‘WandaVision’ Creator Jac Schaeffer Steps Into Amazon’s ‘Stargate’ Revival After the Last Attempt Collapsed

Few sci-fi franchises have spent as long waiting at the gate as ‘Stargate,’ and the road toward a Jac Schaeffer ‘Stargate’ series has been anything but smooth. The property began with a 1994 movie starring James Spader and Kurt Russell, then grew into a sprawling television universe that fans have been begging to see return.

That universe includes ‘Stargate SG-1,’ which ran for 10 seasons and starred Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping and Christopher Judge. The spinoff ‘Stargate Atlantis’ followed for 5 more seasons between 2004 and 2008, and ‘Stargate Universe’ wrapped in 2011. The most recent addition was the 2018 web series ‘Stargate Origins.’

Now there is fresh movement, and it comes with a notable name attached. Variety reports exclusively that ‘WandaVision’ creator Jac Schaeffer is developing a new ‘Stargate’ TV series for Amazon MGM Studios. It is Amazon’s 2nd attempt at reviving the franchise, after an earlier version never moved forward.

Amazon’s 2022 acquisition of MGM, reportedly worth $8.5B, made ‘Stargate’ one of the first titles identified for series or film adaptations. In November 2025, the studio ordered a series from Martin Gero, a writer who got his start on the original franchise. Brad Wright and Joe Mallozzi, longtime creative leaders in the ‘Stargate’ world, were set to serve as consulting producers.

Gero’s connection to the property was deeply personal. As Variety reported when the order was announced, he said “‘Stargate’ taught me everything about making television — it’s written into my DNA.”

Unfortunately, that enthusiasm was not enough to carry the project across the finish line. The show had reportedly completed a 20-week writers room and was in pre-production in the UK when Amazon pulled the plug in June. Reports indicated that executives worried Gero’s take would not have broad appeal beyond the existing fanbase, and that it focused too much on servicing die-hard fans rather than welcoming a new generation of viewers.

The door has not closed on Gero entirely, as he remains under an overall deal at Amazon MGM Studios. Amazon was also said to be exploring other ways to keep the franchise alive, which now looks like an understatement.

Schaeffer created ‘WandaVision’ in 2021, a series that continued Scarlet Witch’s story while doubling as a love letter to American sitcoms through the decades. She also created ‘Agatha All Along,’ and her earlier credits include the screenplay for ‘Black Widow,’ the script for ‘The Hustle’ and the 2009 indie ‘TiMER,’ which she wrote and directed.

Her path to Amazon has been a short one. Schaeffer signed a 3-year deal with Amazon MGM Studios to develop, write, executive produce and direct original series for Prime Video, after previously being under a deal at Marvel Studios and 20th Television. Notably, she has not been involved in ‘VisionQuest,’ the upcoming continuation of the stories she set up in ‘WandaVision.’

That history matters here. A creator who has already proven she can take a familiar universe and wrap it in an unexpected format sounds like exactly the kind of voice a franchise with 30 years of lore might want. Whether that translates into a more approachable entry point for newcomers is the question Amazon clearly cares about.

For now, details are thin. There is no word on a title, a cast or how closely Schaeffer’s version will lean on the existing mythology, and Amazon has not shown its hand beyond the news of her involvement. Given how the last attempt ended, the balance between honoring longtime fans and drawing in fresh viewers will almost certainly define this one.

The appetite is clearly there. A 2016 Digital Spy user poll named ‘Stargate SG-1’ the 4th best sci-fi series of all time, behind ‘Doctor Who,’ ‘Babylon 5’ and ‘Firefly.’ That kind of lasting affection is precisely why every revival attempt gets scrutinized so closely.

If Schaeffer’s project does make it through the gate, it will have a lot to prove and a lot of goodwill to build on. After the way the last version unraveled, patience may be the best strategy for fans watching this one develop.

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