A $6M TV Pilot Launched the Nearly 30-Year Stargate Franchise

Showtime drew up a two-season order and devoted $6 million to the pilot 'Children of the Gods', which had to introduce the Stargate to viewers who had not seen the movie and recast roles first played by Kurt Russell and James Spader; the series cast Dean Richard Anderson as O'Neill and Michael Shanks as Jackson.

The pilot established that the Stargate was part of an intergalactic teleportation network, setting up episodes that could visit different planets. It also introduced Captain Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and the genetically modified Teal'c (Christopher Judge), who formerly served the Goa'uld.

Brad Wright later said he immediately saw series potential in a device that could reach other worlds and that Ra need not be the only ancient god. SG-1 weathered a number of creative changes over its run.

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