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Battlestar Galactica Spinning-Up for the Silver Screen

by Brandon Lee Tenney
February 21, 2009

Fridays only mean one thing ’round these parts - Battlestar Galactica. But this nugget of news doesn't concern the acclaimed SciFi Channel series, instead, Universal is planning to bring the Human/Cylon battle to theatres with original creator Glen A. Larson. This adaptation would be solely based on the first BSG series that ran in the late 1970s and would follow none of the continuity established by Ronald D. Moore's recent reboot. For the uninitiated, the Battlestar Galactica canon follows a desperate fleet of human survivors on the run from the Cylons, a cybernetic race that destroyed their colonial homeworld.

This also isn't the first time Battlestar Galactica has hit the big screen. However, those previous endeavors were merely re-edited television episodes from the original series and not stand-alone theatrical properties. Now, as a rabid BSG fan, one may think that my excitement to see Galactica and the Old Man on the silver screen would know no bound. Sadly, my reaction is more along the lines of - Why? After the great success of SciFi's BSG reboot and their upcoming Caprica prequel series, why would Universal want to revert back to the original continuity (and reboot this again) for a new feature film? Is there any good reason at all?

Sure, we would be without today's reboot entirely if it weren't for Larson's version originally, but is now really the time for a completely incongruous big screen adaptation? Are people really pleading to see Starbuck return to the character's original masculine form? I, personally, am not. Perhaps I'm just too close to Moore's version of Galactica to be appreciative of this. So say we all, or so we say who cares?

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29 Comments

Interesting. Since the show is ending soon, I can't really see the writers/producers holding anything back for a potential movie. Will the movie be a complete reboot, too?

Shane on Feb 21, 2009

Yeah. Booo!

Cuatro on Feb 21, 2009

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid....if it's not based off the new series I have no desire to see it. Bad Idea!

Bryanmakeup on Feb 21, 2009

Bizarre (and dumb) idea. But I do love that pic of super-shiny Cylons you inserted above. 🙂 Vic

ScreenRant.com on Feb 21, 2009

C'mon Vic....those are the orginal Cylons. It baffels me sometimes when anything from an orginal idea and or premise is introduced as something "new". Vic your better than that. Do I have to say it Alex? "By your command"

Tim "Cloverfield" on Feb 21, 2009

The first Cylons Mr. Vic.....agree your better than that. "By your Command!"

D-9 on Feb 21, 2009

C'mon VIC! You ARE better than that. If it were anyone else making that comment, then I would have to give them some shit. But Vic gets the pass. I wish the re-make had Starbuck as a hot chick.

Tim "Cloverfield" on Feb 21, 2009

Part of me love the idea that they would choose the original series to do a movie (much better, in my opinion.) but part of me don't think they'll ever be able to find an Apollo and a Starbuck as good as Richard Hatch's and Dick Benedict's. And I might be one of the few who'd plead to see a male Starbuck again 😉 Nothing beats the original Starbuck. (Never understood why they'd change him into a girl o_O)

Cain on Feb 21, 2009

Whoops. Typo : Dirk Benedict, not Dick 😉

Cain on Feb 21, 2009

Very stupid idea. Is anyone even going to watch this movie? The original series was terrible and corny even for it's time. The new show is one of the better shows ever made. Ron Moore doing a movie based on the current show would make somewhat sense. Just shows how desparate studios are getting.

Apollo on Feb 21, 2009

even if i think the new series is absolute garbage, the old show had some half decent stories and actors agreed #7 so all in all a good move. im not gonna hold any hope for this as its sell by date is well past it and would take millions to make it shiny and new

bassbin on Feb 21, 2009

I'm excited. Never was able to get into the new series.

Colca on Feb 21, 2009

****applauds**** I loved the Cylon look in the 70s....... If it ain't broke, don't fix it

Rosalee on Feb 21, 2009

I loved the original BSG, but the current reboot of BSG was absolute garbage in my opinion. We know that sound doesn't carry in space, but to watch a show with no sound during battle scenes is like watching a 1920's silent movie. You want to hear ships flying, explosions and firing off guns, lasers etc. In addition, I watch a science fiction movie/series for its imagination and futuristic value; not to watch protracted and stupid conspiracies, love stories and drama. If I wanted to see that then I'm better off watching Days of Our Lives!

ezza on Feb 21, 2009

Can't wait.... hope its done well.

rampi1 on Feb 21, 2009

good cuz the new BSG isnt even BSG. they should have named it something else. if they had named it something else, it would not be as popular. im glad theyre not making the new series a movie cuz it sucks the original BSG is the only one worth of theater status, and so this reboot will be as well

