A Universe’ of possibilities for longtime sci-fi fan Ming-Na

Ming-Na

By Rick Bentley- McClatchy Newspapers

The Stargate world returns to TV Friday night on Syfy with the third series in the franchise, “Stargate Universe.”

The show puts a new twist on the spacial gate travels. Scientists, soldiers, politicians and civilians find themselves on an ancient spaceship headed at faster-than-light speed away from Earth when they escape – via a stargate – after an alien attack. The group must repair the ancient vessel, which is their only hope of survival.

Elyse Levesque

The show stars Ming-Na, along with Robert Carlyle, Louis Ferreira, Brian J. Smith, Elyse Levesque, David Blue and Lou Diamond Phillips.

For Ming-Na, who has been in “ER,” “Two and a Half Men” and “Mulan,” this is her first chance to work in a science-fiction series, something she’s always wanted to do.

“When I was younger I wanted to be in the ‘Star Wars’ trilogy. I wanted to be Luke Skywalker. I have always loved the sci-fi genre because it is such a challenge. One day you might be talking to someone who is a friend and the next day they could be embodied by another being,” Ming-Na says. “It’s even better because I am a part of this amazing franchise.”

Ming-Na plays Camile Wray, a human resources executive. Wray will be a liaison between scientists and soldiers, Earthlings and aliens. Ming-Na only agreed to take the role when executive producer Robert Cooper promised the character would insert herself into the action and make her opinions well known.

Brian J. Smith

Ming-Na knows taking the role comes with a big responsibility because the franchise has a strong fan base – something she got a glimpse of at this summer’s Comic Con in San Diego.

“I was a bit overwhelmed at how strong of a fan base the show has,” she says. “But because I was a sci-fi fan when I was younger, and could recite every line of the ‘Star Wars’ films, I knew exactly where that loyalty comes from.”

Is HBO the Next Destination for Science Fiction?

The World Inside, Robert Silverberg's novel

By Lauren Davis – io9.com

With some networks offering mixed signals about their futures with science fiction, we may increasingly rely on cable for compelling television about the future. Fortunately, HBO is stepping up, developing two new science fiction series with X-Files alum Frank Spotnitz.

According to Variety, HBO executives approached Spotnitz some time about the possibility of developing a medical thriller. Given that Spotnitz spent eight years writing for The X-Files, it’s not terribly surprising that he gave the idea a near-futuristic twist. Humanitas takes place in a future more medically advanced than our own, where doctors are able to manipulate genes and create viruses, resulting in a host of ethical dilemmas and general anxiety that a pandemic is imminent.

Spotnitz’s second project with HBO is flung much farther into the future. He is looking to adapt The World Inside, Robert Silverberg’s novel about humanity in the year 2381. The human population has exploded thanks to a strictly enforced culture of free love and uncontrolled reproduction, and most of the world’s population lives inside vast, sprawling buildings and never go outside. It’s an apparently utopian society of unfettered sex, happiness drugs, and mutual reliance, where everyone lives in harmony. But it’s also a closely monitored and regulated society with no privacy or individuality, and deviation from the social norms can be punished by death. But a computer engineer in one city finds he has perverse thoughts of leaving the building and exploring the world outside.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that either show will get picked up, but it’s encouraging to see HBO, a channel whose recent speculative offerings have tended more toward modern fantasy, take an interest in shows with a scientific and futuristic bent.