It isn’t unheard of for a niche sci-fi series to reach millions of viewers due to impeccable writing, impressive performances, and immersive lore. But Battlestar Galactica was particularly exquisite.

A reboot from the ‘70s sci-fi series of the same name, the reimagined show vastly improved upon its inspiration. With themes of religion, xenophobia, and prejudice, Battlestar Galactica was a product of its time. Released in the prime era of Bush America, the series threw a harsh magnifier against the policies of the United States, particularly the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And on top of it all, the series was bizarre, unique, and utterly unforgettable. 

But for first-time viewers, this may be a lot to take on. While only four seasons, Battlestar Galactica had a miniseries, films, and a prequel television show. And that isn’t to mention the series that started it all. When it comes to watching the mid-aughts reboot of the original, watching the series as it aired is the best way for newcomers to experience one of sci-fi’s best achievements.

Battlestar Galactica Miniseries (2003)

Many may argue that to understand Ronald D. Moore’s ambitious initiative, watching the original is the best way to go. But thanks to the Battlestar Galactica Miniseries, that isn’t necessary. Fans should feel free to watch the 1978 show, but the reboot was different enough that it isn’t required viewing. And the network made it quite accessible to explore the show without being too overwhelming. 

Before the main drag of the series occurred, Sci-Fi aired a two-part miniseries to introduce viewers to the world. Immediately it was clear that this was not your mother’s Battlestar Galactica. Instead of the walking chrome toasters that defined the Centurion robot villains known as the Cylons (Cybernetic Lifeform Node), they took on a more human appearance. The miniseries clearly explains that humans created these robots as a workforce in the 12 Colonies. As they gained sentience, they rebelled against their masters. The war starts between the two factions until the Cylons disappear. 

The miniseries starts as they reappear, this time evolving to look no different than humans. The two parts cover the Cylon attack on humanity and their belief that they are God’s chosen children. The last dregs of society remain on the Battlestar Galactica, a warship that was about to be decommissioned, led by Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) and their search for a new home.

Battlestar Galactica seasons 1 and 2 (2004–2006)

The 4 season series picks up almost exactly where the series leaves off. The Battlestar, along with a humble civilian convoy, races to escape the Cylons as they continue to attack them. Adama is helped by his humorless XO, Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan), his son Captain Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber), and the impulsive hotshot Viper pilot, Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Katee Sackhoff). The series weaves together a compelling drama as the military on the Battlestar encounters this new breed of Cylons and the characters confront what it means to be human. 

Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007)

Following season 2, Sci-Fi released a television film event that follows Pegasus, another Battlestar fighting against the Cylons. Pegasus was featured in the latter half of the second season and featured Michelle Forbes as the hardlined iral Helena Cain, who has a different perspective on the Cylons than Adama. Razor takes place between “The Captain’s Hand” and “Lay Down Your Burdens,” and shows the Pegasus before it meets up with the Galactica in the second season of the series. Razor is a supplemental film that adds more context to the Pegasus’ twisted philosophy concerning the Cylons.

Battlestar Galactica seasons 3 and 4 (2006 — 2009)

The final seasons of Battlestar Galactica wrap up the cultural phenomenon. Season 3 shows humanity attempting to settle on an inhospitable new planet under a Cylon regime. The series finale aired in March of 2009, pulling together one of the most bizarre and entertaining finales in recent memory. The reimagining of the original series came to a close with all the magic and mystery the series was known for.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

After finishing the series, viewers can go back and revisit the story from the Cylon perspective. The television film includes new footage showing the Cylons’ intentions interspersed with footage of the miniseries as well as the subsequent seasons of the show. This is best viewed after watching the entire series, so there are no spoilers.

Battlestar Galactica: Web Series

With the influx of streaming culture, webisodes are a thing of the past. But they used to be additional material that added to the experience of many series of the time. Here are the following Battlestar Galactica web series in chronological order, which were only available online.

