David Blue, Brian J. Smith and Jamil Walker Smith Promise Character Driven Stargate Universe
I was fortunate enough during this year’s Comic-Con to sit down and talk with three of the most important cast members of the new Stargate series, SGU: Stargate Universe. It was really informal and relaxed on one of the top floors of the Hotel Solomar in the Gaslamp District in San Diego. I was greeted by the guys who most likely had been running around all day on interviews, panels and god knows what else. Immediately I could tell the rapport the guys had with one another due to their comfort and constant back and forthness; like brothers or friends who spend way too much time together.
Jamil Walker Smith was probably the most comfortable of all; he even took his sandles off and propped his feet on the coffee table in front of me. “You cool with me taking my shoes off man?” he asked. I smiled, “no biggie Jamil.”
Laughter and conversation abounded and hell, I felt like one of the guys too. I was somewhat jealous I didn’t get to go to Vancouver with them and throw on a SGU uniform but hey maybe one day right? So I started talking with David Blue first since he is the first person we see in the latest trailer. Blue was in an array of television series before being cast as Eli Wallace in Universe. Most recognizably he was on the hit ABC show, Ugly Betty. Raised in both New York and Florida, he is currently 30 years old and also writes, produces and directs. Maybe he will get to do some of that behind the scenes work for SGU like Michael Shanks, Chris Judge and others have done.
His character is Eli Wallace, a young computer geek who is tasked with learning about all the Ancient technology aboard the Destiny, an ancient ship that travels through the universe. David and Eli share a lot of the same qualities but differ in a lot of ways too.
“I watch a lot of TV; I love Lost, Heroes, Chuck, 24, and all the stories that are somewhat geek centric that Eli would love, but he is somewhat of an outcast socially…something I am not.”
Jamil popped in saying ,”Dave is much hipper!”
“I am more outgoing and loud whereas Eli tends to be more withdrawn, which is what I love about him on the show,” said Blue. “So don’t expect a McKay type where he is panicked and always in your face or obtrusive and arrogant.”
When mentioning McKay, David talked about his knowledge of the previous Stargates and other Sci-Fi material, proclaiming himself the “Rosetta Stone” of the cast.
“Anytime anything happens in the script they all turn to me and go ‘what does that mean?’”
And that is ultimately what helps David make the connection to his fellow actors as well as steer his character, Eli to become more connected to the other characters. Because they are lost in the universe in a struggle to survive, Eli has to make friendships and go outside his shell because these are now his family and friends.
Brian chimed in mentioning that Wallace becomes part of the elite circle of members, saying, “[the characters] lean on Eli a lot because he’s brilliant and because [they] need him.” Jamil said he classifies Eli as the “Ship’s Oprah,” which was immediately met with laughter when Blue responded, “I’m not quite sure what that means.”
Eli is a great character for the show because he becomes sort of a learning vessel for those interested in the series but have no previous knowledge of the previous tv shows and the mythos. His character as Blue describes gets the geek fantasy of Riker coming to the door and asking for help.
“In a very short amount of time Eli is asked for help in this and by the way here is this primer and he has to learn all this other stuff. He is playing catch up pretty much all the time. Good for the audience who have never seen the show or series because they learn about a lot of the mythos through Eli.”
This is something I found interesting because I have seen all SG-1 and Atlantis episodes, so I look forward to revisiting some of the knowledge and mythos through him as well.
As far as love interests go-an especially interesting subject on this Stargate that is so much more about the characters and their lives-Eli may have some sights on a female character, but we will have to wait and see how that develops as the show progresses, same thing with rest of the guys. I can assure you all that each character will have something you like. Eli may be a fan favorite since he is living that geek dream of being in space playing with technology and he has all the fun geek references like the “Hoth” one we heard in the trailer.
As the conversation moved on we got to learn more about Brian J. Smith who will be playing Lt. Matthew Scott. A stage actor and graduate of Julliard, Smith is a prime example of the type of talent and character actor that Rob Cooper and Brad Wright wanted to have for this series and its direction. Smith even went to Julliard with some of the cast of True Blood, such as Rutina Wesley and Nelson Ellis.
A Dallas native, Smith was acting on the stage in New York when he got the call for SGU. Never having big television experience before, he brings a different but good quality to the series that Stargate fans may not be used to.
“I’m a theater guy,” says Brian. “I thought I was a serious actor but then I got the script and saw the way the writing was and how the show would be executed and talked to Brad and Rob, that was enough for me to do it.”
Brian’s character Matthew Scott is a commissioned officer and some cases you get to be in charge of people who may have more experience and knowledge than you but because your commissioned you get that leader role. He is one of the very few people that survives the attack on Icurus Base (a hidden research facility).
“He has potential to be this leader and great military person but he is sort of rookie and finds himself in these tough situtations and will fail and make mistakes. The show is not about this packaged hero but how these characters who are flawed or incomplete.
Brian mentioned that some of the show’s that maybe won’t influence SGU but that it will take the same trend and form of in terms of character driven arcs and style was Firefly, Friday Night Lights, The Shield, The Wire.
The director of photography for Stargate Universe is actually the former DP of The Shield so you can imagine the type of look and feel its going to have.
Brian mentioned that SGU was similar to Firefly, Friday Night Lights, The Shield, and The Wire in terms of character-driven story arcs and style, but
Unlike SG-1 and Atlantis these “adventurers” aren’t going to win and if they do they are going to be battered and broken.
Master Sergant Ronald Greer is being played by jamil Walker Smith and he is a little different than your Teal’c and Ronin. He has a lot of substance and isn’t the big brute who is there to kill only. Walker Smith describes Greer as “when shit hits the fan he is someone you want on your side.” Greer is your typical marine who is “no better friend no better enemy.” He will have a lot mystery though with a strange past and a temper problem.
Walker Smith is an LA native and the youngest of the group of guys at 26 and he is best known as the voice of Gerald, a fourth grader and Arnold’s best friend in the Nickelodeon TV series Hey Arnold!. He also appeared on various shows like Sister, Sister, Girlfriends, Bones, The X-Files, and The Bernie Mac Show. He is an actor by trade and writes, acts and directs his own short film projects.
The ship is also another character in the show. Its on its own mission and its a matter of figuring things out for this crew but the ticking clock is a big factor for the series but in way thats different than show’s like Sliders and Voyager.
“People are going to be quick to compare it something else like Voyager and and find other similarities to other projects but what makes it different is whos writing it, the cast, the characters and the actual plots and that is what changes it,” says Blue.
Stargate Universe will premiere on Syfy Channel on October 2, 2009. It is the third series for the franchise which began in 1997. The show is for newcomers just as much as it is for fans of the franchise and its dark and edgy tones are just a small difference than the previous series.
I truly enjoyed my time with the guys and who knows maybe we will have some time with the new girls of Stargate who we met at the SGU party a few nights before. I am really looking forward to the new series not just as a fan of the franchise but as a fan of drama and well crafted character driven series. I can tell you that Blue, Smith and Walker Smith are very good character driven actors and will definitely please on the show. Lastly, I encourage non-fans of Stargate to check the show out in October. Those who loved BSG and Firefly will definitely love this new series.
