Award-winning Scottish actor Robert Carlyle (TRAINSPOTTING, THE FULL MONTY) has been cast in the leading role of Dr. David Rush on Sci Fi's new original series, STARGATE UNIVERSE, the latest adventure in the Stargate franchise produced by MGM television. Production will begin in Vancouver in February 2009 with an eye toward a summer 2009 premiere. Additional casting is currently underway.
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 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.
Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, co-creators of STARGATE SG-1 and STARGATE ATLANTIS and who both currently serve as exec producers on ATLANTIS, will serve as exec producers and writers on the new series.
Carlyle is best recognized for his roles as Francis Begbie in Danny Boyle's hit independent film TRAINSPOTTING and the stripper Gaz in THE FULL MONTY, which earned him both a BAFTA and SAG Award for his outstanding performance. His career began in the U.K. where he gained attention in the British television series CRACKER, featuring Robbie Coltrane. He has starred in films including 28 WEEKS LATER, THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, ANGELA'S ASHES and THE BEACH, where he re-teamed with Boyle. His television credits include the Emmy-winning miniseries HITLER: THE RISE OF EVIL and HUMAN TRAFFICKING, which garnered him an Emmy Award nomination. He recently starred in 24: REDEMPTION opposite Keifer Sutherland.
STARGATE UNIVERSE will debut as a two-hour movie event on Sci Fi and will be distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.
