Stargate Atlantis: Space Exploration & Distant Civilizations

We don’t often get to talk about TV news here at the Daily Galaxy, simply because it doesn’t normally fall within our focus. But Stargate Atlantis is definitely a show that many of our readers are a fan of. It isn’t a stereotypical “nerdrama” and doesn’t fall under the category of Star Trek-like Sci-Fi series.

For those who have been watching – and if you haven’t, we seriously suggest you do – speculation has been rife as to whether the show would acquire a fifth season.

Following in the wake of its better known big brother, Stargate SG1, Atlantis had big shoes to fill. SG1 ran for a total of ten seasons, and is currently awaiting the release of two direct-to-DVD movies.

Announced yesterday, the Sci-Fi channel ordered 20 episodes for a fifth season of the fan favorite. This, despite lower “live” ratings, is based upon the fact that Atlantis is still one of the most popular shows on the channel, when viewed through recorded, re-run or downloaded viewing.

"'Atlantis' truly came out from under the shadow of its sister series this year and proved that it's a hit in its own right," said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of original programming for SCI FI Channel.

"All of us at MGM are pleased to be extending the Stargate legacy with 20 new original episodes of Stargate Atlantis for our friends at SCI FI," MGM's Charles E. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President Finance and Corporate Development, said. "Viewers the world over clamor for exciting new stories of space exploration, distant civilizations and the marvels of technology, all of which continue to be delivered by Stargate Atlantis."

As an aside for those fans of Stargate that may not be as clued-in to the internet cycle of rumors and speculation, have you heard there’s to be a third series?

That’s right, after Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum have finished principal filming, executive producers Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright are turning their attention to a third Stargate series. Not much is known about it at the moment. It’s being developed under the name Stargate Universe, and according to Cooper, was conceived to be "a completely separate, third entity, much more so than Atlantis was. Atlantis was much more of a spin-off series of SG-1 and was sort of born out of SG-1."

So if you were wondering whether 2008 was going to provide you with your annual Sci-Fi fix, then fret no longer. And if you haven’t watched any of the Stargate’s before, then now’s the time to jump in.

Posted by Josh Hill