Category: Atlantis

Tonight at 9 PM ET/PT, Stargate Atlantis ends its five-year run as a television series on the Sci Fi Channel. The series finale, “Enemy at the Gate”, written by Paul Mullie and directed by Andy Mikita, is the 100th episode of the series and includes not only the return of Christopher Heyerdahl as “Todd the Wraith”, but also Mitch Pileggi as Col. Steven Caldwell, David Nykl as Dr. Radek Zelenka, Kavan Smith as Maj. Evan Lorne, Michael Beach as Col. Abe Ellis, Martin Christopher as Maj. Kevin Marks, Gary Jones as Chief Master Sgt. Walter Harriman, Amanda Tapping as Col. Samantha Carter, Paul McGillion as the beloved Dr. Carson Beckett, Colin Cunningham as Maj. Paul Davis, Sharon Taylor as Technician Amelia Banks, Ben Cotton as Dr. Kavanagh, Tyler McClendon as “Kenny the Wraith”, and Chuck Campbell as Chuck the Technician.

According to TV Guide, “Todd warns Atlantis about a sophisticated hive ship and encourages the team to attack the vessel before it can pose a threat to Earth.”

The story for this episode was set up in “Vegas”, as strange as that might sound, given that Episode 19 took place in an alternate reality. Executive producer Robert C. Cooper came up with the idea of how the link could be made between the two episodes.

According to co-showrunner Joseph Mallozzi, the finale is not a cliffhanger (no “To Be Continued” at the end). “Regardless of whether we got the pick-up or not,” Mallozzi explained, “we had always planned a clean conclusion to our 100th episode, one that would hopefully leave fans satisfied yet eager for more.”

There are indeed aspects to the story that will need to be addressed, as David Hewlett explained in an io9 interview, “I think what’s nice about the episode is there’s enough unanswered stuff there. There are still things that need to be dealt with that I hope there will be more Atlantis for people to see, in cheaper formats, TV movies or DVD movies or whatever they want to do. But I do hope that’s something we can look forward to.”

Fortunately, some of the events of the series finale will continue in the first Stargate Atlantis movie being penned by writing and production partners Mallozzi and Mullie. Mallozzi said, “The idea originally conceived for the opening two-parter [for Season Six] will now be the basis of the first Stargate: Atlantis movie, the difference being that we’ll be able to tell our story on a much bigger, visual effects-laden, character-centered canvas.”

So, when viewing tonight’s episode, keep in mind that the story doesn’t end and that we’ll be seeing many of those familiar faces once again on our screens. The Sci Fi Channel plans to broadcast the movie during the mid-season hiatus of the new Stargate Universe, most likely placing the movie’s debut sometime in the fourth quarter 2009.

NOTE: Sci Fi is showing “Vegas” at 8 PM as a lead-in to “Enemy at the Gate” at 9 PM. There will also be a repeat of “Enemy at the Gate” at 11 PM.

Preview Video – Beware of Spoilers! –

• MGM: Get Ready for the Series Finale!
• MGM: Enemy at the Gate
• Sci Fi: The Final Mission

Solutions Coverage –

• Episode Guide (includes spoilers and links to other articles of interest about the episode)
• On site forum: SGA S5 Discussion Board
• Live Journal

[Image from MGM. Mallozzi quotes from his weblog.]

In preparation for the final two episodes of Stargate Atlantis, the Sci Fi Channel has slated multiple all-day marathons. Fans can catch rebroadcasts of episodes from Season One through Three, as well as the current Season Five (Season Four is in syndication elsewhere), from Friday, January 2, through Friday, January 9. These two Fridays also mark the premieres of the final two episodes: “Vegas” and “Enemy at the Gate”.

From Sci Fi’s Schedulebot (subject to change; all times Eastern; all caps = Season Five episode):

Friday, January 2:
– 8 AM – Hot Zone
– 9 AM – Sanctuary
– 10 AM – Before I Sleep
– 11 AM – The Brotherhood
– 12 PM – Letters From Pegasus
– 1 PM – The Gift
– 2 PM – The Siege Part 1
– 3 PM – The Siege Part 2
– 4 PM – The Siege Part 3
– 5 PM – The Intruder
– 6 PM – Runner
– 7 PM – Duet
– 8 PM – IDENTITY
– 9 PM – VEGAS (Premiere)
– 11 PM – VEGAS

Saturday, January 3:
– 1 AM – Rising Part 1
– 2 AM – Rising Part 2

Monday, January 5:
– 8 AM – Condemned
– 9 AM -Trinity
– 10 AM – Instinct
– 11 AM – Conversion
– 12 PM – Aurora
– 1 PM – The Lost Boys Part 1
– 2 PM – The Hive Part 2
– 3 PM – Epiphany
– 4 PM – Critical Mass

