Amanda Tapping will be returning with an all star cast in Season Five, which begins filming in a few weeks time in Canada. Due to the nature of the writers’ strike Stargate Atlantis is not affected.
Tapping, who starred in the online version of “Sanctuary,” plans to follow the show onto the cable channel thus limiting her availability for “Atlantis,” a role she took on following the end of the 10-year run of “Stargate SG-1.”
That doesn’t mean there won’t be any Samantha Carter for Season 5, however. SciFi Channel officials said that Tapping will make guest appearances on “several episode” of “Atlantis” during its fifth season, but will still be more focused on the 13-episode order of “Sanctuary,” which she plays Dr. Helen Magnus, a woman on a quest to track down, aid and protect all manner of strange creatures that walk the Earth.
“Sanctuary,” a pet project of “SG-1” producer Damian Kindler and “Atlantis” scribe Martin Wood using live action characters in a computer-generated universe. In fact, not much will change from the Web to television as “Sanctuary” will become the medium’s first ever series using live actors against mostly virtual sets.
The show will have a production feel similar to that of the movies “300” and “Sin City.” Along with Tapping, the show also will include Sam Egan of “Jeremiah” fame as an executive producer.
“‘Sanctuary’ promises to be a totally fresh television viewing experience,” said Mark Stern, VP of original programming for SciFi Channel. “This stylistic approach to virtual sets has proven hugely popular on the big screen, and we have been looking for a chance to use it on a television series. We’ve worked with Damian, Martin, Amanda and Sam on numerous projects in the past, and think they are the perfect team to tackle something this ambitious.”
No premiere date has been set, but a reworking of the series pilot is in the works that will help expand existing characters and bring the Internet series to the network.
Tapping spent 10 years as Samantha Carter on “SG-1,” and is slated to appear in two upcoming direct-to-DVD movies based on the show.