Flanigan talks Atlantis cancellation
Stargate Atlantis leading man Joe Flanigan suggests that the cast of his show doesn’t get the recognition they deserve — and that the series’ cancellation could set a bad precedent for actors. Flanigan made the comments in a new Q&A with fans at the Hungarian broadcaster site AXN.
“No one is really certain why it was cancelled,” said Flanigan, who played Lt. Colonel John Sheppard for Atlantis’s 5-year, 100-episode run. “Every producer/executive lays the blame on the other so it’s becomes impossible to understand the true reasons. I think our cast did a truly amazing job in helping build a successful franchise, but I don’t think that it is seen that way by the writers and producers.”
The actor said that he won’t be appearing on the spin-off series Stargate Universe, which premieres in October. Should the new series be a hit with viewers, he fears that it may not bode well for actors in the franchise.
“If Universe is successful, the prevailing theory among the writers and producers will be that actors are dispensible and not a critical part of the show,” he said. “Only time will tell.”
As for his future, Flanigan said that he is reluctant to get involved with another television project unless the character is very interesting. “I have been really fortunate in my career and hope that I continue to be,” he said. “I have been offered a number of things since I quit Atlantis. Many of them require relocations that would prove too difficult on my family. Some are simply not as interesting as my role as John Sheppard. I am looking for a show that will really invest in their lead characters. I’ll be shooting a movie in July.”
This summer he will also appear in a guest role on the SCI FI Channel’s new series Warehouse 13 (story).
Flanigan said that he would also return to a future Stargate Atlantis project, “Probably. I miss my cast members and the crew. There is a lot of unexplored elements left for Atlantis. Personally I think it could have easily gone for another five years.”
Visit AXN to read the complete Q&A! Also don’t miss GateWorld’s exclusive new video interview with Joe.
(Thanks to wraithfodder for the tip)
DID YOU KNOW GATEWORLD IS ON TWITTER?
Follow us now for breaking Stargate news and site updates! |
Sign in below or register to post a comment.
Register |
Forgot password
RSS FEEDS |
DISCUSS AT GATEWORLD FORUM >
©2006-2009 GateWorld.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be reprinted without written consent from GateWorld. Click here to learn more.
Flanigan is spot on… I think this was SciFi (SYFY, trying to get in front of contract negotiations with the cast.. and just “starting over” with “cheaper” resources..
noneother | June 2 @ 9:09 pmI love Joe! He’s one of the more honest people in the biz. The entire interview is quite a bit lighter in tone and shows his sense of humor much more than in what you have excerpted above. But I understand that you are mainly reporting his statements as they relate to Stargate so some would not be relevent.
Sylvia | June 2 @ 9:12 pmJust wanted people to know he doesn’t seem to be all doom and darkness. :)
Would love to see the Chris Judge, David Hewlett and himself project that he mentioned!
It’s always great to see how he says what he thinks. And he says exactly the same thing most of the fans have been saying for ages.
atlantis4ever | June 2 @ 9:21 pmTo answer the questions he asks the fans at the site:
1) I’d watch Atlantis in the future in both the movie and series format (as long as Joe, David, Rachel and Jason are there). SGA has always been my only interest within the franchise. Never liked SG-1, won’t be watching SGU
2) I’d love a movie or series with him and David (Rachel and/or Jason would be great too). Hope the reason he asked about David, Chris Judge and him on a series is because there’s a project out there. I’ll definitely watch it if it’s greenlit.
Joe Flanigan rocks! Man, whomever actually is responsible for the premature cancelation of Atlantis made a really boneheaded decision. I look forward to seeing Joe on Warehouse 13 and in his new movie. I am glad to hear that he will not make an appearance on SGU. I am not supporting that project specifically because of how Atlantis’ cancelation was handled. Joe has his reasons, but why should he appear on SGU for the PTB? They made their decision to throw SGA, the cast and crew under the bus.
Dindy | June 2 @ 9:32 pmI’d love to see Joe do some projects with his former castmates Jason, David, and Rachel. It would be a lot of fun to see them together again. An SGA movie would be great (as long as it’s written well), but completely different projects would be excellent.
I wish Joe Flanigan all the best and hope he will keep making movies and showing up frenquently in our living rooms. (Seeing him on the big screen would be amazing!) I’ve missed seeing him every week! Your fans love you, Joe!! (Lots of potential malibuoceanhoney customers.)
He actually answered one of my questions, so I was thrilled!
Sylvia | June 2 @ 9:43 pmLazy Bees!!!!!
His story about his kids being in Kindred was cute, too. :)
I love how Joe always states his opinion, regardless of the consequences. And in this case, he stated exactly what many Atlantis fans had been thinking since the cancellation. I wish him all the best.
Rose | June 2 @ 9:46 pmApologies to the fanboys, but that’s utterly stupid. 5 years is a pretty respectable run, and the stories were definitely running out of steam already. I applaud teams who can end a series before it degenerates into boredom. I like SG1 much more than Atlantis, but would have been much happier without the last two (Ori) seasons.
The SGA->SGU switch is about refreshing the stories, not the cast. Although let’s be honest, there were brilliant actors in SGA, but Joe isn’t one of them.
lalo | June 2 @ 10:08 pm@lalo, I can understand if you don’t like Joe’s acting, to each his/her own (I happen to think he’s an excellent actor, perhaps too subtle for some?), but to call his views stupid is really rude and uncalled for.
