It's Trainspotting meets Stargate! In a press release today, it was announced that Robert Carlyle (The World is Not Enough, Ravenous) has been cast in the lead role of the new upcoming Stargate series, Stargate Universe. Filming for Universe will being in February with summer '09 being a tentative start date.

In the statement, we learned that this new series will be both younger and edgier and that Carlyle will play Dr. David Rush, a science officer who might be hiding darker ulterior motives. SGU follows a band of soldiers, including Rush, who come under attack and must retreat through a Stargate – and wind up getting lost in the farthest reaches of outer space.
"We couldn't be more excited to set Robert Carlyle for Stargate Universe. He brings a depth, intelligence, and complexity to his roles, which will fit perfectly with the fresh, new reinvention of this franchise, "said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming for SCI FI & Co-Head Original Content, Universal Cable Productions.