Pulse, Jennifer Salke decided to halt the progress of the “Stargate” project and set it aside. The reason behind this decision was that Salke preferred to concentrate on initiatives that promote feminism, with female creators spearheading their development.

This aligns with recent reports about James Bond. It is claimed that Salke aimed to update the series, make Bond a female character, and develop DEI-focused spinoffs – changes said to have caused her departure. There were allegedly disagreements between Salke and longtime Bond proprietor Barbara Broccoli, with Broccoli reportedly calling Amazon “foolish idiots.” When Jeff Bezos learned of the situation, it’s said that he requested a complete acquisition of Broccoli’s share, costing Amazon over a billion dollars. Soon after, it was disclosed that Salke had resigned as CEO of Amazon Studios. It has been suggested that Bezos sent out a company-wide memo confirming that Bond will remain British and male.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge was known for infusing feminist perspectives into the film adaptation of Tomb Raider, collaborating with the writer of The Marvels – the MCU’s least profitable movie thus far. In interviews, they frequently discussed aspects like Lara Croft’s bust size and related topics. It is claimed that Salke invested heavily in this project, yet Waller-Bridge reportedly failed to deliver any results. Consequently, her Amazon deal has been allegedly scaled back, with no fruitful outcomes from her tenure at the studio.

The YouTuber puts it:

It appears that Jen Salke’s priority—her focus on promoting female directors and creators at MGM—inadvertently led to a delay in the development of Stargate. Whenever she had the chance, even when her superior was advocating for it, she would postpone its progress further. In essence, she hindered Stargate’s production, which has been frustrating for fans and may have cast doubt on future plans for the project.

What’s next for Stargate?

Since Jennifer Salke is no longer with Amazon, there’s optimism that the long-awaited Stargate reboot might gain traction.

According to YouTuber Mark Fergus, his schedule appears free, suggesting that Mike Hopkins might move forward with the project. It’s worth mentioning that Fergus was working on a fresh take for a Stargate series, not a film. With Salke departed, it seems probable that MGM’s inactive properties could soon be revived.

2021’s press release highlighted MGM’s collection of iconic films such as: 12 Angry Men, Basic Instinct, Creed, James Bond series, Legally Blonde, Moonstruck, Poltergeist, Raging Bull, Robocop, Rocky, Silence of the Lambs, Stargate, Thelma & Louise, Tomb Raider, The Magnificent Seven, The Pink Panther, The Thomas Crown Affair, and numerous other timeless classics.

OR

In 2021’s press release, MGM’s list of well-known films was emphasized, which included titles such as: 12 Angry Men, Basic Instinct, Creed, James Bond movies, Legally Blonde, Moonstruck, Poltergeist, Raging Bull, Robocop, Rocky, Silence of the Lambs, Stargate, Thelma & Louise, Tomb Raider, The Magnificent Seven, The Pink Panther, The Thomas Crown Affair, and various other enduring favorites.

OR

In the press release from 2021, MGM’s impressive catalog of popular movies was spotlighted. This collection featured films like: 12 Angry Men, Basic Instinct, Creed, James Bond installments, Legally Blonde, Moonstruck, Poltergeist, Raging Bull, Robocop, Rocky, Silence of the Lambs, Stargate, Thelma & Louise, Tomb Raider, The Magnificent Seven, The Pink Panther, The Thomas Crown Affair, and multiple other classic hits.

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2025-04-16 03:31