New entries to the Battlestar Galactica franchise are coming to the big and small screen in
the form of a brand new film from Universal and a television series to premiere on the
streaming service Peacock.
While these new installments are still in their early stages of production there has
been an update regarding the status of the film’s schedule which provided a clarification
regarding the connection between these different productions.
In this video I’d like to discuss this newest update and what this could mean for the future
of the Battlestar Galactica franchise.
NBCUniversal first announced their intention to create a new Battlestar Galactica series
back in 2019 with Mr. Robot and Homecoming executive producer Sam Esmail attached to
produce this ambitious project.
Michael Lesslie was originally set to write for the series but has since left for another
project.
There has been no replacement announced at the time of this video so for the time being
it appears production on the series is at a standstill.
In regards to the upcoming film it has been in development for much longer as plans for
a new movie were first announced as far back as 2009 with X-Men producer Bryan Singer originally
set to direct.
In 2017 however a deal was officially struck between Universal and Dylan Clark to produce
the new Battlestar Galactica movie.
Simon Kinberg, writer and producer of several X-Men films, was announced back in 2020 as
the writer and producer for this highly anticipated project.
Though he’s worked as a director before there were no stated plans for him to do so
for this film.
In an official statement after this announcement Kinberg said quote: “‘Battlestar Galactica’
is one of the holy grails in science fiction, and I couldn’t be more excited about bringing
something new to the franchise, while honoring what’s made it so iconic and enduring.
I’m so grateful that Dylan and my partners at Universal have trusted me with this incredible
universe.”
Since then updates have been scarce.
However, in a recent interview with Collider to promote his latest film The 355 Kinberg
was asked about the status of the film and confirmed that it was indeed moving forward
and that he was done with the second draft of the script.
He continued saying quote: "We are in the process of going out to directors and the
hope is to attach a director and start prepping the movie this year.
It's a megillah, humongous film and the prep will be a very long prep period so I would
imagine even if we attached a director today it would take six, nine months to prep this
movie properly.
So at the earliest, we'd be shooting at the end of this year.
We'd probably be shooting at the beginning of next year.
Time will tell who the director is and then you or someone else will tell who the director
is."
Kinberg did reveal a lot about where they’re at with production which gives us a better
idea of when we can expect this film to premiere.
As he stated he’s completed the second draft of the script and is in the process of scouting
for directors.
Since he speculated that shooting would be at its earliest at the end of this year it
is certainly an indicator that it's still quite a ways off.
At this time it's unclear if the film or series will premiere first.
In regards to the relationship between these two producers and whether there is any connection
between these two Battlestar Galactica projects.
Kinberg elaborated on that as well… saying: "In terms of the situation with Sam and the
show, I can't say too much about it other than there is synergy between the two enterprises
and constant communication between us.
We've become close and been having a really good time together and there will be, for
lack of a better phrase and it's an overused phrase, a shared universe."
The topic of shared universes has been cropping up more and more frequently in recent years
especially in connection with the superhero genre.
His careful phrasing is intriguing considering early reports regarding these 2 different
productions indicated that they were not intended to be connected to each other.
However the constant communication between Kinberg and Esmail provides evidence of a
deeper connection that’s contrary to those earlier reports.
Considering the producer’s reluctance to use the term “shared universe” however
I wonder if the 2 projects will simply not coincide or contradict in the sense that they
will be covering different points in the Battlestar Galactica timeline far removed from each other
in that sense but still technically coexisting.
Sam Esmail has already confirmed that his series on Peacock is not a reboot of Ronald
D. Moore’s reimagined Battlestar Galactica show saying “why mess with perfection?”
and commenting on the richness of the mythology and how much there was to pick from and explore.
Simon Kinberg in this most recent interview echoes a similar sentiment in regards to his
own contribution to this franchise when asked if his film would connect to the earlier reimagined
series.
Kinberg prefaced his response by saying that was a hard question he wasn’t sure he was
allowed to answer however he did say this: "There are connections, but it is certainly
not simply a continuation or a remake of Ron Moore's masterpiece."
Because he’s being purposely vague it’s hard to know exactly what he means by it’s
not simply a continuation or remake but it is clear that he holds the same reverence
as Sam Esmail for Moore’s valued contribution to this franchise and is not interested in
replacing or rebooting his masterpiece.
I will be impressed if both entries can manage to craft new and compelling stories from lore
previously unexplored.
Most people these days groan at the term Reboot simply because it has become so overused highlighting
the creative bankruptcy that exists in Hollywood.
I’d much rather see an addition to the universe of Battlestar Galactica in the form of a continuation
or a moment in time with room to explore and expound upon what’s already been established.
Fans have interest in a film covering the events of the First Cylon War or perhaps a
story centering around the rebel centurion cylons that with their new freedom went off
to find a new life for themselves out in the universe at the end of Moore’s series.
Battlestar Galactica is unique in that it ends up telling the story of our own history
so it could be interesting to see either of these projects take place on Earth itself
far into our future.
The Cycle of Violence between man and machine was a major theme of Moore’s series so it
wouldn’t be a stretch to see humans eventually come to enslave intelligent machines that
inevitably rise up inciting a brand new conflict.
These stories wouldn’t necessarily contradict Moore’s series with the possible exception
of whether or not they decided to cover the First Cylon War.
If that was the case, there would definitely need to be caution if well known characters
were to be featured.
And while Esmail and Kinberg have both maintained the stance that their respective installments
aren’t reboots of Moore’s Battlestar Galactica series there also has never been any mention
of whether that also includes the short lived prequel series Caprica.
Considering that particular series was canceled early on I wonder if either producer would
consider retelling the story of the creation and subsequent rebellion of the Cylons on
Caprica.
Especially considering the fact that there was a lot left unexplored, particularly the
uprising of machines and the war that followed.
I’m glad that both projects are on the same page in regards to previous installments and
that they have been maintaining communication so as to have some level of synergy between
the two.
Of course, whether or not they nail the execution of these projects remains to be seen.
They certainly have their work cut out for them and some giant shoes to fill given the
popularity of both Glen A. Larson’s original and Ronald D. Moore’s reimagined series’.
But I’m curious to know what you think about this update from Simon Kinberg.
How do you feel about the prospect of new additions to the Battlestar Galactica franchise?
Do you have any theories or any storylines you would like to see covered in a new film
and series?
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
I hope you enjoyed this video.
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and fantasy news and lore.
Thank you all so much for your support and as always have a very nerdy day.