Atlantis Season Four Filming Starts March 1

SPOILER WARNING: The following contains some spoilers for Season Three and Four of Stargate Atlantis.

Fans of Stargate Atlantis have been given a behind-the-scenes look at the pre-production process by show-runner Joseph Mallozzi in his new personal blog. Recently, Mallozzi told his readers the titles of six of the first episodes slated for the new 20-episode season. The producers are currently in “prep week”, the week before filming begins to basically set up everything from casting, costumes, stunts, special effects, props, visual effects and playback, set design, and location scouting. It all comes together with a series of meetings with each department head. Then, the filming begins on March 1.

Last year, the filming of Season Three took a break during July, but this year, Mallozzi has stated that the cast and crew will most likely take their break in June. Then, it’s back to work until they’re finished filming sometime around September 28.

Season Four will see plenty of changes in front of the camera with the absence of Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett) and limited appearances of Torri Higginson (Dr. Elizabeth Weir), and with the addition of Amanda Tapping (Lt. Col. Samantha Carter) to the main cast, as well as Jewel Staite in her recurring role of Dr. Keller, Beckett’s replacement after his accidental death in Season Three’s “Sunday”. Mallozzi stated that viewers would have to tune in to find out if there are any other changes to the personnel of the Atlantis Expedition as they face a new enemy and new challenges in the Pegasus Galaxy.

It’s not unusual for episodes to be filmed out of final airing order because of various challenges the production crew may face, including cast availability. Right from the start, we know that Amanda Tapping will not be available for filming some of the Atlantis episodes because she’ll be filming the two Stargate SG-1 movies (The Ark of Truth is to start filming April 15; Continuum, June 1; each taking about four weeks to film). This might be why Carter will be seen in only 14 episodes of the 20-episode season and possibly why they are starting production with the episode “Doppelganger” instead of the season premiere “Adrift”. Additioinally, Robert C. Cooper is writing, directing, and producing “Doppelganger” and then going straight to writing, directing, and producing Stargate: The Ark of Truth, so his availablility was also most likely a contributor to his episode being first on the production slate.

The British Columbia Film Commission website provides the following information about this production season:

STARGATE ATLANTIS – SEASON 4
Pegasus Productions IV Inc
Sony/MGM
Prod: John Smith
PD: James Robbins
PM: John Lenic
PC: David Magee
LM: Lorne Davidson
Sched: Mar 01/07 – Sep 28/07
2400 Boundary Rd
V5M 3Z3
TEL: (604) 292-8560
FAX: (604)292-8550

Solutions plans to follow the production of Stargate Atlantis during its first season without companion Stargate SG-1. Please visit the site often for news and spoilers.