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.

Something that maybe some of us took for granted was the fact that, not only were we participating in a panel interview with the cast of these shows, we were conducting these panels on the very set the show is shot on (the Stargate is right there!) It also helped that there were only 25 of us handing around a microphone, making it very easy for everyone to get in at least one question.

Stargate Atlantis was on hiatus from shooting, but that didn't stop David Hewlett, Rachel Luttrell and showrunners Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie from heading to the studio to meet us all. Check back later for part two of the panel.

[UPDATE: The video below now includes the entire panel video.]

There has been quite a bit of speculation about the move, but now it's official. Amanda Tapping will be joining the cast of Stargate: Atlantis for 14 episodes in season four. Executive Producer Brad Wright said that the idea is one that they have been considering for a long time, but they held back because SG-1 kept going. The recent announcement that SG-1 won't be returning after the current season has opened the door for Colonel Carter to make the jump.

Season four of Atlantis marks another change for the show. As Wright and fellow Executive Producer Robert C. Cooper turn their attention to the SG-1 movies, Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie will take over as show-runners for Atlantis.I like the addition of Tapping to the cast. I've always been a fan of Carter, and with Paul McGillion not returning as Dr. Becket in season four, there is an opening to be filled.