It’s been fifteen years since the first reboot of Battlestar Galactica. Now Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail wants to give it a new look. The reboot will premiere on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock.
Esmail will executive produce with Chad Hamilton at Anonymous Content. The search for a writer is under way. Esmail will not give any details about the new take. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a source says “the show will be an updated, more modern look at the world as told through the lens of the sci-fi favorite.”
Image source: gettyimages.com
The original series debuted in 1978 by creator Glen Larson. The story focused on a fleet of humans who survived a calculated attack by cybernetic beings known as Cylons. The Cylons are determined to eliminate the human race and chase the Battlestar Galactica ship and its fleet through space. The original show starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict. It ran for one season in the late ’70s before being canceled. The fans were not happy about the cancellation and petitioned to bring it back. That eventually led to a revival in 1980 but it would be 23 years before we returned to this story.
Ron Moore developed the first reboot in a 2003 miniseries that led to 2004 series that ran for four seasons on Syfy. Moore’s reboot is much darker, and featured more detailed lives of the characters. Changes were made to update the story, but the scariest change was in the Cylons that was the biggest twist of television at that time. The Syfy series starred Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, Michael Hogan, Aaron Douglas, James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park. This series produced two spin-off shows.
Esmail plans to base his series on Moore’s version more than Larson’s. On Tuesday, he tweeted, “BSG fans, this will NOT be a remake of the amazing series @RonDMoore launched because … why mess with perfection? Instead, we’ll explore a new story within the mythology while staying true to the spirit of Battlestar. So say we all!”
https://twitter.com/samesmail/status/1173987378894999552
This is very interesting. How can Esmail not bring in something that Larson originated or Moore inserted into the story? The show is a sign of the times when it was produced. Our world has changed so much in the last fifteen years, so I’m excited to see what Esmail comes up with. He’s been very successful with the technology based Mr. Robot. But! BSG is a lot to live up to.
NBC’s Peacock will also stream Moore’s BSG mini-series and series. The new streaming service will launch in Spring 2020. Stick with Geek Girl Authority for the latest on this developing series.
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News Editor, Senior Contributor, and Press Editor. Coordinate breaking news, trailers and press releases. I also contribute reviews, recaps and interviews. Creator of the Indigenerd Wire, a column dedicated to the Indigenous creatives in pop culture.
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