We are still anxiously awaiting SCI FI Channel’s press release announcing the cast of Stargate Atlantis for the show’s fifth season, which begins filming later this month. That release has been pushed back to tomorrow (Tuesday), according to executive producer Joseph Mallozzi (blog). But tonight we can squash a few rumors and speculation, thanks in large part to the executive producer.
The items below are tagged as CONFIRMED, DENIED, or — if we don’t have solid confirmation either way — RUMOR.
Tapping will make a still unspecified number of guest appearances in Season Five.
What does seem clear, based on Mallozzi’s comments to date, is that one of the show’s current main characters (notably Sheppard or McKay) will not be promoted to base commander. The new guy or gal will be a new addition to the main cast.
The manner in which the character is introduced in the episode suggests that she is a significant new addition (not a one-off guest, or a female Lorne), but the number of already-confirmed regular cast members make it less likely that she will be quite at that status.
Nothing specific has been said about Hewlett’s return, but McKay remains a central part of the Atlantis team and appears in the script for the first episode.
In sum, our expectation on the eve of the press release is that the main cast of Stargate Atlantis for Season Five will include Joe Flanigan, Rachel Luttrell, Jason Momoa, David Hewlett, and a new cast member playing the new commander of Atlantis. We anticipate that Jewel Staite (“Jennifer Keller”), Paul McGillion, and perhaps the actress cast to play Alison Porter, will be recurring.
Both Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis have had either five or six regular cast members each season, and making Porter (or Staite’s character, for that matter) a regular would probably mean bumping that number to seven.
Note that the distinction between “regular” and “recurring” does not necessarily affect the number of episodes in which an actor will appear. (Series regulars appear in the show’s opening title sequence.) As a regular Tapping appears in 14 of this season’s 20 episodes; as recurring McGillion appeared in some 16 episodes in the first season, and about the same after he was made a regular. Jewel Staite was recurring in Season Four but was widely treated as a full-fledged cast member in the show’s promotional efforts, including cast photos.
Again, remember that everything here is based on educated speculation from the evidence currently available. Stay tuned to GateWorld for the official news as soon as SCI FI Channel announces it!
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