STARGATE UNIVERSE - GATEWORLD: Measure of a Man
November 20, 2011
by Chad Colvin
It’s been a bit over a year since the last time GateWorld had the pleasure of sitting down with Jamil Walker Smith, but it’s been an interesting year. Where our first chat with the actor was a chance to get to know both him and his character — Ronald Greer — a bit more fully, the experience this time was a bit more somber as it came with the knowledge that Stargate Universe (and the franchise as a whole) would not be continuing in any form this television season — and perhaps many more. But while Smith may have said his final goodbyes to his Destiny alter-ego, he’s definitely not giving any other farewells.
We caught up to Smith earlier this year at the Vancouver edition of the Creation Entertainment Official Stargate Convention, where he graciously sat down with us for an extended period. In our chat with Jamil Walker Smith, the actor talks about the status of his self-produced and directed film, Greer’s evolution in SGU‘s final year, what he’ll take away from his time on the series, the current state of genre programming and its viewership, and more!
... GW: We witnessed, especially in the last year, the death of several great sci-fi series like Caprica. Brad [Wright] had to tell fans that there was not going to be a continuation on SGU of any sort. To a degree, it kind of seems like serious sci-fi is going through some…
JWS: "People don’t … I wouldn’t say people aren’t ready for it … well, finish your question."
GW: Do you think it’s more a case of people needing lighter fair and escapism? Or is it just a sign of maybe the genre’s slow decline?
JWS: "No, science fiction has existed since the dawn of time. Someone told a story about a star. And gave meaning to it. And the possibility of something greater and bigger than where we exist. The fundamental principles that are even tied to religion are based in a science that explores something beyond what is tangible or real. So science fiction will never ever die as long as we have the ability to use our imagination.
I would say, and I can’t speak for the world because I haven’t gone every place in the world. But I can say in the country that I am proud to come from — America – there is a sense of doom and hopelessness that is fast approaching and that we are in the midst of. And it is as a result of our political system. It has finally caught up to us and is now affecting everyday people’s lives. So in that, I understand that there is a great sense for people to want to escape even deeper into things that don’t make them have to dwell on their issues. You know? They feel horrible about their job situation, and they feel helpless as a result of not being able to afford the lifestyle that they used to. So sometimes, there is this idea you don’t want to come home and watch people in those exact same circumstances. You want to escape into worlds that use humor and where the lighting is bright and does things that don’t reflect the circumstances that you’re in..."
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