Stargate: Atlantis' Higginson Bows Out

Joseph Mallozzi, executive producer of SCI FI Channel's original series Stargate Atlantis, told SCI FI Wire that it's unlikely former series regular Torri Higginson would return as Dr. Elizabeth Weir in the upcoming fifth season, though her storyline was left hanging.

But Jill Wagner's renegade leader Larrin may return in a future Stargate: Atlantis season. Higginson turned down a script that brought back her character, Mallozzi said in an interview. (Fans recall that Weir died and was resurrected as a human-form Replicator and leader of the surviving Replicators in season four.)

"To be honest, I think it's highly unlikely" that Higginson will come back to Stargate: Atlantis, Mallozzi said. "She did a couple of guest spots last season and was excited about finishing up the Replicator storyline and was very excited about coming back."

Mallozzi added: "Initially, Higginson was a little reluctant, and perhaps she was thinking about her fans. She wanted to create closure for her character, but we wanted to keep the character alive. ... We sent the script for review, and ultimately she passed. We would have loved to have Higginson come back ... I think at this point she's moved beyond Stargate: Atlantis and is looking elsewhere, and we wish her the best of luck. She did a terrific job, but we will not see her in season five, and it was her choice, and we respect her decision."

Wagner, meanwhile, will be back. Indeed, producers had wanted to bring Wagner's Larrin back in season five of Stargate: Atlantis, but scheduling conflicts got in the way. "We wanted to bring Jill Wagner back, but she was working on something else," Mallozzi said. "I talked to her, and she was awesome in the past season, and we haven't killed her off. Even if we had, our track record doesn't necessarily mean she's gone for good. There is in season six of Stargate: Atlantis a potential to bring her back. So, yeah, why not?"

Stargate: Atlantis' fifth season premieres July 11at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

-Mike Szymanski