Sylvia | June 2 @ 10:18 pmI think SGA could easily have gone for AT LEAST another season. However, in the wake of its cancellation, I will console myself with the idea that there would be one or two movies following. The cast of SGA was spectacular. With the amazing casts of both SG-1 and SGA, SGU has a lot to live up to. I miss Joe already.
swanodom | June 2 @ 11:14 pmMidway through the story, I was afraid that Joe might be so annoyed at TPTB that he won’t return for the SGA movie (whenever that gets greenlit).
QuinnMallory | June 3 @ 1:39 amI’m not sure why you put such a negative slant on the interview. You’ve made it look as if that’s all he talked about, and that’s just not true.
Sepha | June 3 @ 1:46 am@Sepha
Sylvia | June 3 @ 1:57 amCertainly helps fan the fire, doesn’t it?
There was tons of fun stuff too.
Scifi is a terrible channel. Theyve cancelled so many shows and their “scifi channel original movies” are the worst things humanity has ever made.
mehteh | June 3 @ 2:16 amI think JF is right. The actors made SGA. The cast was exceptionally skilled and talented. It was the writing that dragged the show down the most, in my opinion. In the hands of better writers (not that all of them were terrible), and a more capable network, I think SGA could have been the top sci fi show out there.
enviropony | June 3 @ 2:53 amI love that Joe always says what he thinks. Kinda refreshing in this business. I look forward to his next appearance, I’ll certainly follow him where ever he goes. And I think that it would be great if he, David Hewlett and Chris Judge appeared in a something together :)
And that interview? Was so funny. I loved that he would want to have a purple light saber if he was a Jedi :P
katikatnik | June 3 @ 3:07 amInteresting to hear that. I’ll not start to blame the writers and producers now, but I’ll certainly be more attentive…
Siba | June 3 @ 3:54 amI’ve just realised how much I’ve missed Stargate Atlantis. Gonna go watch some of it.
Man it really is like they broke up when big family. I’m sad now.
atlantis15 | June 3 @ 4:30 am*fist pound* Joe, you Rock man!! SciFi has been Jerking us viewers for a long long time. Of course, it was all about the actors.. Week after week that’s what we all tuned in for. Shepard, Mckay, Tayla and Ronan (and some of the other great supporting actors like Zelenka). They just don’t realize the however great the story line is, if the actors cannot portray the feelings, it’s gonna be a washout. Directors and Producers should stand up for these guys.
How enough already, toss the SGU and bring in the next season of Atlantis.
US06154 | June 3 @ 9:37 amI’m not sure I follow his logic, if anything the casting of Universe suggests that the producers value the actors more than ever, or they wouldn’t have made such an effort to cast the talent they have. Perhaps he’s just bitter that his show has been cancelled and a new one begun, because the notion that Universe’s success would convince the writers that actors don’t matter just doesn’t make sense.
Jenks | June 3 @ 11:15 ami agree with joe and this is not the only time he speaks his mind about the shows cancellation. i like the fact that he does this and it shows that he doesnt have to sugarcode everything and pretend that everything is ok.
mrs john sheppard | June 3 @ 11:59 am@Jenks I think what he’s saying (I could be wrong) is that TPTB view the actors as very expendable and feel that fans tune in to see a good sci-fi story and the Stargate franchise, and not out of desire to follow any one actor or his/her performances.
Sylvia | June 3 @ 12:12 pmLike ingredients in a recipe, if the cake doesn’t work or you are tired of it, just change out the chocolate for vanilla, and voila’ you have a new dessert.
While some people may like both kinds of cake equally, others my miss the chocolate and be upset.
I will be honest, I watched Stargate for Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett, not necessarily for any great writing or storylines.
I have yet to see whether these new folk will catch my attention.
What is with all of the bad mouthing of everyone? This is not the way to get another job in the future. Would any producer want to ever hire him when he just talks bad about them afterwards? If the franchise is making money and the fans are watching, then there must have been another reason to cancel the show….hmmm. Be a gentleman Joe and learn manners. The stuff coming out of your mouth is not making you look good. And for any fan who thinks the producers would just cancel the show out of spite are dreaming. There is a lot of money invested in making a TV Show and they wouldn’t let it go without valid reason.
wraithluver | June 3 @ 12:55 pm@wraithluver you could make your point without namecalling you know.
Sylvia | June 3 @ 1:02 pmJoe seems to be very honest and not afraid to speak his mind, something many people do not have the guts to do. He hasn’t been snarky or disrespectful or named any names, just presenting his thinking on the subject. That should be respected, even if you disagree.
That was a really fun chat and people should really read the entire thing, there’s very little there about SGA perse, to be honest. On the subject, Flanigan was the person in this room who was actually there — no one else who is commenting here knows what happened there so to make comments on this little bit taken out of context is silly. In the entirety of his remarks through the last — nearly year already — he has basically said what all of the actors have said — it’s was a shock, they don’t understand it, it isn’t good business etc… So his opinion of the situation is far more valid than any of ours about why the show was cancelled or how the actors were treated. :-)
kjhamnik | June 3 @ 1:42 pm@kjhamnik I agree that it’s a really fun little Q & A for the most part, I wish that had come through a bit more in the news story. Cause Joe is funny!
Sylvia | June 3 @ 1:56 pm