Fans of Stargate Atlantis may never see Stargate: Extinction on the small screen, but at least we have a screenwriter who is prepared to spill (some of the) beans about the story that wasn’t to be. Atlantis executive producer Joseph Mallozzi recently posted about the film’s scripted opening in a post at his blog.
Mallozzi wrote the script for the film with writing partner Paul Mullie, and together they would have executive produced the movie. It was originally announced to air on Syfy Channel after the television series was cancelled after five years on the air.
Though the movie isn’t destined to be produced, beware of what some might still consider spoilers below. After all, Mallozzi has suggested that MGM may be considering releasing the full story in another format, such as a novel or comic book.
When last we left our heroes, they had brought the ancient city-ship of Atlantis to Earth to defend their home from a Wraith attack. With the Wraith still threatening the Pegasus Galaxy — not to mention Ronan, Teyla, and Todd still on board — would the city be staying?
“The movie would have picked up not long after the events of the Season Five finale, ‘Enemy At the Gate,’” Mallozzi said. “In the opening scene, two astronauts (who turn out to be a couple of familiar faces – Amelia Banks and Major Lorne) take a walk on the surface of the moon, their lunar stroll ending with a reveal of the city of Atlantis. A shuttle carrying Sam Carter and a group of dignitaries sweeps overhead and lands.
“Within the city’s atmospherically shielded confines, Carter and her guests meet up with the science team headed by – who else? – Rodney McKay. Frustrated by the interruption to his ongoing research, McKay demonstrates a certain impatience with the whole dog-and-pony show, running through standards explanations, overviews, questions, and answers until – an alarm suddenly sounds. The bewildered dignitaries are ushered out, leaving McKay, Carter, and Zelenka to investigate.
“An examination of the city’s systems reveal the worst. A self-destruct has been initiated – a safeguard, Rodney surmises, put in place by the Ancients in the event Atlantis was ever removed from the Pegasus Galaxy. And, once triggered, it cannot be disabled. Nothing short of a return to the Pegasus Galaxy will save the city from certain destruction. Of course, getting it there is easier said than done …
“Anyway, that was the basic premise: A seeming new beginning. A threat to the city. And a desperate bid to outrace a deadly countdown.”
The writer-producer said that, when the script was first written, they hoped that it would serve as a two-part premiere to set the stage for Season Six.
Mallozzi promised more hints at Extinction in the days to come. Stay tuned!
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I don't know about the whole ticking clock. But it sounds great especially the Atlantis on the moon part. I also say that even we can't get this Fandemonium's legacy series is a somewhat good substitute. WIsh we had the movie
In before the naysayers. Whatever gets them back to Pegasus where they belong is all good in my eyes. And this is just the opening scene or two, the main action and storyline is yet to be revealed.
Well here are the naysayers. That is a crap idea. Its just a big reset button. Frankly if this is the best writers can come up with, then im glad the film wasn't made. I'd rather read the legacy series.
Well, I guess this explains why the Ancients couldn't just take Atlantis with them when they left, although I'm not sure what logic is behind putting a safeguard in place, just in the off chance someone took the entire city outside of the Galaxy. Never mind that is can be moved to another planet in a different solar system.
Still, sounds like it would have been a good movie though, sad that it didn't happen.
man... i want to slap the $**t out of someone at mgm for discontinuing the sg franchise
Didnt Atlantis take off from Antartica in the 1st episode? surely it must be capable of recognizing where it returned to (relitivly!!)
@kook916, how about averyone at MGM and SYFY that contributed to Stargate's demise?
Not the best of ideas really. I liked the fact Atlantis was back where it should be. Just send Teyla and Ronan home and forget about the Wraith.
Thats bad. It doesn't even make sense.
First, why put that kind of safeguard, the gate only accepted incoming wormholes from Earth but now the explorers cant take it back to its original planet? If you know humans are coming back in 10,000 years, then you must assume there a good chance they'll try to bring back the city to Earth, or at least their galaxy. I know, the Wraith could've take control of Atlantis at any moment in that period, develop a gene therapy of their own, find Earth location and fly it there someone. But you program the self-destruct to activate when the city detects Wraiths "living" in the city, not the city location in space. Thats just stupid.
Second, the ZPMs were most certainly not entirely drained in the battle with the super-hive, but that, on top of the wormhole-drive trip and Earth reentry, i would guess at least one if not two are depleted (remember the 3 were not new to start with). And then you go and fire up the star-drive again to park it on the moon where it needs it shields 24/7. Whats the point? Keep it on Earth somewhere remote were no planes and almost no ship ever goes. You have the cloak for the occasional visitor. Put a satellite in geosynchronous orbit to scramble "spy" satellite signals and voila! If Earth is attacked, the base of operation is 365,000 to 405,000 kilometers away, thats stupid! Can the Atlantis chair control the Antarctic drones from that far? Are the drones still in Antarctica or were moved with the chair to Area 51 (so basically destroyed too)? Or used to refill Atlantis? Also the working gate is on Atlantis, meaning in the event of a catastrophic situation, only the people there could be evacuated to another planet, that too is stupid. Might as well put it on Mars.
Im disappointed in the writers imagination... again.
I don't know about everyone else, but as soon as I read that the self destruct could only be stopped by going to Atlantis, I got the feeling that it's something that Rodney set up. He wants to go back and finish his work there, not to mention helping out Ronon, so he rigged a self destruct.