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! 
Photo courtesy SciFi Channel/Joe Pugliese.
That’s suck so bad.. ;/ Atlantis is great.
I Love SG1 and Atlantis 🙂 New SGU likes **** what happend… Come back Atlantis.. 🙂
I like very very much Stargate Altantis. It’s a great show. I like Teyla emmagan, Ronon, Rodney and John Sheppard. I like the actor Joe Flanigan. He his funny. LORY from Italy.
How disappointed am I to read that there will be no season 6. Have just become hooked on SGA on sky channel . How can you leave it at that. I totally agree SGU is rubbish.
Wtf. Bring back SGA. Just watched the last episode. And was looking forward to ep6, untill I read on Sky, “The last ever episode.” 🙁
Sky channel in the UK have run the whole series with double episodes every weekday it has become a ritual watching this show, in my opinion i preferred it to SG-1. SGU is rubbish compared to SGA hopefully they will cancel SGU do the SGA movie then bring it back with season 6 fingers crossed.
Pff 🙁 Just finished season 5 now I’m pissed lol
I thought “lol” meant “laugh out loud” or “little old lady”; but neither apply Atlantis being cancelled!
Wow, I can’t believe they cancelled SGA I was really looking forward to seeing season 6, the show was really good and now to be replaced with SGU that makes no sense. I watched a few episodes of it, thought maybe it would get better and it’s not *yawn* it’s ultra boring it just blows huge chunks!!!
SGU won’t last 1 season I can’t see it, BRING BACK ATLANTIS!!!
Wow, what another example of the corporate mismanagement we are seeing in the US now-a-days. That compounded by the general lack of customer service. I’m sorry to inconvenience them by watching what I’m interested in and not whatever they want to show. – Rook
11-20-2009 Started watching stargate atlantis this year. I watch all the episodes. I love this show , all the cast is great, love’em,shows great, so now it has been cancelled. I could not wait to see stargate universe when it was advertised on tv . Not even close to Atlantis.
Stargate Universe? The show should be called “Battlegate Galactica, 90210.” Dull, plodding, boring, overly dark, people mumbling in low voices as they “emote”… just like Galactica. (Staring Lou Diamong Phillips as Adama.) With the introduction of a couple Gen Nexters to what, appeal to a youth audience? This show ain’t going nowhere. It’ll be lucky to survive one season. All of which really begs the question: WTF is this channel thinking? SG-1 was the best, SGA was an acceptable successor, but any time you try to “out-hip” yourself by changing “Sci-Fi” to “Syfy” you’re telling everyone you’re clueless. They’ve not… Read more »
W.T.F….. this cannot be true.. SGA rules and I have been a fan since It first came out and could not wait untill each season was released… Why Is it that every time someone comes up with a great Idea and such imagination to be able to take the average person off this planet even only for a short time, It all comes down to how much money is involved????? I still cant believe that your going to leave some of the other retarded shows on and remove one of the greatest series next to star trek …… Iam without… Read more »
i dont like stargate univerce 🙁 it sucks
i just dont understand how they can cancel Atlantis and replace it with SGU i may watch one more episode of SGU butits not in the same calibre of Atlantis nor i the story line nor is the cast its getting borring on that ship and thats all there is. Bring back Atlantis please.
I think that SGA was one of the last good syfy-action shows around. It shouldn’t have been cancelled. But on the bright side now there’s SGU.
I discovered SGA after the series was cancelled =(. I really do not want to watch another Battlestar Galactica, I really hated the ‘re-imagining’.