Stargate Atlantiswas a spinoff ofStargate SG-1, which was itself launched by the success of the original feature filmStargate(1994). The show was set inthe fictional lost city of Atlantis, a myth that gets reworked in this series to be an ancient spaceship. The ship is submerged when the Atlantis expedition arrives, having transported themselves from their home galaxy to the Pegasus galaxy. Their mission of exploration reawakens the city and unearths new foes and allies.
Atlantis became populated by multiple compelling characters, and as a result so was the seriesStargate Atlantis. The new cast of explorers ranged from Air Force personnel to alien consultants, and their adventures showcased their various relationships. There were romances, deaths, and of course conflict, but the characters were the anchor point for the audience. Their performers incited viewers to return over and over, and in the years since the show last aired, it’s clear their charismapaved the way for successful careers.
RELATED:Stargate SG-1 Cast: Where Are They Now?
Torri Higginson
As the leader of the Atlantis expedition, Higginson’s Elizabeth Weir had the difficult job of corralling trouble-magnet away teams. The character of Weir was a regular on the show until season 4, when her role was replaced by the character of Samantha Carter, played by Amanda Tapping.
Higginson acted inmany sci-fi and fantasy productionsbefore enteringStargate, and she’s had a laudable career since she took her last step out of one. She has appeared inNCIS, as well asDark Matter, and most recently was upgraded to a regular on the ongoing medical dramaTransplant(2020-present).
Joe Flanigan
John Sheppard was the leader of the primary Atlantis missions, and as a result took on a lot of responsibility. Sheppard was often the first line of defense for Atlantis, along with his teammates, with whom he had strong friendships. Flanigan’s ability toportray humor and gravitas in the same sceneendeared him to audiences, as did his rapport with his castmates.
Since starring inStargate Atlantis, Flanigan has featured in numerous projects, most recently inGeneral Hospital, the movieLet Us In(2021), andSee. The latter series also stars his old castmate Jason Momoa.
Jason Momoa
Easily the most recognizable face fromStargate Atlantisis Momoa, who had his breakthrough role inGame of Thronesas the fearsome Khal Drogo. In theStargateuniverse, he portrayed a no-nonsense warrior with a bit of a temper, character traits that have recurred in roles throughout Momoa’s famous career.
Since playing the Satedan runner Ronon Dex, Momoa has starred inConan the Barbarian(2011),Justice League(2017),Aquaman(2018), andDune(2021).HisAquamansequel will be released in 2023, as will the tenthFast & Furiousmovie,Fast X, in which he portrays the main villain. After four years of beating up Wraith, Momoa has flourished in Hollywood.
Rachel Luttrell
Luttrell portrayed the wise and burdened Teyla Emmagan, a warrior and leader from the planet Athos. Teyla was often the voice of reason on the Atlantis away team, having a healthy wariness of the Wraith and a constant fear for her people. She was also one of the few people who could manage the impulsiveness of Ronon and Sheppard.
Luttrell played Teyla with immense dignity, and since that role has gone on to feature inNCIS,NCIS: Los Angeles,Arrow, andThe I-Land. She has also released an album of jazz music, and had a cameo inZombieland: Double Tap(2019).
David Hewlett
As the irascible Dr. McKay, Hewlett garnered a wide fanbase. Rodney McKay was a key character on theStargate Atlantisteam, due to his technological and scientific intelligence. He was also overly confident in his abilities, leading to more than one mishap on the show.
Hewlett has taken on a diverse range of projects as an actor since appearing onStargate Atlantis, making for a very interesting career. He has featured inRise of the Planet of the Apes(2011),The Shape of Water(2017), the showSeealongside former castmates Joe Flanigan and Jason Momoa, andGuillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities(2022).
Paul McGillion
McGillion played Dr. Carson Beckett, appearing as a guest star in season 1 ofStargate Atlantisbefore being upgraded to a main star in seasons 2 and 3. Beckett was a Scottish physician who used sarcasm and tough love to ground the Atlantis expeditionary team members, and his untimely death in season 3 incensed the show’s fanbase.
McGillion has featured in a number of films and TV series since his stint inStargate Atlantis, includingThe Flash,The Good Doctor,Firefly Laneand the blockbusterSkyscraper(2018).
Jewel Staite
A veteran of the sci-fi world, Staite began her career as a child actress, and has had roles in multiple established franchises. Fans of the genre may recognize her fromFirefly.She featured onStargate Atlantis in seasons 4 and 5as the show’s new doctor, a slightly anxious character who had a will-they/won’t-they relationship with McKay.
Staite has had a consistent career in TV since the end ofStargate Atlantis, showing her versatility as a performer. She has appeared inThe Killing,Blindspot,The Good Doctor,The Magicians, and the reboot of the classic showQuantum Leap.
The cast ofStargate Atlantishad the tough job of following the success ofStargate SG-1, but adherence to the formula of the first show helped earn their favor with their audience. The charisma of the cast and the friendships that bloomed from the show’s production were also crucial to making the spinoff a triumph. Thetwo plannedStargate Atlantissequel movieswere canceled, but as seen above, this cast still found ways to work with one another after theirStargateexperience.
