Fans were surprised and saddened when Syfy cancelled Dark Matter after three seasons a couple of months ago. This was especially true since the space drama ended on a major cliffhanger, and now we know that the series not only almost got another shot at life, but that it could have crossed over with another sci-fi franchise: Stargate.
When Dark Matter was cut loose by Syfy, the show's creator and executive producer, Joseph Mallozzi, began working on ways to give fans closure before time ran out on the contracts they had with the cast and crew of the series. During that process, he tried getting other networks or services to agree to at least a mini-series that would allow him and his creative team to wrap up the storyline so that the small but dedicated fanbase wouldn't be left hanging. While this was going on, MGM came to Mallozzi with the possibility of not only picking up another season of Dark Matter for its new streaming service, Stargate Command, but of, at some point, having the show cross over with the new series Stargate: Origins.
Stargate Command is, as you can imagine, the streaming service dedicated to all things Stargate. Fans of the franchise can watch all three of the movies that were produced (the last two of which debuted on Syfy), as well as the Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis and Stargate: Universe television shows, the last of which ended in 2011. In order to really get people interested in the new service, MGM is producing a prequel series, Stargate: Origins, which will follow the daughter of the archeologist who first found a Stargate in Egypt.
As Mallozzi tells The Verge, the idea could have led to either a full continuation of Dark Matter, or short episodes that would have wrapped up the show. Those at MGM were likely keen on the idea because Mallozzi had held various producing and writing gigs on each of the previous Stargate shows, so he was fully aware of the lore and could have found a way to link the new series with Dark Matter.
Now, if you watched Dark Matter, you'll know that the show took place firmly in the future and out in space, as it focused on the ragtag crew of a spaceship trying to build new lives after waking up with their memories erased. And, even though Stargate: Origins will take place in the past (and mostly on Earth), Joseph Mallozzi already had an idea on how to combine the two shows, figuring that the blink drive used to travel great distances in an instant on Dark Matter would allow the worlds of each show to merge. Seeing as how the blink drive was frequently wonky tech that could lead to accidental travel through time or to alternate universes if it wasn't calibrated exactly, this makes a lot of sense.
Well, all hope is now lost for this awesome crossover between Dark Matter and Stargate: Origins, as time to work out a deal ran out before everyone's contract with the show expired. You can drown your sorrows by watching all of Dark Matter on Netflix right now. Stargate: Origins will be coming to Stargate Command in the near future, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for information on the new show as it becomes available.
