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It's hard to kill of characters in science-fiction, and no one shouts that louder than SciFi Channel's "Stargate: Atlantis." See: Carson Beckett.

But fans of former expedition leader Elizabeth Weir will have to settle with history because she not only won't return in the fifth season, she may not return at all.

"It's very unlikely," Joseph Mallozzi, executive producer of "Stargate: Atlantis," told reporters from sites including Airlock Alpha during a press conference Tuesday. "She came back and did a couple of guest spots, and we pitched out the idea of her possibly coming back in a Replicator storyline. Ultimately, we contacted her about doing it, and she was a little reluctant."

Instead, Higginson suggested the writers maybe look at providing some closure for Weir, despite the fact the writing team wanted to keep the door open for future appearances by the actress. Mallozzi said the writers crafted what would've been a good way to say good-bye to Weir, but once again, Higginson didn't seem interested.

"We sent her a script to review, and ultimately, she passed," Mallozzi said. "It's too bad. We would've loved to have her come back and see her on the show. I think at this point she has moved beyond the show and is looking elsewhere."

In the meantime, the expedition has a new leader in the form of none other than Richard Woolsey, the annoying by-the-book character played in a recurring role on both Stargate series by Robert Picardo. The actor, best known to genre fans for his role as the holographic doctor in "Star Trek: Voyager," told reporters that there was an added challenge for him. Not only did he have to fill a role once occupied by Higginson, but one that most recently was played by very popular actress Amanda Tapping, bringing over her Samantha Carter character from "Stargate SG-1."

"I'm really having a ball," Picardo said. "He's an unexpected choice for this job, and that is what I think the viewers will hopefully respond to the way I have. I think that it was a bold thing for the producers to pick a guy like this who doesn't seem to be necessarily the first choice for a leader, but to have him try and make himself into one. And that is the interesting and creative choice."

When producers realized that Tapping wouldn't be able to balance "Atlantis" with her new SciFi Channel series "Sanctuary," Mallozzi said there really was no other choice in everyone's mind but Picardo to take over the starring role.

"It was a hard decision for Amanda, and you know, we were sorry to see her go," Mallozzi said. "It also presented to us a situation to bring Bob over. There really wasn't a short list of candidates to consider. So we called him and asked him, 'What would you think about coming over and becoming a regular?' and we were fully prepared for him to say, 'Are you kidding?'

"I'm happy to say that he was more than amenable."

Fans have been debating since the announcement earlier this year of Picardo's casting whether or not Woolsey is the best choice for the expedition leadership role in "Atlantis," but part of strong drama is the growth and evolution of characters, and Woolsey has a lot of room to do just that in the upcoming fifth season.

"Woolsey appears briefly at the end of the fifth season opener 'Search and Rescue' and abruptly relieves Carter of command with his characteristic gruffness and lack of interpersonal skills," Picardo said. "That is your first experience of him."

However, by the second episode, Woolsey faces his first major crisis, and realizes that out in the field, you can't be by-the-book.

"He has broken protocol five times in his first crisis, and that puts him in a personal crisis at the end of the show," Picardo said. "He's always defined himself as someone who knows the rulebook and evaluates others to live by it. He earns the respect of Col. Sheppard, and demonstrates a capacity [to evolve] that he hasn't shown thus far."

"Stargate: Atlantis" premieres its fifth season July 11 at 10 p.m. ET on SciFi Channel.

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