The trajectory of theBattlestar Galacticafranchise has been a truly wild ride. While the original 1978 series was not very successful, as it suffered from comparisons toStar Warsand other science fiction films, the acclaimed 2004 reboot took the series in a bold new direction. FormerStar Trek: The Next GenerationwriterRonald D. Moorecreated a complex, politically motivated hard sci-fi series that addressed issues such as political corruption, the war on terror, and the rise of artificial intelligence. The series may have beenmet with an abrupt ending that disappointed some fans,butBattlestar Galacticawasn’t a property that NBCUniversal was going to allow to stay dormant for that long. It wasn’t at all surprising whenaBattlestar Galacticareboot series wasannounced for the Peacock streaming service.
This wasn’t the first time that NBCUniversal had tried to replicate their previous success.The spinoff seriesCapricahad failed to receive the same acclaim, andplans for a new feature written bySimon Kinbergthat were set in the same shared universe never materialized. Fans may be forgiven for feeling pessimistic about another announcement, but the newBattlestar Galacticahails fromSam Esmail, the brilliant creator of the thriller seriesMr. Robotand the acclaimed Netflix disaster filmLeave the World Behind. Given Esmail’s track record and some recent developments,theBattlestar Galacticareboot is something to get excited about.
Battlestar Galactica
When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
The ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Reboot Faced Some Setbacks
The notion of aBattlestar Galacticastreaming series isn’t entirely surprising, as major streamers are reliant upon the brands that they have at their disposal. With Disney+ developing Marvel and Star Warsprojects, Amazon releasingThe Lord of the RingsandFalloutprograms, Max succeeding with its DC andGame of Thrones-adjacent properties, and Netflix bolstering its original content, it makes sense that NBCUniversal was looking for a franchise that would make Peacock a more attractive service. However,theBattlestar Galacticareboot is set to exist within the samecontinuity as the original series.Instead of trying to revitalize the brand for a new audience, Universal seems intent on satisfying thefans who have been watching from the beginning.
In the years since the success ofMr. Robot, Esmail has taken a more active role in producing new shows through his production company Esmail Corp, includingBriarpatch, Homecoming, Gaslit,andThe Resort. Esmail was initially announced as theBattlestar Galacticareboot’s producer, withThe Little Drummer Girl’sMichael Lesslieattached as the new showrunner. Although Lesslie left the project in 2021,he was replaced byThe Sinner’sDerek Simmonds. Progress on the series stalled due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, butEsmail stated that theBattlestar Galacticapilotwas nearing production stage.Although Esmail has a plethora of opportunities at his disposal following the success ofLeave the World Behind, he has indicated thatBattlestar Galacticais one of his major priorities moving forward.
The New ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Could Build on the 2004 Series’ History
A key piece of information that might have escapedBattlestar Galacticafans' eyes is thatSam Esmail isn’t necessarily trying to reboot the 2004 series.Esmail took to Twitterwhen the news first broke out, saying that he wanted to explore the mythology that Moore created within the 2004Battlestar Galactica. “BSG fans, this will NOT be a remake of the amazing series @RonDMoore launched because … why mess with perfection? Instead, we’ll explore a new story within the mythology while staying true to the spirit of Battlestar,” he wrote. One event within the 2004 series could serve as the perfect background for Esmail’s new series:The First Cylon War.
The First Cylon War was the original conflict between the Cylons and the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, with the Cylons turning on humanity and nearly wiping them out. Though a ceasefire was eventually called, it was revealed that the Cylons had been contacted bythe Final Five— humanoid Cylons who came from the mythical world of Earth, setting the events of the 2004 series in motion. While the First Cylon War has been touched upon inCapricaand theBattlestar Galactica: Blood & Chromeweb series, Esmail and the new creative team could use it as a background to explore a side ofBattlestar Galacticathat hasn’t been seen before while continuing to explore the themes that made the 2004 series so compelling.
Sam Esmail Is the Perfect Person to Reboot ‘Battlestar Galactica'
Battlestar Galacticahas a fairly dense mythology that requires a steady creative hand behind it; at its best,the show delivered shocking twist momentsthat reshaped perceptions of its narrative. Thankfully, Esmail proved withMr. Robotthat he could developstrong character ensembles with complex narratives.The 2015 neo-noir series was set within an alternate version of history where the hacker Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) managed to erase the world’s debt, all while dealing with the influence of his alter ego, Mr. Robot (Christian Bale). What could have been a convoluted, disorienting experience became a profound one thanks to Esmail’s careful planning; unlike theBattlestar Galacticaseries,Mr. Robotended with a brilliant finale that paid off all the lingering questions that fans had since the show had started.
Esmail is well-suited to handle the political aspects ofBattlestar Galactica.The 2004 series was one of thefirst major drama showsreleased in the aftermath of 9/11, and managed to draw frightening parallels to reality; key episodes focused on sleeper cells, the disruption of elections, torture, military coups, and even the suppression of journalism. Politics are essential within Esmail’s work;Mr. Robotmanaged to intertwine the events of the 2016 Presidential election into its narrative, offering viewers a means of coping with the Trump era.
Esmail has also developed a complex understanding of technological overreliance, a key theme withinBattlestar Galactica. Considering the real-world developments in artificial intelligence, the notion of a powerful race of robotic beings like the Cylons threatening humanity seems more terrifying than ever. Esmail touched on the instability of online institutions throughoutMr. Robot, and examinedthe fascination with physical media inLeave the World Behind.
‘Battlestar Galactica’ Is Defined by Its Boldness
Battlestar Galacticais a franchise that has succeeded by taking drastic narrative and aesthetic risks. The notion of a dark and gritty reboot of a somewhat campy cult classic space opera show may have seemed ridiculous, butBattlestar Galacticagrew into aninstant classic ever since its standout pilot episode.Esmail’s aptitude for delivering shocking plot twists bodes well for the future ofBattlestar Galactica.Mr. Robotcertainly took some bold tonal risks, with revelations about characters’ identities that fundamentally changed the course of the series. If nothing else, Esmail’sBattlestar Galacticacertainly will give fans something to talk about.
Esmail’s involvement is exciting, butthere’s no better time for aBattlestar Galacticareboot. Therecent surge in the original series’ popularitysuggests that a new generation of fans has been exposed to the material, and may be interested in seeing another story in the same universe.