Josh on Feb 21, 2009

Welp, this news just goes to show that "suits" in hollywood don't have an 'f-ing' clue...as usual. The rebooted BSG has become perhaps the best scifi genre show in ages on top of being acclaimed as perhaps the best TELEVISION programming in over a decade by the mainstream press. (time/newsweek/etc.) plus winning the peabody. The old BSG? 1970's campy crap. Just the idea of this line: The world and all our people just got snuffed by the shiny bad guys....hey I know, lets party at a casino planet right after escaping! YEAH!. pulease. Dig up those hulu original episodes and watch em. dreck. (perhaps a cut above the a-team, but not by much.) Folks cheering for this 70's reboot have been puffin' the doobage methinks. :-/

cas on Feb 22, 2009

wow, seems like the decades old fighting between the various BSG camps has won a victory for the old team! I think its a stupid decision as the new BSG blows away the old one and is one of the most well written shows on television Ive seen in a long time! I hated BSG as a kid! I was a huge fan of anything space but I also had "Taste"!! going from star wars to the original BSG was like going from driving a bentley to driving a Yugo, a crap imitation!!! boring stories, crappy fx.. even as a 6 year old kid I knew the characters and story lines were weak!! I understand they probably threw the old timers a bone to make them stop their geriatric bitching and moaning, but this will probably cause more damage to the franchise than good! It will cause much confusion and damage the credibility of the BSG brand!!! Whats next? The Richard Hatch revised galactica as well?? (he was pitching "BSG: The Second Coming" for years!!) Well, I guess we will have to rely on state of the art effects and media hype for this one..let me guess, a new male starbuck and Hatch as Apollo again? back to dudes in dated robot suits? the New Current BSG is the superior product so say we all!

lando calrizzle on Feb 22, 2009

I have to say I was skeptical about the new series when it came out, but now that I have watched it I can't imagine going back to the original. Not only is Starbuck as a hot chick fantastic, but Edward James Olmos is fantastic as Adama. I vote no!

Andrew on Feb 22, 2009

For those of us who hate the new show, this is most excellent news! I am very excited that the original is coming back to the big screen, hopefully with the original cast. It's what many of the original fans have been waiting for for 30 years. Ron Moore should have called his version something other than Battlestar Galactica, because it is not what BSG was about. The original show was about hope and family and was full of archetypal characters...like all good myths. Ron Moore did to BSG what he did to Star Trek...took it off track and bastardized it to his own pleasure. It's fine if you like the new version, but back off and let the original cast, fans and the show's creator have a chance to remind everyone what made Battlestar Galactica the fantastic show it was. Make it awesome, Glen! Make it EPIC!

thenewK2 on Feb 22, 2009

hmmmm... interesting. Withholding judgement till more news/trailer. I watched a bit of the original series, and am completely convinced the new one is the best thing on TV. Did get quite a few "tinglies" up my spine when Pegasus ran into the "Guardian" centurions though (Razor). If they can somehow keep continuity, this could be epic. Go get 'em Glen!!

bozoconnors on Feb 22, 2009

Fraking toasters. Glen is just riding off the back of the new successful interpretation of BSG, much like he did with the original and Star Wars. I don't want camp sci-fi, I want character driven drama. So say we all.

Tom Dearsley on Feb 22, 2009

Well, my opinion is a bit longer ... you can read it here: http://www.e-fee.de/bsgtweets/blog/2009/02/22/my-personal-opinion-on-a-possible-bsg-movie-why-not-take-richard-hatchs-continuation/

BSGtweets on Feb 22, 2009

#22...FYI, Moore's Bastardized Galactica is NOT a success. By all accounts, it is a complete ratings failure. The original took in 20 million viewers on an average night. Also, Glen wasn't "riding the back of the success of Star Wars"...Glen came up with the idea for BSG ten or more years before Star Wars came out. it was the studio that greenlit BSG after the success of Star Wars. And another thing, The original BSG is not "camp". Camp is drama played to a comedic angle, like the 60's Batman. The original BSG storylines Glen Larson wrote, in context of what was on TV in the 70's, were on par with some of the best TV that had ever been done up until that time...and the most expensive. BSG was originally supposed to be a series of made for TV movies and the studio changed it's mind and demanded that he make it into a weekly series. You try and write good story after good story every week, when your original premise was to have the time to sit back and write only good stories that connect to your original tv movie. That's why some of the episodes aren't top notch, but it has nothing to do with "camp" or Glen Larson's creativity. Save your negativity for the film. After it comes out, then you can go back to hating everything out of context.

thenewK2 on Feb 22, 2009

FRACK THIS, STUPID FRACKIN' IDEA. A REBOOT MOVIE, ... MUUUCCCCHH BETTER!!!

Noodles777 on Feb 23, 2009

I think its way too soon to reboot the franchise again.

Hand Knotted Rugs on Feb 24, 2009

The new movie based on the classic series is an excellent idea. The newer show is dark, depressing and not entertaining. I look forward to the new movie and the REAL Battlestar Galactica.

John on Mar 11, 2009

Where possible buy matrix camera on 12 million total pixels cheaply? There is in view of in ?????????, and ???? quick delivery.

casiniss on Sep 25, 2009

Being Born in the early 70's I grew up on Star Trek, Star Wars, Buck Rogers, and of course Battlestar Galactica. I have always enjoyed ST:TOS, I was admittedly unsure about ST:TNG when it first aired but it grew on me (now i love it). I admit I was even skeptical about the Prequels for Star Wars (Even though they were being done by Lucas) So by the time BSG:RI came out I had become pretty accustomed to this whole new ideas thing. I was willing to give it a shot. I'm glad I did, It certainly had it's ups and downs (3rd season was a bit hard to watch but that was a studio issue) but that s another issue. I have love for both the old and the new of all of these Shows and Movies, But honestly doing another re-boot would be like having RDM and Harve Bennett go Re-boot J.J. Abrams Trek Movie. And while were at it at lets have some one come in and Remake some Clone wars movies as well. It's just Overkill. Sure I'll watch it, but going into it there would be no way I couldn't help but be Critical since I am a fan of what they already have done.

John H on Sep 30, 2009

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