Tuesday, January 6:
– 8 AM – Grace Under Pressure
– 9 AM – The Tower
– 10 AM – The Long Goodbye
– 11 AM – Coup D’Etat
– 12 PM – Michael
– 1 PM – Inferno
– 2 PM – Allies Part 1
– 3 PM – No Man’s Land Part 2
– 4 PM – Misbegotten
– 5 PM – Irresistible
– 6 PM – Sateda

Wednesday, January 7:
– 8 AM – Progeny
– 9 AM – The Real World
– 10 AM – Common Ground
– 11 AM – McKay and Mrs. Miller
– 12 PM – Phantoms
– 1 PM – The Return Part 1
– 2 PM – The Return Part 2
– 3 PM – Echoes
– 4 PM – Irresponsible
– 5 PM – Tao of Rodney
– 6 PM – The Game

Thursday, January 8:
– 8 AM – The Ark
– 9 AM – Sunday
– 10 AM – Submersion
– 11 AM – Vengeance
– 12 PM – First Strike Part 1
– 1 PM – SEARCH AND RESCUE PART 2
– 2 PM – THE SEED
– 3 PM – BROKEN TIES
– 4 PM – THE DAEDALUS VARIATIONS
– 5 PM – GHOST IN THE MACHINE
– 6 PM – THE SHRINE

Friday, January 9:
– 8 AM – WHISPERS
– 9 AM – THE QUEEN
– 10 AM – TRACKER
– 11 AM – FIRST CONTACT PART 1
– 12 PM – THE LOST TRIBE PART 2
– 1 PM – OUTSIDERS
– 2 PM – INQUISITION
– 3 PM – THE PRODIGAL
– 4 PM – REMNANTS
– 5 PM – BRAIN STORM
– 6 PM – INFECTION
– 7 PM – IDENTITY
– 8 PM – VEGAS
– 9 PM – ENEMY AT THE GATE (Premiere)
– 11 PM – ENEMY AT THE GATE

Long-time Stargate director Andy Mikita has been slated to direct the first Stargate Atlantis movie, according to executive producer and writer Joseph Mallozzi in his weblog.

Mallozzi and production and writing partner Paul Mullie are writing the script for the first movie that is to pick up where the series finale “Enemy at the Gate” leaves off. Currently, the script is in the outline stage, with both writers making notes on each other’s work. The story includes a “mess” that the Expedition will have to get out of. Mallozzi promised, “Lots of fun cameos and a major contribution from one recurring player in particular that is certain to have at least one fandom faction in a frenzy. Still in the process of working out that momentous shift in the status quo that will impact the lives of our characters.”

Mikita had done a guest spot on Mallozzi’s weblog back in September in which he stated, “It would be very presumptuous of me to assume anything at this point, but I am hoping to direct the SGA movie and episodes of Universe. Hopefully it’ll work out.” It looks like Mikita’s got his wish and will not only be directing the Atlantis movie, but is also slated to work with Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright in Stargate Universe. As a matter of fact, Mallozzi said that Mikita was with Cooper in New Mexico looking for a shooting location to depict an alien world. It is quite possible that Mikita will be directing the series premiere “Air”.

The date for principal photography to begin for the Atlantis movie has not yet been announced, but Mallozzi has indicated that it will be this summer. A summer shooting schedule might indicate that they will be filming the movie when Universe is taking their mid-season filming hiatus. If this is true, both projects could possibly share crews. Mallozzi has also said that the third SG-1 movie, written by Brad Wright and Carl Binder, will be filming at about the same time as SGA’s.

As far as making the contracts with the actors, that phase of the production has not yet happened as no deals have been made to-date. Mallozzi, however, reassured his weblog readers that the actors will “eventually be approached.” All of the principal cast are expected to be in the movie, and there is the possibility that Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, and Amanda Tapping will be making appearances. Christopher Heyerdahl as Todd the Wraith is also expected. And Mallozzi even put out this little tidbit: “Barring a surprising change of heart on Jason’s part, Ronon will be sporting a new do in the movie.”

The movie doesn’t have a name just yet, but had been called “Project Twilight” for a while when the story was being discussed by the executive producers. The Sci Fi Channel has tentatively scheduled its premiere to follow the first ten episodes of Stargate Universe, which is making its premiere in July 2009.

Keep up with the major developments for the movie in our Atlantis Movies Guide in the Solutions Stargate Wiki.

[Image by Joseph Mallozzi; used with our thanks.]

The Sci Fi Channel is taking a long Thanksgiving break and is showing an all-day marathon of the classic “sci-fi” comedy Mork and Mindy today (November 28). Stargate Atlantis will return next week, December 5, at its usual time (9 PM with a repeat at 11 PM) with the new episode “Infection”.

There will be another interruption in the airing schedule to accommodate the upcoming holiday season. The remainder of the final season of Atlantis has the following airing schedule (subject to change):

• December 5 – 5.17 “Infection”
• December 12 – 5.18 “Identity”
• January 2 – 5.19 “Vegas”
• January 9 – 5.20 “Enemy at the Gate”

Visit the Season Five Guide in the Stargate Wiki for episode details and spoilers.