They confirmed it in a press release on August 21st, 2008. The fifth season, currently airing on the Sci-Fi channel, will end in January of 2009.
Stargate Atlantis, and the show it spun off from, Stargate SG-1, are wildly popular amongst science fiction fanatics. The show's main mythology is based off the Stargate movie - which came out in 1994 and starred Kurt Russell and James Spader - and follows the idea that there are "stargates"; interstellar teleportation devices that lead to other worlds. The stargates were discovered by the US military in the 1920s and because of this, the two show's main protagonists are mostly comprised of military officers and scientists. SG-1 is based in the Milky Way galaxy where as Atlantis, alternately, takes place in the fictional Pegasus galaxy.
Why, oh Why?
"We're excited to tell Atlantis stories on a bigger canvas," Wright and Cooper tell Gateworld, a popular Stargate fansite. "The successes of the two original Stargate DTV movies The Ark of Truth and Continuum have shown us the opportunities that the movie format offers. We have plans for both SG-1 and Atlantis to remain vital as we expand the franchise." Ultimately, the show is coming to an end only in the season format; the powers that be have decided to go the route of Stargate SG-1 and have Stargate Atlantis appear in two hour movies. Sci-Fi has the rights to the movie - set to be written by executive producers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie - before they are released to DVD. This season will end in a cliffhanger, to which the movie will wrap up.
But Wait! There's More!
Never fear, however. SG-1 and Atlantis may have ended, but the Stargate franchise isn't done yet. Next up is a new series entitled Stargate: Universe. The series is set to premiere in 2009, soon after Atlantis has ended. The show is set to have a younger cast and more character based plots, instead of the mythology that has driven the last two shows. Additionally, the show will take place on a ship entitled Destiny rather than on a military base, like its predecessors had.
Wright and Cooper are enthusiastic about the changes being made to the Stargate universe, but as for the audience.....they have yet to decide.
Sci-Fi Channel's Stargate: Atlantis airs Friday nights at 9/8c
