Fifth season will include 100th episode

"Stargate Atlantis" begins shooting its fifth season soon, and with it comes the addition of a new castmember and an important milestone.

The People's Choice Award winner will begin production later in February for its new 20-episode season that will include the series' benchmark 100th episode, it was announced Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Also, actor Robert Picardo, who has appeared as International Oversight Committee rep Richard Wooley on previous episodes will officially join the "Atlantis" cast this season as he takes command of the Atlantis expedition. The team of military and civilian explorers use the Ancients-created Stargate to travel to the Pegasus galaxy in order to find other technologies left behind the Ancients.

In this pivotal season, change is the watchword. Friends are lost and made, while alliances are forged and new alien races are discovered. Wooley's unique leadership style requires a bit of an adjustment for the team led by Lt. Colonel Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and including Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), Teyla (Rachel Luttrell), Ronon (Jason Momoa) and Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite).

As previously announced, the characters Col. Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping), Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) and the late Dr. Carson Beckett (Paul McGillion) will return for a handful of episodes apiece as guest stars this upcoming season.

"Stargate Atlantis" is filmed in Vancouver, Canada.