Phillips signs up for 'Stargate' role

NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Sci Fi Channel Wednesday confirmed Lou Diamond Phillips, Ming-Na, Elyse Levesque and Alaina Huffman have joined the cast of "SGU: Stargate Universe."

The new original series began production last week in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The actors join the previously announced stars Robert Carlyle, Justin Louis, David Blue, Jamil Walker Smith and Brian J. Smith in the latest adventure of the Stargate franchise produced by MGM television.

Expected to premiere in October, "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," Sci Fi Channel said in a news release. "Faced with meeting the most basic needs of food, water and air, the group must unlock the secrets of the ship's Stargate to survive. The danger, adventure and hope they find on board the Destiny will reveal the heroes and villains among them."

Phillips has starred in the movies "Che," "Young Guns" and "La Bamba"; Ming-Na is best known for her work on "ER"; Levesque has had roles on "Smallville" and "Men in Trees"; and Huffman has appeared on "Smallville" and "Painkiller Jane."