• The Resistance
• Razor Flashbacks
• The Face of the Enemy
• Blood & Chrome

Caprica

In 2010, a prequel series to the Battlestar Galactica reboot aired on Sci-Fi. Set half a century before the events of the Galactica, the series follows Daniel Graystone (Eric Stolz), who creates the first Colonial Cylon after his daughter dies in a terrorist attack. Caprica differed greatly from its predecessor and has not stood the test of time. It only lasted one season before cancelation. Though it takes place before the events of Battlestar Galactica, it does not add too much to the greater understanding of the world and pales in comparison to the previous series.

A big part of entertainment culture during the late 20th and early 21st century was the wide variety of sci-fi shows on television. The stories were always interesting, and they covered everything from space missions and alien to AI and robot takeover.

Yet, many series got canceled faster than hyper speed. Viewers might think cancellations were in part due to poor writing or performances, but the truth is that many fell victim to bad timing. If the show didn’t make a profit, or came during a public crisis (look how many shows didn’t renew for a second season due to COVID), it meant it was time to abort ship and set photon blasters back to zero.

Now, 30 years later (if not more in some cases), with CGI looking more pristine than ever, and social platforms becoming green-light makers (like what Twitter did for Doctor Who on BBC America), there’s no better time for these sci-fi gems to get a second chance. 

10. Firefly

A small but fervent fan base holds Firefly in extremely high regard, considering it one of the biggest television tragedies of all time. Joss Whedon, known for his work in the Avengers MCU and universally revered as the “Nerd God,” turned his space western into a beloved cult classic, even though it was sadly only in production for one lonely season.

Nothing else on television at the time could compare to Firefly, thanks to its entertaining ensemble of characters, meticulously designed universe, and Whedon’s signature humor. Fox ruined the series by not promoting it enough, airing the episodes in the wrong order, and eventually canceling it because of low viewership. While the 2005 film Serenity did help quench the thirst for Firefly audiences, it wasn’t enough to bring it back.

9. Battlestar Galactica

The serious tone of Battlestar Galactica reflects the toll of war and the annihilation of civilization, in contrast to its campier 1970s version it was based on. The four seasons of Battlestar Galactica, together with its prequels and spin-offs, provide a compelling tale and clearly expresses how fans have not had enough of the series. Rumor has it that Sam Esmail of Mr. Robot is working on a Battlestar Galactica reboot for Peacock, but it’s still too early to tell if fans would embrace a fresh perspective or lament the loss of the show they knew and loved.

8. The X-Files

The X-Files revolutionized science fiction television and continues to inspire imitators with its deft handling of both solo mysteries and broader sci-fi plots. The X-Files was one of the lucky few shows to endure for so long and to do so while also surviving a major cast shakeup. Seasons 10 (2016) and 11 (2018), the two shortened revival seasons, are among the worst in the series’ history and demonstrate that it should remain in the past. Yet a complete relaunch aimed at a new generation sounds like it could be quite promising. I want to believe it could happen.

7. Westworld

Westworld’s debut on HBO was praised by many, and the first season’s popularity made people think that the sci-fi show would become HBO’s next Game of Thrones. That feeling slowly subsided, as the next seasons of Westworld left fans with mixed emotions. The show tried too hard to get ahead of the audience, which made the narrative too hard to follow at times. Yet as many felt the show began to improve by season 4, it wasn’t enough to avoid the ax of cancellation. Without the closure so many fans desperately want, Westworld has become the Wild West, and it will be a while before the property can be rebooted again.

6. Stargate Universe

Stargate Universe was supposed to be different from the other shows in the franchise, hoping to recreate the success of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Unfortunately, it didn’t capture the imagination of audiences and critics the same way its predecessors had. It was about a group of scientists led by Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle) who were looking into connections with other worlds outside of the Milky Way Galaxy. After two seasons, the end of SGU didn’t give a clear answer about whether or not there was life on other planets after the Big Bang. Instead, it left a big gaping black hole in the hearts of many fans, who wanted it to be a monster hit like Atlantis. Maybe another voyage with their spacecraft Destiny would do the trick.

