Rage of Angels:
August 3, 2008
Play.com has a page about Continuum with an exclusive video with Christopher where he talks about Rage of Angels.
"Well, it's, one of the great things about Stargate is the family environment, you can really sit with your kids and watch it. Rage of Angels, you probably won't want to watch with your kids. It's very dark, and I play the Archangel Gabriel who comes to Earth, and as we know, he's the Wrath of God, so he's divined by God to be a serial killer. And there's varying shades of grey concerning who is good and who is evil and what is good and what is evil truly. And we will very much leave it up to the audience to decide that for themselves, I mean, we're not going to try to make any judgments for the audience, it definitely something that will definitely vary from individual to individual."
Thanks to Debi over on rageofangels_tv for the news.
July 15, 2008
Christopher was at CinéPalmes June 29th where he answered a question about Rage of Angels (translated from the French):
Can you give us all fresh info on your new project with Michael Shanks?
Christopher Judge: Of course! This is called Rage of Angels. Michael Shanks (who plays Daniel Jackson in Stargate SG-1) will play Lucifer and I will be the Archangel Gabriel. We descend to Earth and we are fighting for domination not only of Earth but also the heavens. We should turn the pilot in October-November. But the players' strike is looming. We'll know in a few days if the movement is triggered. And if so, it could again delay the initiation of the project. It also depends on the duration of the possible strike. But in any case we are ready. It's Brad Turner, a friend, who will conduct the pilot. He won 2 Emmy Awards for his work on 24. We are very excited at the idea of working with him.
June 5, 2008
Information about Rage of Angels has slowly been trickling in. Here's what we've got, however it's basically rehashing the information that we've gotten over the past few months. Some forward motion, but little truly new. We'll keep an eye out for new information though, now that the writers' strike is over and things are rolling.
In February, there was an article in TV Guide where Christopher talks about RoA.
TV Guide: You do look good. What's the project?
Judge: I've got a new show called Rage of Angels. We were supposed to go to camera, but unfortunately we didn't have the last bits of the deal done before the writers' strike came. We always thought we could do it under the Canadian writers' guild contract, but they rejected it because I'm an American, to show support for the American writers' guild. My partner is Brad Turner, a producer of 24, it's for MGM and [Michael] Shanks is starring alongside me. I play the archangel Gabriel. And Michael plays Lucifer. [Laughs] We're shooting a two-hour movie/pilot.
TV Guide: Which will air where?
Judge: Not Sci Fi. [Laughs] It will be one of the broadcast networks.
The March/April issue of the Official Stargate magazine had an interview with Christopher and Michael Shanks about RoA:
Christopher Judge: Well, I actually have a new series in the works, which will probably be my last one! Looking back on it — especially all the work-outs and stuff I had to endure, the dieting for 10 years, it's really amazing that I made it through 10 years of it! The next one, Rage of Angels, is a go and we're quite excited about that. I'm really looking foward to working with MGM and Shanks again, I'm really looking forward to it. I think in both mine and Shanks' account, we're really hoping this is successful and will be our last show! It's done, but nothing will be signed off until the writers' strike is over. I know for me it'll probably be the last acting stuff I'll do — I really want to be more of a writer/producer type person. Frankly, I'm sick of dieting and I'm sick of working out!
Michael Shanks: Christopher Judge and I are developing Rage of Angels. After we found out we got canceled, Christopher immediately went, 'I've got to write something!' so he went and wrote this script, and said, 'We'll talk to Charlie Cohan at MGM.' Charlie is the head of television at MGM and was very enthusiastic. We didn't think it would be easy but he was like, 'Yeah, it sounds fantastic, let's do this.' We're now in the business portion of the equation, it's probably the most important part of our relationship with the company, because this is where the marriage happens — financially — because you can't make these things without a little bit of money. The word on the street from Charlie is they want to do it as soon as possible so, however much time it takes to iron out these details is what will dictate when we do it. With the chatter about more movies in the springtime for Stargate SG-1, it might get tied on to that. We have the expectation and hope that it will be a two-hour pilot that will be shot in the springtime, and hopefully we'll know shortly after that if it's going to move forward in any serious kind of capacity.
I've spent the last couple of months reading for different pilots and projects, and I went down to LA with Rage of Angels in the back of my brain. I'm making a 50-50 transition to LA right now, so it's a bit of a chore. In Los Angeles I'm largely an unknown commodity, so I'm kind of starting from the beginning there, meeting casting directors and having people get to know me and get to know my work. You know, it's part of the business and I understand that when I first got into it. I'm a stranger in a strange land and I've got to pay my dues a litte bit, which is fine, it's part of it. You just wish at a certain point that the momentum of the career that you've spent 14 years trying to kick start would just roll down the hill by itself, but you're always kind of starting again.
