all this has happened before
Frak! There's a New Battlestar Galactica Movie on the Way
The Battlestar Galactica franchise is getting yet another chance at life, according to Variety. The newest incarnation of the sci-fi drama will take the form of a feature film written by Jack Paglen (Transcendence) and produced by original series creator Glen Larson; it will apparently serve as a "complete re-imagining" of the BSG story.
The original Battlestar series aired during the 1978-1979 TV season and was a kitschy space drama starring Lorne Greene, Dirk Benedict, and Richard Hatch. Hatch later starred in the contemporary re-imagining of the series from Ronald D. Moore and David Eick that aired for four seasons on Syfy between 2004 and 2009. Getting its start as a miniseries that aired on the network in 2003, the Syfy version of BSG starred Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Tricia Helfer, Michael Hogan, James Callis, and Jamie Bamber and explored the lives of the survivors of a nuclear attack by the Cylons, cybernetic creatures invented by man who evolved and eventually rebelled against their creators. The show eventually became one of the most critically adored series of the aughts as it tackled the subjects of science, religion, politics, and the deeply complicated notion of what makes us human.
Moore and Eick's Battlestar Galactica ultimately spawned the prequel spin-off Caprica, which was canceled after one season, the prequel web series Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, and two TV movies, Razor and The Plan. But the newest project to resurrect the franchise will not be an extension of the world created by Moore and Eick, but yet another re-imagining of the story. Which begs the question: Do we need another version of Battlestar Galactica? How many times can this story be retold?
I could make an argument for this film if it were being produced in 2009, soon after the series finale (there was a rumor back then that Bryan Singer was attached to direct such a project) or if existed in the same universe as the 2004 series. The BSG finale that aired in 2009 raised quite a few questions that I'd like to get some definite answers on, and there were plenty of interesting characters who probably deserved more screen time, but this feels like another Hollywood attempt to bleed every last ounce of originality and inspiration from an interesting concept until it looks as barren as the Earth where the remnants of Kara's charred viper were found.
But since Larson and Paglen didn't consult me on this, if this movie gets off the ground, what would you like to see happen? What would you change this time around? Do you think characters like Apollo and Starbuck will—or should—be featured, or would you prefer to see a new cast of characters? Sound off in the comments!
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...but to be honest, I TRULY LOVED the new re-make of the tv series between 2004 & 2009! I think they've got the "BSG" and the Cylons/Humans conflict so amazing, exactly as I was thinking (as child) back in 80s!
And to be more honest, as "Hellin" (Greek) and fan of Erich von Daniken's theory about how may the humanity started (from "Outer Space Gods"), I think this new re-make of "BSG" with Greek-Roman culture/religion/naming and Daniken's theory (as the show eventually ended, in a new "Earth" and helping the local "humans" to upgrade themselves), IS BY FAR THE BEST scenario they could imagine for the "BSG" saga.
Now... for a new "BSG" movie... but NOT BASED on the last tv series - but a new retold (again!) version of the saga... don't know.
I'm not saying "I don't like", but also not saying "I love it". Perhaps it will be like in 2004 when I originally took a seat to watch the new "BSG" tv series and I had in mind the original of the 80's. I didn't regretted it - I LOVED IT more.
Perhaps this new retold would be even better than 2004-2009 version - which I personally loved it and I've watched everything (including "The Plan" & "Razor" and Web-episodes) about... 10-11 times so far!
SO SAY WE ALL!
This was the thing we all wanted to see not another remake of story you will never tell better then they have done already damn it!
Want to see captain Adama progress through the ranks! and also how those religious nut's influence the Cylons
So much original viewing I was getting really excited I might actuallt get see MEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The other part I hated was the way the new series dealt with the lost tribe that ended on Earth. The story got kind of muddled and the mystery that was in the original was missing in the new series.
If they remake the series into a film, I hope they continue where the real Starbuck and Apollo from the original left off.
I got into Caprica, it was a little bit slow paced and then raced off at the speed of light at the end. Probably coz they knew it hadn't been renewed and wanted to finish the story. But it was just getting good when it finished, I thought it was a shame. They should just revive Caprica and cover the original Cylon war.
The creative artists have lost and the Suits have won. Suits. Administrators. Technocrats. Metro-sexual money-men (and women) who create formulas to guarantee profit margins. Because movies and television shows are not made to enlighten or even entertain but simply to make money. They will tell you it is (still) about story and character but all it is really about is efficiency. About The Formula. Because Harvard Business School Technocrats run Hollywood and what Technocrats know is what must be removed from all business is Risk. And I tell you life, real life, is all about risk. I tell you that without risk you have no creativity, no art. I tell you that without risk you have Remakes. You have Charlie’s Angels, The Saint, Mission Impossible, The A-Team (coming soon) Battlestar Galactica. All risk-free brand names, franchises.”
I loved many things about Syfy version, and I never saw the original series.
However, what started off as an awesome show, just went downhill more and more, until the awful ending. I had managed to stay away from the show until all episodes had aired, giving me the wonderful opportunity to plow through it without ever having to wait for an episode.
But even more of a screw up than the actual overarching mythology was how they abused so many characters. In the End, the only ones I cared for was Athena, Helo and Hera. I really didn't like anyone else, not even Adama and Roslin - they just got colder and more unlikable the longer the show went on - I actually loved them in the beginning.(Although, on a sidenote, I absolutely loathed Kara from the very start, one of the most unlikable characters I've ever seen receieve such praise. It's not that she's complex - she's just a bitch, and I will never understand the love for her.)