5. Heroes

Heroes has the makings of a changer in the superhero genre game. Unfortunately, the writers couldn’t hold up plot and character arcs for too long, and the show started to go downhill fast. Heroes was canceled after four seasons, then brought back as a mini-series, Heroes Reborn, in 2015, but didn’t ignite the interest of critics or fans. Another reboot today could do the series some justice. The superhero genre could use a refresh, and harking on normal people coming to with their extraordinary powers is something audiences can cling onto again. Who doesn’t love a good origin story? Especially when a whole series revolves around it. Maybe the third time is the real charm. 

4. Babylon 5

Star Trek shan’t be mentioned on this list, since it has been redone more times than CBS paid Sylvester Stallone to air the Rocky movies in the 1980’s. Instead, we’ll include its close rival that also explored politics, culture, and emotional drama in a distant future in uncharted space. That show is Babylon 5. Coined as “Casablanca in space,” the show explored the lives of crew on the titular space station. Revisiting those crew is something creator J. Michael Straczynski wouldn’t mind doing for the CW. The network’s changing reorg, however, along with re-prioritization in programming, has left its future on the table. Fans haven’t completely given up on the fate of Babylon 5, but the lack of prioritization from CW might mean the end for the space comrades. 

3. Dark Angel

In the late ‘90s, there was a trend of strong female characters in television, sci-fi included. Thus Dark Angel got produced as a trend-setter, launching Jessica Alba to mega fame, and co-created by none other than Terminator director James Cameron. The show, inspired by the manga Battle Angel Alita, featured Max Guevara (Alba), a supersoldier who escaped at a young age from a secret military camp called Manticore. As an adult, she made it her mission to find her brothers and sisters with the help of cyber-journalist Logan Cale (Michael Weatherly). Although it made it to the third season, it was canceled after being outranked by the success of the competing series, Angel. Today, with the comeback of shows starring female leads (The Handmaid Tale, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, and Netflix’s oh-so-good but also oh-so-canceled Glow come to mind), why not give Dark Angel a second chance to ride again into the night?

2. Almost Human

Seeing Detective John Kennex (Karl Urban) and Police “Synthetic” Dorian (Michael Ealy) work together made people wonder if a robot could be more humane than actual human cops. Even though it quickly became popular, it only had a short lived single season of 13 episodes, due to the deadly combo of low viewership and high production costs.

When Being Human moved away from its British roots, it really shined and delivered big with fans. A lot of reviewers thought that the British show could have finished a season earlier, but they thought that the American show could have gone on for a lot longer. Keeping the British source material to heart, diehard fans still believe there are way more stories to be told and character arcs to explore. Plus, with Karl Urban’s insane success with The Boys and Dredd fans awaiting its long lost sequel, now is the perfect time to bring back and reboot this cult hit.

1. Sliders

In the mid-1990s, Sliders was a must-watch for science fiction fans. Quinn Mallory and his close-knit group of friends find wormholes that let them “slide” to other worlds, but they can only go to each one once. The science may be hard to follow, but the brilliant combo of a hot ensemble cast and a witty self-awareness made it stand the test of time despite its cancellation after 5 seasons due to creative and political differences between its show-runners and Fox studios. The co-creators of the show and some of its original stars have talked about a new season of Sliders for a few years now, but it hasn’t happened yet. There’s a chance that the success of similar sci-fi revivals, like Quantum Leap and Doctor Who, will be looked at first before making more Sliders happen.

Netflix recently took audiences back to Northern California for season five of everyone’s favorite romantic drama, Virgin River. The fictional town is home to some of the most beloved characters in the genre and some high-stakes drama that hit peak levels in the newest batch of episodes. Mel Monroe didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she moved to the small town, and despite her initial hesitation, it has grown to feel like home.

As we all know, the people around you make a place feel like home, and Mel has found some great ones, one of which is John ‘Preacher’ Middleton. Played by Colin Lawrence, who also starred in everything from Battlestar Galactica and Endgame to Supernatural, he’s a force to be reckoned with, on and off-screen. As for Preacher, the former marine turned chef at Jack’s Bar, he’s part of the glue that holds the town together, and his ties to the town also come from his friendship with Jack Sheridan, with whom he served in the Marines.