...Hollywood, it gets compartmentalized. People want to typecast you, they want to be able to put a thumb on you, and know how to deal with you, I think because, on television, sci fi is becoming less of a niche market, it's getting little more recognition that there might be some marketability. Someone like Charlie Cohen knows that, he knows that we have a fanbase, and there are people that would watch Rage of Angels. Obviously it helps having been on Stargate SG-1, it would certainly be better than coming from nowhere. In terms of the bigger picture of network television and feature films, people go, 'What show?' still to this day, which is, you know, a big part of the business.
The March issue of ImpactMovieMagazine had a brief interview with Michael:
Michael had this to say about Rage of Angels: He (Chris) had written this script and was in the process of pitching it around. Whenever he was referring to the project it was always "we, we, we..." He's more of a freelance writer than I am and at a certain point I had to say, "You don't have to feel obligated to include me just because I'm your friend!" I told him he could take it and run with it if he wanted. But he said, "No you're in it! That's what's making people interested in it!" So I was looking at Chris going, "Oh, so I'm formally attached to this? Thanks for letting me know about that!" (laughs) That's how I got involved in a particular Shanks/Judge kind of way. We're hoping to executive produce it and I'll take a hand in the writing if it goes to a series.
Thanks to gilthonie over at Our Stargate for the blurb.
Then on March 8th MovieWeb
also had an interview with Michael where he spoke about RoA. Michael
called it "Reach of Angels", however it was a phone interview and the
interviewer probably didn't hear Michael correctly (or bother to do any
pre or post interview research).
I see you've written and directed a couple of episodes of Stargate SG-1 in the past. Are you planning on doing anymore writing or directing for TV or film somewhere down the line?
Michael Shanks: Well, Chris Judge and I have a project that's going forward with MGM called Reach of Angels, that Chris wrote the pilot script for. If it goes to series, which is our belief and wish, we'll both be writing for that as well as acting in it. Whether or not I decide to direct is another whole ball of wax, but we definitely want to create the mythology of that program if it goes to series. So, definitely it's something I plan on doing in the future, if not for that project then for something else.
Is this another sci-fi project?
Michael Shanks: I would call it more in the fantasy realm. It's basically about the angel Gabriel who comes to Earth to start a war with Lucifer for control and... well, we'll just leave it at that. Much shennanigans ensue (Laughs).
Do you have an idea on when you'll have any word on that?
Michael Shanks: Well, MGM gave the green light. They purchased the rights to the script. They've done the contract deal for both the script and the actor deal for Christopher, who's going to be playing Gabriel in it. That part is out of the way. We're just waiting to set a timeline, and start doing some casting for it.
The beginning of March had an interview with Christopher posted on GateWorld.
CJ: Yes. In fact I'm in LA right now. The deal's done. What I didn't know is when you sell a series ... As an actor what you do is your agents negotiate, the studio negotiates, you come in at the end of it and just sign the dotted line.
When you create a series, I'm down here to be fingerprinted, then we have to go to two notaries and four witnesses. I wrote the project, I control the rights. I had no idea it was that involved.
GW: Do you have a pilot at this point?
CJ: We're going to do a one-hour pilot and the two-hour movie.
GW: When can fans expect to see it?
CJ: I just got down here. Here's more lingo ... Once the contracts are "executed" -- [Laughter] -- then I have a sit-down with MGM and we talk about timeframes, when we're going to go to camera, what the prep time will be and all that. I'm assuming we'll probably go to camera in June.
GW: OK so potentially for a Fall or early Winter release?
CJ: Yes. And it's great -- to still be able to work with MGM, to still be able to be in Vancouver. I still have to talk to Brad about who I can use from the Stargate crew, but it really is fantastic just to, still, not have to go out into the real world.
GW: And Michael's still going to be in it, right?
CJ: Oh yes.
Around the same time, Media Blvd Magazine carried an interview with Christopher:
MediaBlvd: Now we haven’t really seen a whole lot about Rage of Angels out there, can you tell us anything about the plot?
Christopher: Well, I’ve been instructed by the powers that be…..
MediaBlvd: Not to tell me (laughs), fair enough.
Christopher: This is what I’m allowed to say. Gabriel comes to Earth, all hell breaks loose. That’s all I’m allowed to say.
MediaBlvd: That’s actually more than I’ve seen, so that’s great!
