Picardo: ‘I’m definitely an oddball choice’

When Amanda Tapping decided not to return for Season Five of Stargate Atlantis due to her commitments with new series Sanctuary, it didn’t take long before a new successor for the role of expedition leader was chosen.

And while Robert Picardo‘s Richard Woolsey may not have necessarily been the top-of-mind choice with fans to take over in Tapping’s absence, the actor feels that his character’s presence full-time will be a good thing for the series. In a new interview with Newsarama, the actor discussed his thoughts on why he was offered the expanded role.

“Frankly, when they hired me for the job, I went, ‘Oh God, that’s interesting!'” Picardo said. “Of course I love working here. I love the company. I’m treated beautifully and I love coming to Vancouver. So all the outside things were like ‘Yes, yes, of course I want to do it!’

“Then there was a little voice going ‘Wait a minute! You’ve set this guy up as kind of an annoyance, a bit of a prig. I come in and evaluate you so you all better watch out and be on your best behavior! I’m going to find out who screwed up!’ Now suddenly he’s the guy in charge and he’s a briefing room guy. He’s a think tank personality.”

“Woolsey is not a leader,” Picardo told the site. “He evaluates other leaders. He’s got a terrific legal mind, he knows the military rule book, knows all the rules about protocol, eliminating collateral damage, and acceptable losses but he doesn’t make decisions. Woolsey just comes in and tells you how you screwed up.”

For Picardo, a shift in the character from someone who thinks he has all the answers to someone who is put to the test is a logical progression.

Mr. Woolsey must evaluate those in command — but has often found himself relying on them for his very life. From “The Scourge.”

“[We] had set up certain precedents that I was a little concerned about because I didn’t want to suddenly become a different character,” Picardo said. “But on the other hand, I thought if the writers are choosing to do this, it’s for the exact reason to put someone in charge who’s not a born leader, to see what happens, how he develops, and how he’s accepted. That’s more fun for me and I think it’s very creative of the producers to try something like that here because I’m definitely an oddball choice.”

Don’t worry, though. The Richard Woolsey fans have come to know and love (or hate) won’t change personalities completely. His reaction to dangerous situations on the Ancient outpost will remain the same.

“We’ve set Woolsey up as a non-action guy. He’s a theorist, not a real hero, so he’s learning that,” Picardo said. “When there’s actual danger, I have to take it extremely seriously because I haven’t survived through 80 episodes the way the rest of the guys have. I’m new to it so I can’t do that. In a dire circumstance, you won’t see my character winking at the camera but I can still have a writer’s joke. And you’ll still have a laugh at that moment. I had to totally commit emotionally to my fear in that moment, rather than step outside of it the way one of the other characters who are a little more ‘I’ve looked down the jaws of death before …’ I haven’t so I have to play it a different way but the writers are still having a little fun in a very serious moment.”

Don’t miss the entire interview now at Newsarama! Season Five of Stargate Atlantis begins airing on SCI FI in the U.S. on Friday, July 11. For more information on the new season, visit GateWorld’s episode guide — and keep it locked here for more Atlantis news as the premiere date inches closer.