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.”
 Loading ... |
“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.
I am angry that they are canceling this show so soon. I am for one going to boycott sci-fi. It sounds ridiculous but what happens if they do the same to eureka. Good tv shows need to stop being cancelled to soon.
Noooooooooooooooooo! First SG-1…Then BAttlestar Galactica…Now ATLANTIS!!!!
All I can say to Sci-Fi is “You ********!” I loved SG-1, I have all the sets and the movies. Atlantis was going to be next on the hit list. I have really enjoyed seeing Sam, Daniel, and Ti’lk making appearances on the show. I was hoping to see Cam and Vala make an appearance as well. Why couldn’t you get rid of one of the ghost shows, or sell more time to wrestling (I prefer if you don’t) I haven’t checked yet, but Eureka had better be on soon! Don’t even THINK about cancelling that one. Where is the… Read more »
THis blows they should cancel Sanctuary I do not Like it at all please Keep Atlantis thanks
This has been on my list of DVD’s I’ll have to buy, and it just moved up a few spots. I do hope they continue with a chain of movies; it’d be nice to keep it as a show, but it definitely would make for a good movie series as well. And they’d better come up with a TV version; us sci-fi lovers, especially the ones without cable/satellite, need something to watch now and ten (and none of the other sci-fi series have ever made it to where I live, heh).
well congratulations you just beat fox for the most retarted choice to cancel a show (refering of course to firefly) everyone of you who decided to cancel the show (and Sg-1 one too) deserves to be fed to a pack of wolves and burn in hell for all eternity because you are just dumb and managed to make the dumbest call ive ever seen. also id just like to point out that good(just good not great but okay) and horrible shows go on for like 20 seasons and great shows the ones that people actually will want to watch and… Read more »
Damn it,! I like the show too why do they have to cancel it. How comes it’s always the good shows that get canceled. Why don’t they cancel “Sanctuary” instead and use the funds for that show to continue making the Satrgate Atlantis series. I am very disappointed in the SciFi channel and the Stargate Atlantis produces. This is wakk!
Here’s my take on this. I have been a huge fan of the SG-1 series, and own all the DVDs. I have also been a fan of Stargate Atlantis, but not as much so. There needs to be a good balance between character development and actual sci-fi action, and quite honestly, that balance has been way off in Atlantis. Way too much lousy dialogue, and not nearly enough action. I loved Atlantis when it started, because of all the new technology and stuff, but after the first season or two, it’s like the city and its technology became old news,… Read more »
I will be sorry to see it go. 🙁
I am just going to have go out and buy all the tv series dvd and watch them forever!!!! I guess they’lll make big bucks with that. What’s this world coming to…I can’t go off world any more…..I guess the mighty $$$ rules.
MGM STINKS!
This is simply not cool. SG-1 getting canned was bad enough, now Atlantis! 🙁
Hopefully a Save Atlantis campaign will be launched and help save the show.
Oh come on! Why would they cancel it? It’s a great show. When everything started to get more interesting they decided to cancel it.
I can’t believe they are canceling this show!! Loved Sg-1 and once that was over I starteg watching Atlantis and I think that its better than SG-1. I really hope that they tie up the story well, as someone else wrote here the Continuum movie was pretty crap i thought. It was boring and in the end nothing really happened…because they undid it all. I hope stargate continues to produce something because its the best!!!
This is just the wrong thing to do. Please don’t stop the show I need to see more.