Stargate Atlantis: Series Cancelled, No Season Six
When Stargate SG-1 ended its run in March 2007, fans of the franchise could take solace that they’d still have weekly Stargate adventures courtesy of spin-off Stargate Atlantis. Now, Atlantis is being cancelled as well.
Stargate Atlantis debuted on July 16, 2004 on Sci Fi. The series follows the adventures of a human expedition to the lost city of Atlantis in the Pegasus Galaxy. While Atlantis generally hasn’t been as popular as the SG-1 series, it still has a lot of fans. After five seasons on the air, Sci Fi Channel has announced that the series is ending.
The cancellation didn’t come as a complete surprise to the producers. On his blog, showrunner Joseph Mallozzi cites rising production costs and the decline of the US dollar as contributors. He and showrunner Paul Mullie broke the news to the cast and crew themselves. Thankfully it seems like the adventure isn’t over quite yet.
The second half of season five will air as expected on Sci Fi beginning in January. The 100th episode, titled “Enemy At the Gate,” will be the show’s last. The Atlantis story will then continue in a two-hour movie. The as-yet-untitled movie will run on Sci Fi and soonafter be released on DVD.
Mallozzi and Mullie will write the movie script. It’s not yet known who will direct the project. Mallozzi writes, “Obviously, I can’t say much about it at this point but suffice it to say that it should include the entire cast in addition to a certain gaunt and pallid flowing-locked guest star.” A release date should be forthcoming soon.
Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, the SG-1 and Atlantis co-creators, are upbeat about the news. In a statement, they said, “We’re excited to tell Atlantis stories on a bigger canvas. The successes of the two original Stargate DTV movies The Ark of Truth and Continuum have shown us the opportunities that the movie format offers. We have plans for both SG-1 and Atlantis to remain vital as we expand the franchise.”
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“We share in the producers’ enthusiasm to move forward in this direction and we look forward to a strong and continued relationship on Stargate Atlantis in this new format,” said Thomas Vitale, Sci Fi’s Senior Vice President of Programming & Original Movies.
The network has indicated that “the show will live on as a network franchise.” What the statement actually means is unclear. Sci Fi may be planning additional Atlantis movies, or it could be a general indication that the Stargate franchise will continue, likely as a third series.
In late 2007, Cooper and Wright pitched Stargate Universe to the channel. Earlier this year, Wright told Gateworld, “The idea of Stargate Universe is that it is set on a ship that was part of an Ancient experiment that was set in motion probably millions of years ago — one that they never saw to fruition, but that we can.” He went on to say that the ship’s mission would be to help seed the galaxies with Stargates. Universe hasn’t been given a greenlight yet but, now that Atlantis has been cancelled, Sci Fi may have the funds to do it.
Though the Atlantis cancellation is surely a disappointment to fans, Mallozzi is confident the story isn’t over. He writes, “And, if [the Atlantis movie] proves anywhere as successful as the first two SG-1 direct-to-video features, you can be assured that this will be the first in a long, long line of Stargate Atlantis movies.” Stay tuned! 
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:36 am
Wow. To think that Skiffy’s habit of canceling popular scifi shows at the height of their popularity began with Farscape. Those were the days! Good to know they haven’t lost that ability. RIP SG Atlantis.
Now you Stargate fans know how we Scapers feel, eh?
November 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
its crap man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the show was good. and here i was thinking they would be around for about 3 more years!!!!!!!!!!!! and the point about sanctuary not being as good is correct. the stargate characters are much more interesting.
anyway, cancel ghoast hunters or somthing else to get the money for production.
whats next sci fi………….eureka. cause thats all you have left. ( got me hooked on awhole day marathon).
Dont cancel STARGATE ATLANTIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 27th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Scifi cancelling sga now is a complete disappointment, and i will be boycotting their channel, i will boycott and not buy any products advertised on their channel, and i will never come back to scifi. It is ridiculous that just because they can get more money selling movies instead of the series, that they would cancel the show. I have no respect for scifi and i will be joining boycotters around the world to put pressure on scifi. BRING BACK SG1 AND DONT KILL ATLANTIS. They are perfectly good shows.
November 26th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Stargate atlantis is great, its a shame the first stargate was canceled.
Bring it back!
November 24th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I have been a huge fan of Atlantis since I caught a marathon of season 1 in 2005-06 and I never stopped watching thereafter. I had NEVER seen SG-1 prior to this, and as a result I found myself involved with that show earier this year and have loved it as well. I’m a 29 year old male, and about 6 months ago I got my 59 year old father involved in Atlantis AND SG-1 (we like Atlantis better of the two) and I make it a point to be at my parents’ house to watch it with him every Friday. Incidentally, I have loved Jewel Staite since her days with Firefly and was VERY happy when she took on the role of Dr. Jennifer Keller. I think cancelling SGA is extremely unfortunate for all of us fans.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:17 am
WHY??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! i loved stargate sg-1. and i was upset when it went off the air but i was glad cause atlantis was still going. and now there canelling that after only a year. Universe better be good and have some of the other characters from SG-1 and Atlantis if there stopping them both now. great shows are leaving tv and being replaced with bad stuff. atleast if you like Sci-Fi stuff.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I am heart broken, I can’t beleive another show I love is being cancelled. I know money is tight, but if the show is doing Great and I think it is!!! the people should have
a say in it. I see where Samantha went, Sancturay is ok but it is not as good as
Stargate Atlantis! I am a 54 year old female and there alot of us out here, I would go
over the books one more time, b4 you put this one to bed… I won’t watch SIFI Channel any more if you let this one end, and I have a friend, who has a friend and so on and so on !!! word of mouth is very powerful … Please DON’T cancel
Stargate Atlantis