Is Battlestar Galactica the Reboot We Need Right Now?
Battlestar Galactica is back in the conversation. But should it be?
By Kayti Burt
The Battlestar Galactica franchise began life as a 1970s TV show, initially very popular despite criticisms for its comparisons to Star Wars.
The series follows the last surviving humans as they flee through space from the Cylons, a group of warrior robots created by a long-dead reptilian race.
The original Battlestar Galactica ran for one, 24-episode season in 1978 and 1979, and was quickly followed by a 10-episode spinoff series called Galactica 1980.
In 2003, BSG was reimagined by Ronald D. Moore into a miniseries and four-season TV saga hailed by critics for its blending of space opera and sociopolitical drama.
In this version, the Cylons are artificially created life-forms that look and feel human, and were originally built by the humans they seek to destroy.
The reimagined BSG launched two spin-off prequel series: Caprica and webseries Blood and Chrome.
Universal is looking to grow the Battlestar franchise again, with two BSG projects in active development…
In September 2019, an “original series” from Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail was announced as in development at Peacock.
A NEW BSG TV SHOW
Esmail revealed on Twitter that the revival will “explore a new story within the mythology while staying true to the spirit of Battlestar.”
Last week, it was announced that X-Men franchise writer Simon Kinberg has signed on to write and produce a BSG movie for Universal.
A NEW BSG MOVIE
But what would an expanded Battlestar Galactica franchise look like?
When BSG was reimagined in 2003, it revolutionized the TV landscape. It was the rare series on television that thoughtfully engaged with the grimdark realities of our post-9/11 world, and it did so through a genre lens.
Now, the TV landscape is filled with genre-driven tales that reflect some of the darkest parts of our reality. Do we need another one?
In 2017, the cast of Battlestar Galactica came together at the ATX Television Festival to celebrate the show. Cast member James Callis told Den of Geek…
“A lot of people think Battlestar is very, very dark. [Showrunner Ron Moore] always said to me that he wrote it out of hope. It’s not about the darkness. It’s about what we can do if we get together.”