Preacher is the heartbeat of Virgin River, and with a complex storyline in season five, viewers are wondering what his future looks like within the series. With a lot of heartache happening around him, have things pushed our beloved Preacher out of town, or is he a part of Virgin River to stay?

Does Preacher stay in Virgin River?

Preacher’s kitchen, what would Virgin River be without it? Luckily, we won’t have to find out. Preacher is here to stay; we couldn’t be happier about it. Of course, the waters were rocky for a bit in the latest season with Preacher, especially regarding the woman who he hasn’t been able to keep out of his heart from the beginning, Paige.

Paige moved to Virgin River to escape the throws of her abusive ex-husband, Wes, with her son, and it was supposed to be a fresh start, a safe place to begin again with the person she most loved. However, in season 2, Wes found them and attacked her before threatening to take their son. In a moment of fear and panic, she pushed Wes down the stairs, leading to his death. Paige called Preacher and asked for help hiding the body, and she left her son in his custody as she left to make sense of everything that happened.

Unfortunately, Wes had a twin brother named Vince who returned to finish what he’d started, and he kidnapped Christopher. Paige returns when she learns of Vince’s presence, and the abduction of her son, and things only get more complicated from there. Preacher finds Christopher, but they soon find out that Vince has taken Paige and shot Jack. Jack only suffered an injury, and fans were thrilled to learn that he’d survived and were equally as happy to know that Paige and Christopher made it out alive, too.

Unfortunately, Paige wouldn’t ever feel safe in Virgin River again, and she vows to keep her son safe, so she takes Christopher and moves away from the town and away from Preacher, too. Fans wondered if Preacher would leave to be with the woman he loved, but his ties to the town are keeping him there, and he loves Paige and Chris enough to let them go be safe, too.

There is a two-part holiday special that will also serve as the completion of season five on the horizon, and we can’t wait to see what Christmas magic will bring to our favorite town residents. You can watch all five seasons of Virgin River on Netflix now.

Any conversation about the greatest remakes of all-time isn’t complete without the reimagined Battlestar Galactica being somewhere near the very top of the list. In fact, even if it wasn’t based on an existing property, it’s still good enough to be ed as one of the finest TV shows ever made.

Once the show came to an official end in 2009, there was a clamor to continue telling more stories set in the universe without diluting the quality of a stone-cold small screen classic, so it was inevitable that the prequel route would be taken sooner rather than later. When it came, though, Blood & Chrome failed on two fronts.

Originating as a 10-episode webseries that followed a younger version of Edward James Olmos’ William Adama 10 years into the first Cylon War, Blood & Chrome was intended to act as a backdoor pilot to a potential recurring series that would flesh out the events in between the two conflicts opposite the formidable alien foes.

Instead, it wasn’t picked up for a full-season order, and fans had to wait even longer to see it re-edited and broadcast as a standalone feature film, which finally aired more than two years after shooting had concluded. In the end, it was more of a footnote to Battlestar Galactica than an essential piece of the puzzle, but it has at least captured imaginations on streaming more than a decade later.

Per FlixPatrol, Blood & Chrome in its 131-minute uninterrupted form has wound up as one of the most-watched movies on the iTunes charts this weekend, even if you’re better off revisiting the incredible episodic adventure instead.

Oscar and Emmy nominated actor Dean Stockwell has died at the age of 85.

Stockwell, whose stage and screen career spanned 70 years, ed away in the early hours of November 7. He died peacefully at home of natural causes, as confirmed to Deadline by a family representative. Stockwell is best ed for his roles in the likes of Quantum Leap and Blue Velvet.

Stockwell played Rear iral Albert “Al” Calavicci opposite Scott Bakula’s Dr. Sam Beckett on Quantum Leap, with the pair being the only two stars to appear in all 97 episodes of the cult-favorite sci-fi series. Stockwell later returned to the genre to portray Brother John Cavil, one of the main Cylon villains on Battlestar Galactica. He debuted in the season 2 finale and went on to feature as the main antagonist of the fourth and final run, as well as returning for the 2010 spinoff film Battlestar Galactica: The Plan.