Christopher: I play Gabriel, Shanks plays Lucifer. Talk about being polar opposites of your characters! You know, we’ve been negotiating this deal since October of 2006. I’ve been told by everybody this is actually fast. I guess for a new show, if you’re not a Dick Wolf or a David Kelley, who has an established record and are already set up financially, to do a new show, from the time that time that a studio says ok, till the time that you go into production is usually two to three years, which to me is extraordinary. I was not prepared for that side of the business, I’d never seen it before, and I’m not sure I want to see it again. It’s agonizingly slow.
MediaBlvd: So is there actually a series order at this point?
Christopher: We’re going to do a two hour movie and a pilot. And we’ve already had quite a bit of interest from several networks. So the first thing we had to do was secure the deal with MGM, so now we can move forward with the network deals.
Michael Shanks Online reported some information Michael dropped about RoA at the Vancouver Stargate Convention in April:
On the Rage of Angels front, Michael confirmed that the script has been purchased by MGM. Michael's contract negotiations to appear in the production will proceed once Chris Judge's (acting) and Brad Turner's (directing) contracts are completed.
Later in April, EnsburyPark over on the OS Forum reported that Christopher had big news about RoA at the NZ Armageddon Expo:
"Latest titbit from CJ at NZ Armaggedon expo. The deal is done for RoA and its going to be released as a movie - for cinema release!"
Late April Suzanne posted some information she gleaned from the NZ Armageddon Expo in the Live Journal community RageofAngels_TV :
I asked him about Angels, he confirmed it was going to be a feature film. Then he'll rewrite the pilot for tv and it will go on to be a show. (yay!) He sort of rolled his eyes at all the work he's got in front of him now.
They already have a graphic novel and video game lined up for Angels. Be prepared for a marketing blitz with this thing!
Now that the script will be for the cinema he has to rework what he had originally done for tv. He's working with a couple of screen writers, one of whom worked on Across The Universe and the other on Casino Royale. (Paul Haggis?!!) Writing for a feature film is vastly different than for tv and he's learning lots and enjoying it too I think.
He and Michael Shanks are of course guaranteed their roles. He has a role planned for both Alexis Cruz and Jay Accavone. MGM will insist on putting actors they want in the film so he's creating roles for them so they don't encroach on the other actors he wants to work with.
That's about it. Most importantly and interestingly, he is SO passionate about Angels. It's going to be a striking film. And he said that now is the time that science fiction is finally starting to be treated with respect in the entertainment community. He said it is the highest grossing genre and because they can really tackle things like religion and politics in ways that contemporary dramas can't or won't, I think Angels will be a turning point in film history. And we get to see the boys on the big screen!
Michael Shanks mentioned RoA at the FedCon XVII convention mid April when RTL interviewed him:
RTL2: What are your new projects after Stargate?
MS: … And then Christopher Judge and I are carrying on producing, or trying to get produced, the script's been sold, for our project "Rage of Angels," which is a fantasy story where angels have battled it out on Earth. Where Christopher will be playing the Arch Angel Gabriel and I will be playing Lucifer. So hopefully that will be on television hopefully, but now we're hearing that they want to turn it into a feature. So we'll have to wait and see.
The end of May brought us The Ultimate Christopher Judge Interview at SciFi.com.
(Discussing "Birthright", Christopher's Stargate script)
CJ: As a writer, especially as a TV writer or film writer, you can't be 'married' to the work or take it personally. The whole thing, I really owe to Brad Wright. Even Rage of Angels.
We were at Martin Wood's wedding, we had gone outside for a smoke - well I was smoking - and he said, 'if this show ever ends, what are you gonna do?'. And I said 'I'd really like to star in an hour drama, not a sitcom, and have it be viable'. And he said 'You know you're going to have to write it yourself - no network is out looking for that'.
And I said 'yeah, I kinda figured that'. So the week of the 200th episode, that's when we learned we were cancelled. Four days later I had written Rage of Angels.
It's been described as 'Touched By An Angel Meets 300' - is this accurate?
It's more 'Constantine'.
'Punched By An Angel'!
(laughs) Yeah! Right! Touched by an Angel has a lot of feelgood stuff in there, Rage is pretty dark. My goal is to generally offend everyone that watches it, because that will get people talking to each other.
I think that as a people we are so sorely in need of that.
The other day I was down in Wellington at a convention and we were sitting on stage with all the writers, actors and voice people and I wanted to start to talk about politics and religion and the state of the world, and a number of people said 'oh no, you can't talk politics' and I said 'that's what's wrong with the world - no one talks politics and religion!'.
