Actor Christopher Judge (“Teal’c”) will appear in an early fourth season episode of Stargate Atlantis. Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi revealed the news in a phone interview with Maureen Ryan, who writes “The Watcher” (Spoiler Warning!) column for the Chicago Tribune.

Judge’s appearance will be a cameo, rather than central to the episode’s story, in “Reunion,” Mallozzi later told fans on his blog.

Mallozzi also said there are currently no plans for Stargate SG-1 actors Michael Shanks (“Daniel Jackson”), Ben Browder (“Cameron Mitchell”), or Claudia Black (“Vala Mal Doran”) to appear in Atlantis episodes, but did not rule out the possibility in the future.

SG-1‘s Amanda Tapping (“Samantha Carter”) will join the show as a regular cast member next season (story).

The cast and crew of Atlantis are currently finishing the first week of filming for Season Four, which will premiere this fall on SCI FI Channel in the U.S. New episodes of Season Three begin airing April 13.