Well, this is just all kinds of disappointing, and a little surprising. Season five of Stargate Atlantis will be the end of its run on Sci Fi. That's a surprising bit of news considering that ratings are actually up for season five, compared to season four. Unfortunately, the economics of making the show are catching up with it. As the show goes beyond season five, salaries go up, and the exchange rate bonus of shooting in Canada isn't what it once was.It might mark the end of the series, but we will hear more from our friends in Atlantis. The network has ordered a two hour movie and says the show will live on as a network franchise. I'm not sure if that means they hope to do more movies, or they are just confirming that they will continue to fill out the schedule with copious SG-1 and Atlantis reruns. The movie will be written by Atlantis showrunners, Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie. As you would expect, there are no details about casting or the story at this point.
While the end of the series is a surprise, the movie deal isn't. Given the success of the SG-1 movies, it seems a logical step for the Atlantis team to take. It just seems a little bit too soon. With Stargate Universe still in the offing, I suspected we would see something like the changeover from SG-1 to Atlantis, where the pair ran together before Atlantis moved into the number one spot.
Those involved are saying the expected things. A statement from Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, co-creators of SG-1 and Atlantis, said, "The successes of the two original Stargate 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."
Over at Sci Fi, Thomas Vitale, VP of Programming and Original Movies, adds, "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." He neglected to add, "But make sure to tune in to wrestling on Tuesday night!" Off topic, maybe, but seriously, what the hell? Why is that show there?
There have been a couple bumps along the way, but I think Atlantis is going to go down as a great success. The show will hit 100 episodes before it's all said and done, and that's a pretty big accomplishment. I'll look forward to the movie, and with any luck it will be successful enough to make way for a couple more.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-21-2008 @ 9:32AM
Alex99 said...
I read in an interview with one of the producers that the 100th episode was coming up, and I immediately thought "oh, that means Sci-Fi will cancel it". Hate to be right in this case.
Have we actually heard anything about plans for more SG-1 movies?
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8-26-2008 @ 1:15PM
thereelmckay said...
well I'd just like to say... what a load of BOL*X!!!!!!!!!! it's all about the money eh? what ever happened to viewer satisfaction and creativity... they develop a highly superior, ground-breaking entertainment-wise show and then they say "oh no hold on.. people, this is too good, there are cheaper ways to entertain the zombies out there... they'll still watch and we'll get more money... wah ha ha". pack of W**K***!
8-21-2008 @ 9:39AM
Oreo said...
Sg-1 will be getting more movies.
Atlantis should have been an amazing show, it failed, and now it's canceled. Begs the question through....
What are they planning on replacing it with?
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8-21-2008 @ 9:45AM
hub said...
Holy Farscape deja vu. Though I've never been able to get into any of the Stargate TV shows, SciFi certainly has a track record of canceling shows like this.
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8-21-2008 @ 10:00AM
Oreo said...
How is this like Farscape? Farscape was canceled after 4 seasons when they were told they would get a 5th. Then someone else made the TV movie, no Sci-fi Channel, Sci-fi just bought the rights to air it.
8-21-2008 @ 9:58AM
Boo Radley said...
Well, I guess that Sci-Fi channel won't exist after this fall seeing as this and Eureka are the only thing worth watching anymore. It's too bad, this is by far my favorite show on TV. I don't suppose writing a letter would help would it?
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8-21-2008 @ 1:33PM
Jake said...
Eureka is okay of a sci fi fix, but it's far from must watch TV. As for Atlantis, I generally liked Atlantis, but I thought they relied too much on the SG-1 universe for material. I mean how many forms of the replicators can there be that the audience will care about? I also thought they connected back to earth way too soon. Finally, they never really did develop the Wraith culture, explore more rebel human civilizations(just the Genai, and they kind of dropped them quickly), or go more into the ancients vs wraith history. So while the series was good, I think it fell into the trap of doing stupid medical emergency of the week shows instead of actually exploring the Pegasus Galaxy and the Atlantis station. It lacked that saga feeling that SG-1 had, especially in seasons 6 and 7. I think the show will go down as a solid sci-fi show, but still in the shadow of SG-1.
