HOLLYWOOD — The next iteration of the Sci Fi Channel's "Stargate" franchise has found its star in Scottish actor Robert Carlyle.

The "Full Monty" and "28 Weeks Later" star has taken the lead role in "Stargate Universe," the third series in the franchise that was spun off from the 1994 movie. The show is slated to premiere with a two-hour movie on Sci Fi in the summer.

"(Carlyle) brings a depth, intelligence and complexity to his roles, which will fit perfectly with the fresh, new reinvention of this franchise," says Mark Stern, Sci Fi's head of original programming.

"Stargate Universe" will take a somewhat darker tone than its predecessors, "SG-1" and "Atlantis." It centers on a group of soldiers and civilians who are forced through a Stargate and wind up on an ancient ship in the far reaches of space.

Carlyle will play a character named Dr. David Rush, who is the crew's best hope of discovering the ship's mysteries and getting them home, but who also has an agenda of his own.

"Stargate Universe" will begin production in February in Vancouver.

The show will be Carlyle's first TV series in the United States, though he has done a couple of TV movies in the past, including Fox's "24: Redemption" and CBS' "Hitler: The Rise of Evil." His credits also include "Trainspotting," "Eragon" and "The World Is Not Enough."

The popular science fiction franchise also includes "Stargate SG-1"and its spinoff, "Stargate Atlantis."

"SG-1" went off the air last year after 10 seasons, making it the longest-running science-fiction series ever produced for American television. (The British series "Doctor Who" ran from 1963-89 in its original incarnation.)

"Atlantis" is wrapping up its fifth and final season on Sci Fi, with a series finale scheduled to air at 9 p.m. Jan. 9.

Both continue in syndication.