Stargate Cloverdale

Jennifer Lang – Cloverdale Reporter

Actor Jamil Walker Smith, who plays Sgt. Ronald Geer, in a scene from an upcoming episode of Stargate Universe, season two, filmed on location in Cloverdale.

TV’s critically acclaimed sci-fi drama, Stargate Universe, beamed down to Earth this week.

The U.S.-Canadian production spent two days filming on location in Cloverdale’s historic downtown core, shooting scenes inside – and outside – the Clova Cinema and other local landmarks.

Traffic was barred from the 5700 block of 176 Street for much of Tuesday, while the crew filmed a stunt sequence and other scenes.

The futuristic show, now shooting its second season, follows a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians trapped aboard the ancient alien spacecraft “Destiny” at the other end of the universe.

It stars Scottish actor Robert Carlyle as Dr. Nicolas Rush. Other actors include Louis Ferreira, David Blue, Brian J. Smith, Jamil Walker Smith, Alaina Huffman and Elyse Levesque.

The show films in the Vancouver area but also relies on digital effects to portray computer-generated worlds in outer space.

Stargate Universe is up for 17 Leo Awards – B.C. film and television awards – for best dramatic series, direction, screenwriting, editing and effects.

The drama-heavy series – written by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper – is more devoted to character development than its more action-oriented TV franchise predecessors Stargate SGI (1997) and Stargate Atlantis (2004).

It’s created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper and airs Fridays at 7 p.m. on the Space Channel.

Paul Orazietti of the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association says Cloverdale, B.C., stood in for Cloverdale, VA, in the episode, which will air sometime in October.

The production won’t be making a return visit to Cloverdale this season, Orazietti says.