 There had been early discussions for Richard Dean Anderson to return as Jack O'Neill, however the show was over-budget, and with the series already cancelled the studio wouldn't be willing to cover his salary.Robert C. Cooper intended the episode as "an emotional tribute to the ten seasons that [had] come before" and "the last chapter in the book – but not necessarily in the series of books.It was a chance [...], using science fiction, to show people one version of what the future might be like for these characters that they've spent so much time with and loved so much."