You have these islands of different cultures and beliefs that even when they get together they can't talk about their differences because that doesn't make for polite dinner conversation. Isn't it time to not be polite any more? Because polite ain't workin'! (laughs)
Rage of Angels - it's going to be (laughs) it's going to be a shit storm.
August 20th, 2007
MGM is looking to make Rage of Angels a 'backdoor' pilot. This means that RoA will be made into a two hour TV or direct to DVD movie, with the intention of having it serve as the pilot for the TV show if it does well. The Dresden Files nearly went this route, however Sci Fi went ahead and made it into a show before the two hour movie aired. Sometimes the pilot is made to generate interest in the industry, and can be later reshot if approval is given. This is what happened to Star Trek: The Original Series.
Mary McNamara's TV Crush blog has Part Two of her interview with Christopher up. Highlights of this part:
Michael's involvement was a key selling point for the project. RoA would be Touched by an Angel meets 300. Christopher is recreating the war of the heavens and it will probably be one of the bloodiest battles that's ever been shown on television. Gabriel (Christopher's character) won't be like the feel good Gabriel from Saving Grace. Christopher said there's not going to be a lot of humor where Gabriel is concerned. He hopes the pilot will go into production after Stargate: Atlantis wraps in the fall.
SciFi.com's Sci Fi Weekly has an interview with Christopher and Michael. Christopher wasn't asked about Rage of Angels, but Michael has this to say about the show:
"Yes, it is a slight departure from what I've been playing for the last 10 years. With Christopher playing an angel, I mean, that's a whole—you have no idea how ridiculous that is. So we are definitely going against type with this new project that we're doing. MGM is going to finance the pilot for it, and we'll have to wait and see what happens with it. But we are very excited about the future, and as evidence, after working together for 10-plus years, the idea we would want to go and do something together after this is a testament to our, I would say friendship, but I would say also more to our patience with each other. We are not entirely sure yet [when shooting will start]. We're in negotiations right now, and there is a whole bunch of people that are attached to it that have some sort of work conflicts. We'll have to wait and see. But we are hoping to do it before the year is out."
Michael Shanks Online reports that in Issue #358 (August 2007) of Starlog Magazine, Michael says RoA is looking "stronger and stronger". Brad is eager to be an executive producer as well as direct. MGM is intent on not only a pilot but also a two hour straight to DVD release.
August 19, 2007
So far Mary McNamara has two posts up on her TV Crush blog from Comic Con 2007 with Christopher about Rage of Angels. Some info we know, some is new. Highlights of the posts:
Michael Shanks is attached. Brad Turner is set to direct the two hour pilot. Shooting likely will begin in the fall. MGM is producing the pilot. Christopher is shedding weight for the pilot, and plans on taking off another twenty to twenty-five pounds. He doesn't want to remind anyone of Teal'c at all, he wants to have two separate and distinct characters.
Christopher began writing Rage of Angels the day after Stargate SG-1 was cancelled. He wants to show that a black lead can be viable and sustainable in an overseas market.
MGM's Senior Executive President Finance and Corporate Development Charlie Cohen met with Christopher and Brad about Rage of Angels. Christopher says Charlie was tremendously supportive.
Mary is supposed to post the second part of the interview soon.
July 28, 2007
Rumors coming out of Comic Con 2007 have Christopher saying that Rage of Angels is a "go with MGM. We are full steam ahead. Be looking for it." No official word yet, but I'll keep an eye out and report back.
June 15, 2007
Christopher has been working on a pilot for a new show about angels and devils. He plays the archangel Gabriel, who has come to Earth to try and find the angel Michael who has disappeared. Gabriel apparently is frustrated with the rules of Heaven preventing angels from interacting with anyone on any level, and starts to hunt down whatever Lucifer throws at him. Christopher has said it is a "very dark, sexy, violent show".
Lucifer is played by Christopher's co-star from Stargate: SG-1, Michael Shanks. Michael jokes that his character is "a misunderstood guy, someone with daddy issues".
The pilot is being produced by MGM, and Brad Turner, from 24, Stargate: Atlantis, and Stargate: SG-1 fame is set to direct the pilot. Plans at this point are to finish shooting by late fall of 2007.
Off Site Interviews
Video Interview ~
Scifi.com Cast Farewell Videos. Christopher mentions RoA approximately three minutes in (marker 1:28 as it counts down).
iF Magazine ~ May
9, 2007. Michael Shanks talks about RoA amongst other things. RoA details are at the bottom.
GateWorld ~ May 9, 2007. A retelling of Michael Shanks' interview with iF Magazine,
though it does have one or two items that the iF interview doesn't.
Stargate SG-1 Solutions
~ May 9, 2007. Another recap of other interviews.