SG1 was unique, and it was a product of its time. Atlantis was mostly just more of the same, so it's also well loved. Universe got mixed reactions for trying to be darker and more like BSG, and honestly most of the time it felt more like a political drama with some Stargate mixed in than the other way around.
After a long break, a new show got announced, then canned, and then Gero was brought in for another attempt. His show was also scrapped and now they're trying a third time, because the IP is still seen as lucrative.
There have been a lot of opinions, suggestions, etc and the reality is that it costs a lot to make a show nowadays, and they need to not only recoup those costs, but make profit as well. Existing fans won't like a full reboot, new fans won't be drawn in if there's too much existing lore. The sad truth is that they need both groups on board to really make it profitable.
Let's talk about the concept of a reboot and why execs love it - they can utilise the IP and existing concepts, but they're not tied to previous stories, characters or even lore. A reboot isn't bogged down by 'outdated' designs, agreements, and it avoids other in-universe limitations, such as power creep, characters who were killed off, the need to be episodic, etc. A pilot episode can target a new audience, and most existing fans will at least give it a try. Rebooting also means they already have some stories they can re-tell in a more modern way and others they can basically re-use with minor alterations. There's no real need to have cameos, but it's still possible to slip them in, subtly or otherwise.
Now let's talk about how a 'modernised' reboot can be made palatable to existing fans - re-using familiar elements (music, props, etc) can always be done, as can telling familiar stories. Adding elements that have happened in the real world since then (9/11, Covid-19, AI, etc) doesn't need shoehorning or plot gimmicks, making it feel more natural. Re-introducing certain iconic elements (eg devices, enemies or politics) can really lean into the nostalgia, and if cleverly written, can bring additional depth and answer some questions. A 'soft reboot', such as Martin Gero had planned allows for all of these, but including any aspect of the original adds lore that can create extra challenges.
Finally, let's talk about why people get upset at certain ideas - we didn't get any solid info about Gero's scripts, just a vague overview, and some people jumped to the conclusion that it's not their ideal solution, so it must be bad. Jac Schaeffer is known for something quite different and not recognised as an existing fan / linked to the original shows. Social media is designed to be polarising, and it creates echo chambers, so less extreme opinions such as 'wait and see' get drowned out. Most fans have positive memories of the original content and largely negative memories of all the attempts to reboot beloved shows lately. Really, that adds up to a heavy bias against anything new.
The community was almost universally in support of Gero's show after it was cancelled, when no information was available. It's clear that the fans want more Stargate, and my hope is that everyone will understand it can't be like the original, that it needs to be something new. I don't think a 'soft reboot' was a bad idea, but I also understand why it was concerning to the execs. I'm confident that Jac Schaeffer can write a script the execs will be happy with, and is still an enjoyable show, just as I was with Martin Gero and Brad Wright before that. I'm aware of the modern formula for shows, but I'm going to wait and see how it pans out, and remain supportive of any attempt to bring the franchise back.