As for Sci Fi channel, after BSG and Atlantis, I think I'm about done. I usually just rent Eureka dvds anyways. Sci-Fi had a good thing going for it with the back to back Stargates (reason i tuned in to the channel) and the pleasant surprise of BSG. Until Ron Moore writes another show for them I think I'm out.
8-21-2008 @ 1:32PM
Jimmy said...
I couldn't agree more. I'm a fan of Eureka, but to me it's not science fiction; it's a genre comedy. Atlantis was the last sci fi space opera on this silly network. Maybe they've got some great shows in the wings to replace it with (not holding my breath!). I know Caprica is coming up, but while I may be looking forward to this series something tells me it will be lucky to last through one season. What do we have to look forward to? Probably more reality crap and pathetic series like Painkiller Jane. This network, even though it's basic cable, rakes in the cash for NBC Universal; you'd think they'd want to create ways to increase viewers rather than lose them.
8-21-2008 @ 1:37PM
Jake said...
I also think it's safe to say USA is the superior NBC Universal cable channel now. Monk, Psych, and Burn Notice are all fun shows, plus In Plain Sight seems to be doing well too. Too bad they don't have the same creative teams over at Sci-Fi giving us some good tv. All Sci-Fi seems to be able to do these days is cancel shows.
8-21-2008 @ 10:04AM
jon said...
why must all the good shows get canceled? and where will the "sci-fi" be in the Sci-Fi Channel once Atlantis and BSG are gone? seriously bad move...
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8-21-2008 @ 10:12AM
Jon said...
Unfortunately, the wrestling comment isn't off topic. The fact that Sci-Fi still has that on and are canceling Atlantis just confirms that they do not have a clue as to how they can best serve their audience. They'd rather throw their money to the cheap thrill Saturday night garbage than to fund quality science fiction.
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8-21-2008 @ 10:23AM
Becky said...
Extremely disappointed that Atlantis was given it's walking papers. This show still has lots of stories to tell and so did SG-1 (the original team).
I was looking forward to having a Friday night SciFi lineup with Atlantis and Amanda Tapping's Sanctuary.
Amanda will still have my support but the rest of the drek they show (with the exception of SG-1 & Atlantis reruns) won't be on my TV.
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8-21-2008 @ 11:05AM
Tony said...
man, this stinks! love this show. first, Firefly dies too soon and not Atlantis. one of my favorite shows. now nothing is left to watch on Sci-Fi channel since Battlestar Galactica is completely boring now (and ending). Booooo, Sci-Fi Channel.
8-21-2008 @ 10:31AM
Akbar Fazil said...
I was pretty confident already going into season 5 that it would be there last. And honestly, I think it is a great thing. The show will end on a high note and then move onto kick ass movies.
SG-1 was supposed to end at S5 (Showtime was done with it, RDA wanted out, they "killed" Daniel, etc) but then SciFi came in and gave them 5 more seasons. Now, I did love all of seasons 6-10 but it would have been interesting to see where it went if it didn't have those extra seasons.
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8-21-2008 @ 11:00AM
Christine said...
That sucks.
Quick note: Stargate is an MGM franchise, not a Sci Fi network franchise. Sci Fi will likely have nothing to do with future Atlantis movies--they will probably go to DVD like the SG-1 movies and not be aired on the network before that.
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8-21-2008 @ 12:50PM
Nathaniel said...
To clarify: the news actually did say that SciFi will be airing the Atlantis movie... different from how the SG-1 ones worked, and weird, but hey, whatevers.
8-21-2008 @ 11:19AM
Jigsaw hc said...
Dang. That really sucks. They're really running out of good shows for me to watch. Hope they have something good coming.
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8-21-2008 @ 11:37AM
DavidM said...
I don't care, the show sucks and should have been canceled after the 2nd season. I'd rather have SG-1 than the Atlantis crap. Good Riddance.
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8-21-2008 @ 11:49AM
eugene said...
Gods above, I truly hate the sci-fi network. They keep saying they don't have enough money... and yet they have enough money to buy wrestling programming and produce those godawful monster movie of the week crap.
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8-21-2008 @ 7:20PM
LC said...
Well, that's exactly it. The saturday movies are cheap and low budget. the SG has top notch special effects and after several years, high salaries for its stars.
They are in the business to make money. Unfortuantely, the good stuff eventually costs more money than it brings in.