Torri Higginson (“Elizabeth Weir”) will no longer be a main cast member in the fourth season of Stargate Atlantis, executive producer Brad Wright revealed in a new video interview now online at StargateSG1.com, MGM’s official site for the series.

“Torri Higginson is coming back for some period of time,” Wright said. “She’s going to be a recurring character.”

The news follows on recent reports that cast member Paul McGillion (“Carson Beckett”) will be departing the series late in the current season (story).

Just how many episodes “recurring” means is also unknown. After the first season of Atlantis, co-star Rainbow Sun Francks (“Aiden Ford”) was reduced to recurring status apparently as a means of removing him from the show. He appeared in four episodes the next season, and his character has not been heard from since.

On the other hand, Weir could remain in charge of Atlantis despite the status change, but simply not appear in as many episodes. In the history of Stargate, such actors as McGillion (in the show’s first season), David Nykl (“Radek Zelenka”), and SG-1‘s Teryl Rothery (“Janet Fraiser”) have appeared in more than half of a season with “recurring” status.

Stick with GateWorld for future developments. Season Four of Stargate Atlantis will start filming in February and is expected to premiere next summer on the SCI FI Channel in the United States.