Well, members of the cast and crew of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis have gotten together for a movie — though not in a way that fans might expect. David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay on Stargate Atlantis) is making his writing and directorial debut with a new independent comedy film entitled A Dog’s Breakfast. The film was shot early this year and was produced in Vancouver, British Columbia during the Stargate hiatus period.

Knowing talent when he sees it, Hewlett utilized the talents of several members of the cast and crew from the SG-1 and Atlantis family. Hewlett co-stars in the film and was joined by his real-life sister Kate Hewlett (Jeanie Miller on Atlantis), Paul McGillion (Carson Beckett on Atlantis, who is also, by the way, departing the show mid-season three as a regular), Christopher Judge (Teal’c on SG-1), Rachel Luttrell (Teyla Emmagan on Atlantis), Amanda Byram (host of The Swan) and his own dog Mars. The film was produced by David Hewlett’s partner Jane Loughman and Stargate producer John G. Lenic. Stargate stunt and fight coordinator James Bamford was on board, as was SG-1 director of photography Jim Menard and Bill Mizel, first assistant director on both SG-1 and Atlantis.

A Dog’s Breakfast is decribed as “a head-smacking, bone-breaking, fiancee-bashing comedy/horror” film about a family that just loves themselves to pieces. The story goes like this: Squabbling siblings Patrick (David Hewlett) and Marilyn (Kate Hewlett) have always driven each other a little crazy. But when Marilyn brings home her new space-soap TV-star fiancee Ryan (Carson Beckett), it seems to drive Patrick over the edge. First, he tries to drive a wedge between the happy couple and he then reaches for sharper instruments. Every family has a few skeletons in the closet; A Dog’s Breakfast is the heck-of-a-mess Patrick makes when he tries to add another to his.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (which also owns and distributes Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis) has now acquired the worldwide rights to distribute this dark comedy via film, television, DVD and other media. “We are delighted to be working with David Hewlett and Kibble Productions on this hilarious comedy,” said Charles Cohen, Executive Vice President of MGM. “A Dog’s Breakfast is a film that Stargate fans, families and pet-lovers around the world will truly enjoy.”

Director/writer/actor Hewlett added, “We are pleased that so many people from Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG-1 were able to donate their time during hiatus and make this project come to life. We were able to put the entire film together for a tiny budget thanks to the generous and gracious support of the local production houses. It’s exciting that MGM has agreed to distribute the film.”