Meanwhile, Stockwell had a prolific film career, from his first big-screen role in 1945’s The Horn Blows at Midnight to his final role in 2016’s Max Rose, released following his retirement from acting in 2015. In between, he featured in many scene-stealing ing roles in such productions as Blue Velvet and 1984’s Dune, both from director David Lynch. In the latter, he played Dr. Wellington Yeuh, a character revived by Chang Chen in the recent Warner Bros. release.

Stockwell also earned himself an Academy Award nomination for Best ing Actor for his turn in crime comedy Married to the Mob. This is arguably the highest accolade he achieved in a career filled with awards recognition. During his time on Quantum Leap, for instance, the star came away with four Prime-time Emmy nominations and two Golden Globes noms, as well as one Golden Globe win.

Since his acting retirement, Stockwell switched tracks to focus on his art, making and exhibiting his work across the U.S. under his full name, Robert Dean Stockwell. He is survived by his wife, Joy, and their two children, Austin and Sophie.

It’s been well over a decade since the final episode of space opera Battlestar Galactica first aired, seeing a conclusion to the tale of the last of humanity’s survival after being hounded for years by the robotic and cyborg Cylons. The series’ creator and showrunner Ronald D. Moore recently spoke about the finale and among other things, revealed how it was originally far longer than that which aired. The end of the series brings the story to its final conclusion, seeing the human survivors and rebel Cylons find a new home on Earth, our Earth circa 150,000 BC, and the theological implications of their journey and everything they experienced along the way being dealt with more directly. Titled “Daybreak,” the plot ran to about two hours and twenty minutes over three parts, but according to Moore, there was much more of it.

“The original cut was probably closer to four hours. There was a different structure in the script than what ended up on screen. The structure in the script was much less linear – it was very non-linear. I was doing flashbacks and current stuff and mixing up the flashbacks.”

He went on to explain the decision, saying:

“When you laid it out like that in film it was really hard to follow. As much as I wanted it to work, people around me were going ‘I’m not sure it works. Maybe you should make it linear.’ Then I started feeling like maybe you’re right.”

After making the change, he found the structure was fundamentally altered, stating:

“There were some scenes that worked and some scenes going too long. So that’s what the difference between the four-hour and the three-hour was. It was really just changing the structure, tightening up, and making the usual cuts and edits you do on almost any piece of film to just get it down to its fighting weight.”

Although Battlestar Galactica began strong, it had started to waver long before its end, particularly in the early episodes of season 3, where the moral ambiguity and multi-layered individuals made way for characters taking various roles in a ham-fisted allegory of America’s occupation of Iraq. A significant issue, aside from a series of uninteresting romantic subplots and the reneged upon promise of the adequate resolution of earlier mysteries, was the increasingly unsubtle religious subtext that the finale capped off with hallucinatory characters revealed to be angels, and a final revelation of “Uh, yeah, God did it” in an explanation that would have had a first-year creative writing student publicly pilloried for even considering, along with God’s final message to humanity being the lyrics to “All Along the Watchtower,” suggesting that God himself is in fact Jimi Hendrix. Snarking aside, it sounds like Moore made the best decision for the material as it was, as making something needlessly complicated only risks alienating your audience. However, as we now live in a world where fans demanding an alternate version of something loudly enough for long enough can get their way, it might not be long before Battlestar Galactica gets caught up in this, with cries of #ReleaseTheMooreCut doing the rounds.

