Amazon MGM Studios is facing growing criticism from Stargate fans following the announcement that Jac Schaeffer, the creator of Marvel Studios’ WandaVision and Agatha All Along, is developing a new television series based on the beloved science-fiction franchise. The decision comes just months after Amazon reportedly abandoned a revival developed by longtime Stargate writer and producer Martin Gero.
According to an October 9 Variety report, Schaeffer is developing the project under her overall agreement with Amazon MGM Studios. Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell of Safehouse Pictures are also attached as executive producers, with a writers’ room reportedly being assembled.
While Amazon has yet to reveal specific story details, the announcement has generated immediate skepticism among longtime fans, particularly given Schaeffer’s controversial history adapting Marvel Comics characters.
Amazon Previously Abandoned a Stargate Revival From Franchise Veterans
In November 2025, Amazon announced a new Stargate television series developed by Martin Gero, who previously worked on Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis.
The production also involved franchise veterans Brad Wright and Joseph Mallozzi as consulting producers, providing a direct connection to the television universe that established Stargate as one of science fiction’s most recognizable properties.
However, Amazon reportedly canceled the project in June 2026 despite the completion of a 20-week writers’ room and the beginning of preproduction.
According to GateWorld, executives were concerned that Gero’s proposed series would not attract enough viewers beyond the franchise’s existing audience.
That reasoning frustrated fans who believed the revival should respect the established universe while introducing new audiences to its characters and mythology. The cancellation subsequently inspired the #SaveStargate campaign, which reportedly collected more than 120,000 signatures.
Now Amazon is moving forward with a different creative team, raising questions about the studio’s long-term plans for the franchise.
Jac Schaeffer’s Marvel History Raises Concerns
Schaeffer is best known for creating Marvel Studios’ WandaVision and Agatha All Along, two Disney+ productions that received positive critical reviews but also generated controversy among comic book readers.
One particularly notable controversy involved Schaeffer’s admission that she was unfamiliar with Mephisto, a prominent Marvel Comics villain with established connections to Wanda Maximoff’s children.
During a 2021 interview, Schaeffer acknowledged that she had never heard of the character before participating in promotional interviews for WandaVision.
(L-R): Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness and Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
As ComicBook.com reported, Schaeffer stated: “I didn’t know who Mephisto was until I started doing press.”
The admission surprised some Marvel readers because Mephisto plays an important role in comic book storylines involving Wanda’s family.
Schaeffer also acknowledged having difficulty reading comic books.
In a 2021 interview with Deadline, she explained that she struggled with following comic book panels and understanding their reading order.
Although Schaeffer consulted Marvel’s source material during production, those comments fueled criticism from fans who believe adaptations should be guided by creators possessing extensive knowledge of the original stories.
The Ralph Bohner Controversy
Another controversial decision involved Evan Peters’ appearance in WandaVision.
Peters previously portrayed Quicksilver in Fox’s X-Men films, leading many viewers to believe his appearance in WandaVision represented a significant connection between Marvel’s cinematic universes.
(L-R): Teen (Joe Locke), The Green Witch/Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) in Marvel Television’s AGATHA ALL ALONG, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2024 MARVEL.
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Instead, the character was revealed to be Ralph Bohner, transforming what appeared to be an important multiverse development into a crude joke.
The reveal disappointed viewers who expected a more substantial payoff.
While both Marvel productions received substantial critical praise, the controversies surrounding their treatment of established characters remain relevant as Schaeffer prepares to work within another franchise possessing decades of established mythology.
Obi-Wan Kenobi Writer Also Attached
Another notable figure involved in the project is Joby Harold, who served as head writer on Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi.
That Star Wars series generated considerable criticism over its writing, characterization, and treatment of established continuity.
(L-R): Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Princess Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Blair) in Lucasfilm’s OBI-WAN KENOBI, exclusively on Disney+. ©.
Harold was also involved in Gero’s canceled Stargate revival, meaning their participation predates Schaeffer’s involvement. Nevertheless, the new production brings together creative figures associated with several divisive Disney franchise projects.
Stargate Fans Question Amazon’s Direction
The announcement has already generated negative reactions online.
Some fans responded with hashtags including #RIPStargate and #NotMyStargate, while others questioned Amazon’s decision to abandon a revival developed by franchise veterans.
The frustration is understandable considering the franchise’s extensive history.
Beginning with the original 1994 theatrical film, Stargate expanded into a television universe encompassing ten seasons of Stargate SG-1, five seasons of Stargate Atlantis, and two seasons of Stargate Universe.
Stargate – MGM
Those productions established an extensive mythology, memorable characters, and a dedicated audience that has waited years for a substantial revival.
Amazon has not confirmed whether Schaeffer’s project will continue the established continuity, reboot the franchise, or introduce an entirely different interpretation. There’s also no confirmation that Gero, Wright, or Mallozzi will participate.
Amazon’s decision to abandon a revival developed by franchise veterans before pursuing a new direction has created an avoidable controversy.
For fans who spent months campaigning to restore Gero’s project, the announcement raises a fundamental question about whether Amazon understands what made Stargate successful in the first place.
Whether Schaeffer can overcome that skepticism and deliver a revival that satisfies longtime viewers remains to be seen.
How do you feel about Amazon and its new direction for Stargate? Sound off and let us know!
