First story details for ‘Vegas’

The cast and crew of Stargate Atlantis head south to shoot the nineteenth episode of the season in Las Vegas, and now the first story details have arrived at GateWorld. “Vegas” will shoot in late September, the final episode of the series to go before cameras.

Written and directed by series co-creator Robert C. Cooper, the episode looks to be a very different take on Stargate, mimicking the hit C.S.I. crime procedural series in its tone, setting, and visual effects … with a decidedly sci-fi twist, of course.

When another body turns up in the desert outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, Detective John Sheppard is called in to investigate. Sheppard is a homicide detective, but the murderer he has to hunt down now is unlike anyone — or any thing — he has ever seen.

Sheppard tries to dodge a news reporter when he arrives at the crime scene. The reporter suggests that, if this victim is like the others, the city may have a serial killer on its hands. The local authorities have already arrived, and show Sheppard the body: it looks as if the man had the life sucked out of him.

At Detective Sheppard’s office, Captain Lopez introduces him to someone who will aid him in his investigation: Agent Woolsey of the F.B.I.

Elsewhere, in a cheap motel, a very ill, middle-aged businessman throws up. To make life worse, his neighbor is blaring heavy metal music. The man collects himself and goes over to pound on the door. He’s shocked by what he sees when the door opens. A Wraith hand reaches out to feed.

Guest characters include Captain Lopez, a crime scene news reporter, a crime scene officer, a sick guy, a nurse, a hotel manager, and a Wraith.

“Vegas” looks to be an homage to the C.S.I. franchise, with familiar shots like the rapid-fire flashbacks into the victim’s past, and visual effects close-ups into the body as it is drained of life.

Just how “Detective Sheppard” and his investigation will fit into the familiar Atlantis universe we know remains to be seen. It could be reminiscent of the last time we saw a Stargate team inexplicably in other jobs on Earth — in the Stargate SG-1 episode “The Changeling,” when Teal’c was near death and dreamed of another reality.

“Vegas” will make its debut in December or early January on the SCI FI Channel in the United States! Don’t miss the next brand new episode of Stargate Atlantis, “Whispers,” September 5 at 10 p.m. (9 Central) on the SCI FI Channel.