Universal has been trying for some time to make a Battlestar Galactica movie and now it seems that dream is closer to becoming a reality. And that’s because the much discussed remake is reportedly back in development and looking to launch the famous sci-fi franchise onto the big screen. It was announced back in 2016 that Universal was attempting to bring the hit TV series to theaters with some big names involved. Set to helm the project was Red Sparrow and Constantine director Francis Lawrence. Fifty Shades Freed producer Michael De Luca was attached as well and rounding out the list was Lisa Joy, one of the creators of the hit HBO series Westworld, who was brought on as a writer for the cinematic endeavor. But it’s been a few years now since we’ve see any sign of life from the project, leading many to believe it had quietly died. Now, however, we’re hearing from our sources – the same ones who told us last year that National Treasure 3 was happening and a new Scream movie is in the works, both of which were later confirmed – that the Battlestar Galactica remake is back in development. In fact, not only is it back on track, but casting has apparently begun as well and currently, producers are looking to fill the roles of Adama and Starbuck. The premise for the movie will also reportedly be the same as the TV show. After a Cylon attack lays waste to their 12 colonies in space and devastates the population, the last capital ship that survived the tragedy, the Battlestar Galactica, will lead the survivors on a journey to the fabled 13th colony called Earth. Plot details beyond that are still hazy, but again, it sounds like this should stick fairly close to the original. Unfortunately, that’s all we’ve got to go on for now, but rest assured, as the Battlestar Galactica franchise looks to be blasting off into cinemas after all and once we learn more, we’ll certainly let you know.

It’s been in and out of development for years now, but it looks like Universal is finally going to get a big screen outing for the crew of the Battlestar Galactica off the ground and into space to take on those fracking toasters. Variety reports that the studio has hired Westworld scribe Lisa Joy to write the new adaptation, and that they’re also looking to The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence to helm the project, though he hasn’t signed on just yet. BSG began as a campy ABC TV series back in 1979, but arguably the more popular incarnation was SyFy’s 2003 reinvention, which put a much darker spin on the premise and garnered huge praise from viewers and critics alike. Though this new movie may utilize many of the same characters (Starbuck, Apollo etc.), it’s unlikely that it will directly tie-in to that show, which has disappointed quite a few of its devoted fans. Tell us, are you excited about the prospect of a Battlestar Galactica movie, or do you think that it’s one property that should be left alone? Sound off below and let us know!

Some TV shows can do no wrong and, against all the odds, manage to produce uniformly high quality episodes week after week, season after season. They never ever serve up a dud. Well, except maybe just once. Yes, even the best series that television has to offer have produced at least one stinker, that single episode that seems like it belongs to another show entirely – so poorly does it treat the usually brilliant characters or tell an oddly weak storyline. Those boring filler episodes that contribute nothing to the overall story arc or, heaven forbid, those finales which totally screw up the landing. Such installments aren’t necessarily the absolute worst episodes of television ever, but they are some of the most disappointing, as they fall significantly below the high bar set by the rest of their respective series. So, on that note, us as we count down 9 of the most awful episodes that featured in awesome TV shows. There will be some spoilers here, but given that most of these shows are now off air, you should be safe to proceed.

Since its debut in 1978, Battlestar Galactica has never really been absent from popular culture. That first series may have only run for one season, but it has been rebooted, re-imagined and re-worked more times than anyone over the age of 35 would probably care to . Despite more failures to launch than successful orbits, Universal has assembled a team of powerhouse producers to make a Battlestar Galactica movie franchise a reality. Michael De Luca (Captain Phillips, Moneyball, The Social Network, and the Fifty Shades franchise), Scott Stuber (The Break-Up, The Kingdom, Ted) and Dylan Clark (The Heat, the Planet Of The Apes franchise) are combining their considerable forces to begin piecing together what the studio hopes will become a movie series of the tent-pole variety. While that sounds, perhaps, ill-advised, it is certainly the case that the Battlestar Galactica brand has enormous potential for development. Created by Glen A. Larson (Magnum P.I, Knight Rider, Buck Rogers In The 25th Century), the original series lasted just 21 episodes, and starred Richard Hatch as Captain Apollo, Dirk Benedict as Lieutenant Starbuck, and Lorne Greene as Commander Adama. The premise set up a rich history, in which a delegation of humanity had reached the Twelve Colonies, having migrated from their home of Kobol. However, a perpetual state of war between the Twelve Colonies and the Cylons (a race of cybernetic beings intent on the destruction of the human race) led to humanity being betrayed by a human named Baltar. The Colonies and its protective forces came under brutal Cylon attack – devastating the population and sending the surviving humans fleeing to the stars aboard the Battlestar Galactica. Under constant threat of further ambush, the survivors search for the safety of the mythical Earth. Attempts were made in 1980 and 2003 to revive the show, but success was elusive until Ronald D. Moore created a reboot show that ran from 2004 to 2009. Maintaining the original premise, the show modernized its details, having its storylines focus on human drama, while dealing with issues such as race, religion, gender and sexuality. By the end of its run, it had garnered more than thirty awards. A prequel series – Caprica – failed to make it past the end of its first season in 2010, and a pilot for another prequel series – Blood & Chrome – was not picked up after production in 2013. But, the potential remains, and Universal apparently hopes to tap it. The question is, will there be room on the cinema screen for a Battlestar Galactica universe, alongside Star Trek, and Star Wars? There is one way in which producers De Luca, Stuber and Clark could help it stand out from the crowd, and that is to include diverse range of voices and creators right from the very start. Given that the project has yet to have any writers or directors attached to it, this is the perfect opportunity to actually get it right.

