Stargate Atlantis

About Stargate Atlantis

Stargate Atlantis is an iconic Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich. Stargate Atlantis premiered on Sci-Fi channel in 2004 and lasted for five seasons.

The story is set in the Lost City of Atlantis in the Pegasus Galaxy. An international team of scientists and military personnel discover a Stargate network in the Pegasus Galaxy and come face-to-face with a new, powerful enemy, The Wraith.

Making / Production

The series was filmed in and around Vancouver, Canada, a common production location for American television shows. The producers found this location suitable due to its vicinity to the ocean, forests, and mountains, making it ideal for the various scenic requirements of the series. The filming largely utilized practical effects and stellar CGI to accomplish its visual style.

Actors

• Joe Flanigan as Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: Flanigan gave a remarkable performance as the spontaneous and resourceful military leader of the Atlantis team.
• Torri Higginson as Dr. Elizabeth Weir: Higginson convincingly portrayed the dedicated diplomat and leader of the Atlantis expedition.
• Rachel Luttrell as Teyla Emmagan: Luttrell shone in the role of the Athosian leader and indispensable member of the Atlantis team.
• David Hewlett as Dr. Rodney McKay: Hewlett’s comic and endearing portrayal of the brusque yet brilliant scientist made him a fan favourite.
• Jason Momoa as Ronon Dex: Known for his physical roles, Momoa played the fearless Satedan warrior with charm and intensity.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series originally intended for Dr. Weir to be played by Jessica Steen, who portrayed the character in Stargate SG-1, but the role was recast with Torri Higginson.
• Jason Momoa's character, Ronon Dex, was not originally part of the series; his character was introduced in the second season.
• The city of Atlanta’s exterior as seen from the sky was created using CGI. No full-sized version of the city was ever built for the series.

Awards

Throughout its five seasons, Stargate Atlantis won several awards, including a Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Visual Effects and a Leo Award for Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series for Joe Flanigan's performance.

Quotes

• Dr. Rodney McKay: "I'm not certain if the shield will hold up under a direct ZPM-powered drone attack. ... It's sort of like being hit by a missile that won’t stop until it's vaporized you."
• Lt. Colonel John Sheppard: "In the middle of my backswing?!"
• Ronon Dex: "I had a run-in with the Wraith. They tried to turn me into one of them."

Music, Soundtrack

• The main theme of Stargate Atlantis is composed by Joel Goldsmith, continuing the music legacy of Stargate franchise. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for the series in 2005.
• Throughout the series, Goldsmith expertly uses the show’s music and soundtrack to augment the emotion and scale of various scenes, intertwining music with character moments and imposing action scenes.