Fans of Michael Shanks — and especially those who are mothers — may have an extra special present in store for them this weekend, as The Hallmark Channel premieres a Mother’s Day-themed movie featuring the actor behind Stargate SG-1‘s favorite archaeologist.

Living Out Loud is the story of a family dealing with the trials and tribulations brought to them by a breast cancer diagnosis. Shanks plays Brad Marshall, husband to Emily (Gail O’Grady from NYPD Blue), who after receiving her diagnosis goes straight into chemotherapy. This leaves Brad to take care of the family solo without her daily support, a situation made tougher by his emotional distance to the kids because of being a workaholic.

GateWorld talked exclusively with Shanks during his appearance at Creation Entertainment’s Vancouver Stargate Convention this month. During our conversation with him, he talked about the film and how proud he was of it.

“I saw a copy of it. It’s very good! Gail is wonderful in it!” Shanks said. “After doing so much stuff that’s based in borrowed concepts, and saving the world and saving the universe, and trying to save your butt from the villain kind of thing. To do just a sort of simple slice of life family story with kids and home and mortgage and blah, blah, blah is a nice departure. And it’s a good movie.“

“It’s not a thriller and it’s not a creature feature,” Shanks added. “It’s a slice of life family movie and I really enjoyed doing it as well as really enjoyed watching it. It’s got a nice heart to it.”

Shanks also recently spoke to SCI FI Wire about Stargate Universe, and his role within it.

“There are some darker elements to it. It’s visually stunning.” Shanks said. And I really look forward not only to seeing it [completed, with finished visual effects], but also the audience’s reaction to it. It’s not your father’s Stargate. It’s a very different kind of show. ‘It won’t be quiet on the bulletin boards’ is the best way to put it.”

Shanks also confirmed that fans looking for Daniel Jackson to have an expansive role in the pilot for Universe are going to be disappointed.

“It’s a cameo. It’s a popping in, popping out kind of thing,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of cast that they definitely need to facilitate. Certainly the Stargate audience knows my character and Richard’s character and Amanda’s character and the others that show up very well. So they have to spend some time developing their world and fleshing out their characters. So I’m just a face.”

Keep it locked to GateWorld for more updates, including a brand-new, exclusive interview with Michael Shanks in the weeks ahead! Living Out Loud premieres in the United States this Saturday, May 2 at 9 p.m. (8 Central) on The Hallmark Channel.

(Thanks to Morjana for contributing)