Stargate Atlantis co-showrunners and executive producers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie addressed fan concerns about the changes in the show’s cast in Season Four, especially about the addition of Amanda Tapping (Col. Samantha Carter) and the demotion of Torri Higginson (Dr. Elizabeth Weir).
Both men wanted to reassure fans that the behind-the-scenes production crew were the same as that for Season Three. Mullie stated, “But it’s not like we’re [Mallozzi and Mullie as show runners] coming in from outside. We’ve been working on SG-1 since season four, and we’ve been working on Atlantis from the beginning. All of our directors and all the other writers are the same. It’s the same crew. It’s very much, I think, a continuation.”
Mallozzi, whose personal blog gets a lot of traffic from fans who are concerned with the changes, added, “I, more than anyone, am well aware of some of the negative fan reaction to the changes in the show. It’s something I’ve noticed in the past, where, for instance, spoilers will get out, and fans will always assume the worst. Now, I’m not saying that when it airs certain fans won’t be upset, but I think the great majority who have adopted sort of the doom-and-gloom, worst-case scenario will probably be pleasantly surprised by what they see. In fact, I’m very confident of that.”
Actor David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay) was also present during the press conference. To him, the two shows were never meant to be separate entities, but share mythology. He said that the occasional cross-overs with SG-1 have “always worked well” for them in the past.
To read the full article, visit SCI FI WIRE: Producers: Give Atlantis A Chance.