Shanks set for mid-season Atlantis visit

You can’t keep a good archaeologist down! Dr. Daniel Jackson will return to the city of the Ancients in Season Five, when actor Michael Shanks makes his second guest appearance on the spin-off series.

Shanks will appear in two episodes — specifically the mid-season two-parter, according to executive producer Joseph Mallozzi (blog). Story details are still unknown, as are the episode titles.

The two-parter will be written by Atlantis writer-producer Martin Gero.

Shanks’s first guest appearance on Atlantis was all the way back in the series premiere, “Rising.” Though Daniel found the key to reaching the lost city of the Ancients, he wasn’t allowed to join the expedition to actually go there. Only in the Stargate SG-1 episode “The Pegasus Project” did he finally set foot in the city he helped to discover.

Shanks also appears in two SG-1 DVD movies due out this year. Stargate: The Ark of Truth will be in stores March 11 (Amazon.com), followed by Stargate: Continuum (expected in July, but not yet officially announced).

The actor has also recently completed filming a new (currently untitled) movie for The Hallmark Channel, according to Michael Shanks Online. His first Stargate audio book, “Gift of the Gods,” will be available in April (story).

Season Five of Stargate Atlantis is now in production in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is expected to premiere later this year. Check out GateWorld’s growing episode guide to learn more!