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.
those S.O.B.!!!!how could they do this to us…for christ’s sake,SG atlantis was the only show after sg-1 the i admired in my life…f**k this ****…the end sucks…at least to do a few movies like they did with sg-1 continuum and the ark of truth…it has same fans as the sg-1….world-wide..it’s pitty that they didnt made a few more seasons…as the man said …it’s a big dissapoiment to all of us…and for the Scifi history..
Why on earth would a great show like SGA be cancelled??? This was a great show and we all looked forward to it each week. Everyone in the cast was perfect for the part and we will really miss them all. What brainless idiot would cancel a show that gets great reviews. Cancel some of the other mindless sitcoms with bad actors and silly plots and keep the SGA, which has great writing and superb acting. Sci-fi channel – you have made a BIG mistake – B I G mistake, and you will not doubt lose a lot of viewers.
I really do not the fact the viewers do not have anything to say which show goes and which stays. I really like this show and it sad that it must end, the story line is great and could so much further. I hope that it would be reconsidered. I see other stuff on sci-fi that needs to go, not Stargate Atlantis. I also agree that the best shows on sci-fi are the ones being cancelled. I have been a big fan for years of this and many other series on sci-fi, I hate to see so many of the… Read more »
I will never watch scifi again. wasnt a fan of sg1, SGA is the best show ever made. cancelled because of MONEY… i mean GREED… you will surely regret this. all of the made for tv movies with all of the CGI SUCK. THE SCIFI ORIGINAL MOVIES SUCK, SANCTUARY SUCKS, the acting sucks, the writing is all cliche and predictable, BUT STARGATE ATLANTIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW EVER MADE. Good luck trying to get any fans back. I will watch the movies on blu ray but will never tune into the channel again. have fun with your ratings. Harpies deserved… Read more »
(LETS FINISH THE SEASONS OF ATLANTIS TOGETHER THROUGH COMBINED TALENT AND CREATIVE THINKING.) I GUESS THAT GOOD THINGS NEVER LAST. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND AND ONE OF THEM IS THE FACT THAT EVERY COMMERCIAL, SALE AND RATING ABOUT STARGATE ATLANTIS ONLY INCREASES MORE INCOME AND CREATIVE IDEAS/STORIES FOR ALL VIEWING AUDIENCES. SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE’S MORE TO THE CANCELATION OF ATLANTIS. POSSIBLY BEING A GREAT STORY BEHIND THE SCENES. A TAKE AND GIVE TO GENERATE EVEN MORE PROFITS IN THE FUTURE. STARVING THE AUDIENCE OUT AND GIVING BACK TEN FOLD IN ORDER TO INCREASE… Read more »
OMG! SGA cancelled! This is just like so many other great sci-fi shows on that channnel…destroyed. That was the ONLY show I watched on the Sci-Fi channel. Just because of production costs?! Then how can u make a new series? Or other movies for that matter? Why?! And I hate reality TV show except a very limited few. So depressing.
stargate atlantis is the best serial movie I ever wach !!!!
why do they cancel the tv serial ??
**** them!!!!!
it is a great tv show 😉
Hi Robert Here,,,??? NO TO THE CANCELLATION TO ALTANTIS AS I HAVE ALL SEASON OF ALTANTIS UP TILL NOW, SO HOW CAN I CONTINUE MY COLLECTION OF STARGATE ALTANTIS IF U CANCELL IT ??????. I have all 10 SEASON OF STARGATE SG1 BRILL COLLECTION. NOW YOUR GOING TO RUIN IT FOR ALL ALTANTIS COLLECTORS,,, MANY THANKS TO THE ONE WHO MADE THIS BIG IDEA UP GREAT BRAIN WAVE THIS WAS,, ????? COME ON SKY SORT IT OUT OR SKY IS GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF SKY VEIWES NO NEED OF THIS MGM GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER PLEASE,, ROBERT
I guess this is the end of turning to the Sci-Fi channel ever again. Canceling the only few good shows can that found on the Sci-Fi does not make any logic sense what so ever.
🙁 I heard a few months ago that SG:A was being cancelled, but I thought that they were at least doing a series 6!!! When SG-1 got cancelled I almost cried, but the only thing that stopped me was the fact that SG:A was on….I’ve had Stargate in my life in one form oro another for the majority of it (11 years out of the 19 years of my being on this planet). How am I going to cope without Stargate?!?! SERIOUSLY!? What is wrong with the SCI-FI channel?! Are they like fox (in as much as they have full… Read more »
The Sci-Fi Channel: Where Great Sci-Fi goes to die.
i am cancelling my subscription to sky as this was the only reason to have it the decision is yours unsubscribe they will want you back
WTF?
Are they retarded, this is the best SCFI show on at the moment, may as well cancel the entire channel. No Star Trek, No Stargate what do we have left?
Not Stargate Altantis! I love this show. As a Canadian I buy The Movie Network just to watch Stargate Atlantis and Dexter. I too have watched Sanctuary but just cannot stomach Amanda Tapping with a British accent although it was nice to see Hallen aka Todd the Wraith on that show. Please don’t cancel Atlantis. The characters are great. The story lines are great. It will be missed.
I can’t believe it. The one show that I really look forward to and they decide to cancel it. Sci-Fi is falling into the same format all others are. Look what happened to UPN after they cancelled their best shows. They had to combine with the WB to form the crappy CW network. Its days are definately numbered as will be the Sci-Fi if they continue to cancel their best shows. Thankfully they have Sancturary but Im sure they will cancel it as well for some stupid cheap reality show. Remember if you dont have good programming Sci-Fi, we will… Read more »