And to later learn that they actually thought about killing Athena and Helo off, giving Hera to Baltar(Absolutely hated him, and was quite sad not to see him die.) and Number 6 felt insane.
But there was indeed many other things to love about the show - when it was good it was Really good...I do however not consider the ending to be one of its finer moments..
So, do again, do right.
With that said, I'm perfectly find with them rebooting the series over and over. This is one of those rare shows where it's built into the franchise. Everything happened before, and will happen again. It could be like the Power Rangers, Tenchi Muyo or Gundam of the Sci-fi series.
That being said, I wasn't interested in the re-imaging in BSG, which by all accounts was done very well, so I am not particularly interested in another "complete re-imagining". But my hope is that this re-imagining will be closer to a reboot given the involvement of the original series creator. Having rewatched the original a few years ago I certainly appreciate the risks (it does not age well) but I really would like to see a reboot with better tech, acting, and story (but not as divergent as BSG). Toasters rule.
He deserves respect for brainchilding the concept of BSG, but let's all be honest...If Larson was truly a good writer, he'd have had a better career up to now. In reality, he had his era in the sun, & when that era passed, his style simply wasn't enough to have longevity over time.
Personally, I thought the nods within the reboot given to the original paid the proper respect to the source...Even with all its flaws, Larson can't even pretend to compete with the reboot & his new vision it's going to ultimately end in tears for him by release day
A re-imaging will be good with new actors, hopefully they make it edgy and give it to good writers.
Would love it as an extension of the SyFy series. Of Course Apollo+Starbuck would need to be front and center.
Moore's BSG on the other hand was truly visionary. Frankly it made the original look like a Saturday morning cartoon.
I hope this new reboot leans more to Moore's vision than Larson's.
If they do make a new version again, I would be all for it provided that they move it a bit closer to the classic show. Maybe not AS cheesy, but certainly not as Dark as New BSG. Oh and: I want my blueish, completely exagerated Turbo-Flametrail back that IMHO made the Original BSG Viper the coolest SciFi-Fighter ever (yep, it's even cooler than an X-Wing). And I want a cool Soundtrack again with a theme I can hum.
Perfect, imho.
So yeah, why not? A different, delightful addition, a universal masterpiece, a terrible fail on all fronts and epic flop - everything is possible...
The spiderman comparison springs to mind but isn't quite accurate in my view - it's not another series BSG but a movie and I'm interested in what Larson brought to the table that was so different and appealing to the studios to greenlight it.
You don't mess with the classic reboot and needn't bother with the original series. Typical Hollywood money grab attempt. Yawn.
my hopes were raised,
I read the post,
my hopes were razed.
So say we all!!!
Glen A. Larson is a total hack. He created a career out taking ideas popular on the big screen simplifying them and turning into low budget TV. He is the Roger Corman of Television.
Michael Rhymer has about much talent for filmmaking as I do for being pleasant.
Never confuse the creativity within the industry with the industry itself.
Even computer games are at a stand still doing the same stuff over and over again.
At any rate, I agree that it may be a little bit too soon to have another take on the Battlestar Galactica universe. The example with Spider-Man is a very good one, as it didn't really contribute more, and it felt only as milking the franchise for money. I enjoyed a lot the reimagined BSG, as well as Caprica and the Blood & Chrome web series, but I just don't feel any anticipation to the Larsen project.
I just don't think it's been long enough to do another re-make. The original BSG happened back in 1978 - and I watched the first episode of it and it just felt old, outdated and had terrible special effects and I didn't bother to continue.
The re-imagnized series doesn't feel old at all. It doesn't feel outdated or cheesy. Now if it gets to the point where that is the case (the the original series is now) than they maybe could consider re-making it.
There really isn't any originality in BSG to begin with, it borrowed heavily from sources such as Wagon Train to Star Wars to the Mormon faith, it wasn't clever or original enough to warrant a claim of "bleed[ing] every last ounce of originality and inspiration" from the concept. Ron Moore brought that to a zenith anyway.
That said, the timing of this is a lot like the remake of Spider-Man, you might want to wait at least a little longer before going there again, it's not really been long enough for the last one to leave the zeitgeist.
I don't really care one way or another, if they make a good-looking movie I might be there (and I don't mean shiny effects, that's been done). If they don't try to cram the whole trip to Earth into a single 2 hour film, I could see that working. Larson likely won't address anything from the Ron Moore version, so we'll never know what the hell was up with Kara being an angel or something, but that's probably for the best.
But if this film were to star Col. Tigh from the reimagined series, I'd so be there! Frakkin' A!
There really wasn't anything original about it, it had plot holes that you could send entire fleets through, plots that went nowhere, plots that came out of nowhere (and not in a good way) and it spawned one of the most amazingly annoying fanboy following cult that still tries to defend this rubbish as being a brilliant masterpiece that was so carefully thought out in advance even though the writers admitted that half the stuff was completely made out of their you know what as they went along that very day.
As for Spiderman, I think it's more of a business decision. If I recall, Sony had the rights to it because Marvel gave it away (long before they realized the cash cow for the Avengers) so unless they were bringing out more movies they would lose the right.
The Sci-Fi Channel remake started amazingly and lost a little steam but mostly held up until "big ideas" overtook the story, but it still wasn't the end-all be-all. I liked the series until it got to making everybody a frakkin' toaster, then it was ok but a bit of a mess.