Sometimes, there’s a movie project that just doesn’t go away. They rumble on in the background for decades, with concepts kept alive only by the sheer willpower of those dedicated individuals involved. Battlestar Galactica is one such project – but now, it seems like it’s one step closer to fruition as Transcendence writer Jack Paglen has been hired to deliver a script. Created by Glen A. Larson (Knight Rider, Magnum P.I, Quincy M.E) as a science fiction TV series in 1978, Battlestar Galactica ran for one season – ending in April 1979. It featured the premise that would provide the basis for every iteration of the show that followed – that our future humanity has migrated to a distant area of the galaxy, known as the Twelve Colonies, from where they have been defending themselves against a cybernetic race known as The Cylons. During a vicious attack, human survivors flee aboard spaceships, but are picked off by the enemy. Only the Battlestar Galactica seems to survive, and heads off in search of the mythical colony known as Earth. A year after cancellation, 10 episodes of Battlestar 1980 were broadcast. After that cancellation, Larson, original series star Richard Hatch and director Bryan Singer all worked tirelessly to revive the show. Prior to 2003, it was Singer that came closest, with sets being partially constructed for a TV miniseries for FOX TV. That attempt was ultimately shelved due to production delays, which caused Singer to exit the project for his commitments to X2. All the pieces came together in 2003, however, with a three hour miniseries on the Sci Fi Channel, written by Ronald D Moore (Star Trek), and produced by David Eick (Hercules, Xena, American Gothic). Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell were cast, with originally male characters Starbuck and Boomer now filled by Katee Sackhoff and Grace Park. The success of the endeavour led to a new weekly TV series in 2004, which ran until 2009. But, finally achieving television success with the concept – 25 years after it originally aired – was not enough. Apart from TV movies Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007) and Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2008), networks determined that there was more cash in this cow, and attempted some spin-off series. A prequel show – Caprica – ran from January 2010 to October 2010, while Syfy proposed Blood And Chrome – which didn’t even make it to broadcast, and became a 10-part webseries instead. At the same time, negotiations were underway for a feature film. Larson entered talks with Universal in 2009 as the successful series ended, and Bryan Singer intended to direct the project – but was once again needed elsewhere for Jack The Giant Slayer. John Orloff (Band Of Brothers) climbed aboard to write the script, which was being revised by 2012. The project all but fell silent once again, until Jack Paglen arrived on the scene. As his first feature film screenplay is about to hit cinemas with Transcendence, this rising star has a great deal of momentum behind him and has been hired to write the script for Battlestar Galactica, in addition to the sequel to Prometheus. Glen A. Larson is still locked in as producer, as Battlestar fans around the world hold their collective breath once again. Could Paglen be the new blood this project needs? Will Bryan Singer finally get to direct it? Will Battlestar Galactica reach its cinematic destination at last? Stay tuned for further developments, as and when they happen.