The cancellation earlier this month of Stargate Universe by Syfy has derailed plans for the frequently discussed Stargate Atlantis direct-to-DVD movie.

"I’m sorry to say but the cancellation puts the brakes on whatever progress the SGA movie had made in the past month, shelving it indefinitely," executive producer Joseph Mallozzi wrote on his blog, adding that "the cancellation of SGU is very bad news for those looking forward to an Atlantis movie."

Announced in August 2008 immediately following news that the fifth season would be the last for Atlantis, the two-hour direct-to-DVD movie -- eventually titled Stargate: Extinction -- was to reunite most of the cast and lay the groundwork for further installments. However, the recession and the decline in DVD sales reportedly led the movie to be placed on hold.

When asked over the weekend whether fans were simply told there would be an Atlantis movie "to get us to shut up," Mallozzi responded: "Paul [Mullie] and I didn’t write an Atlantis movie script (Extinction) just so that it could decorate somebody’s office. We had every intention of making the movie but obvious circumstances – the bottom falling out of the DVD market paired with studio issues – delayed production. The studio is finally (just this past month) in a position to move forward on new productions – but the cancellation of SGU has put the brakes on any progress that may have been made on the SGA movie front."

Mallozzi, who served as an executive producer on all three Stargate series, also told fans that a new installment of the franchise "isn’t even being considered."

He did, however, hold out hope that Stargate Universe could have a future. Asked whether the show might continue in another format, or be picked up by another network, Mallozzi responded that "all options are being considered at this point."

The final 10 episodes of Stargate Universe will air this spring on Syfy.

(via TV Squad)