Merrick here...
Here's a look at STARGATE UNIVERSE , the second spin-off series of STARGATE SG-1. The material below was initially sent to me on Thursday so that I could provide yall with a heads up that a UNIVERSE teaser would be unveiled during Friday's BATTLESTAR GALACTICA finale. Alas, the staggering lameness of my AICN e-mail delayed its delivery until yesterday. Nonetheless... Here are some details about the cast/characters of the new series, via press release:

Edgier and younger in tone, SGU will take the franchise in a dynamic new direction, appealing to longtime Stargate fans and first-time viewers alike. The two-part premiere of Universe is being directed by Andy Mikita (Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1) and lensed by Rohn Schmidt (The Shield, The Mist). The series is expected to premiere in October 2009. SGU follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth. Faced with meeting the most basic needs of food, water and air, the group must unlock the secrets of the ship¹s Stargate to survive. The danger, adventure and hope they find on board the Destiny will reveal the heroes and villains among them. The cast includes: Robert Carlyle stars as Dr. Nicholas Rush, one of the most brilliant scientific minds, whose motives are not what they appear to be. Lou Diamond Phillips is Colonel Telford, a proud lifelong military man, who puts his faith in the chain of command. Stubbornly confident, he¹s highly regarded by his superiors. He is the chosen leader of the ill-fated expedition. Justin Louis portrays Colonel Everett Young, an experienced Stargate team leader. Married, with years of tough decisions under his belt, life has taught him never to take anything for granted. He stays on top of his team so they stay alive. Brian J. Smith is Lt. Matthew Scott, a junior member of the Stargate team. Green and rough around the edges, he is thrust into the role of leader well before he's ready for the responsibility and must learn to command, earn respect through action, and manage the diverse personalities aboard the ship. Elyse Levesque stars as Chloe Armstrong, the daughter and aid of a U.S. Senator. Politically savvy, but with a wild side, she is considering following in her father¹s footsteps, until she finds herself trapped on the ship. As tensions rise, her character will be tested and her place among the group revealed. David Blue stars as Eli Wallace, a total slacker, who just happens to be an utter genius with anything he puts his mind to - mathematics, computers, video games. A lack of confidence has left him with an acerbic sense of humor. Alaina Huffman portrays MSGT. Tamara Johansen. Unable to afford medical school, the Air Force was the best option for the strong-willed field medic. Faced with the mounting pressure and a lack of in-depth experience, she will be forced to rise to the extraordinary occasion of needing to treat the seriously wounded. Jamil Walker Smith portrays MSGT. Ronald Greer, a Marine with a temper you don¹t want to mess with. His past is mysterious but it's clear something dark formed the hard shell around him. Ming-Na is Camile Wray, a human resources executive with the international oversight committee that governs the Stargate program. Now the highest ranking member of that division left stranded on the ship, she carries herself with a misguided sense of superiority over the other military and civilian survivors. Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, will serve as executive producers and writers on the new series. Stargate Universe will debut as a two-hour movie event on SCI FI and will be distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.

Here's an embiggenable look at the actors being referred to. I'm presuming this is a casual group photo and doesn't reflect costuming we'll see in the series. And...my God...Ming Na is hot...

Finally, in case you missed the teaser reveal during Friday's BATTLESTAR finale..or should you wish to see it again...the teaser is now online & accessible...

HERE!!!