Toggle menu
Toggle personal menu
Not logged in
Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits.

Battlestar Galactica (SE)

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide


Shortcut:
SE
Esmail
BSG20


Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica
Created by Sam Esmail
Starring
Theme music by
Statistics
Production company NBC Universal
Number of seasons
Number of episodes (list)
Debut channel Peacock
US first-run airdates USA
UK first-run airdates UK
DVD release
Production staff
Executive producer(s) Sam Esmail
Producer(s)
Supervising producer(s)
Associate producer(s)
Co-producer(s)
Story editor(s)
Online Purchasing
Available at iTunes – [ Purchase]
Related Media
@ BW Media

Summary

Announced on the 41st anniversary of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica series, this new series is inspired by the Ronald D. Moore-lead Re-imagined Series.[1]

Following the announcement wherein NBC claimed that the new series was a "reboot,"[2] Esmail went to Twitter to clarify that "it will NOT be a remake of the amazing series by @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. So say we all!"[3]

Furthermore, according to the website Deadline.com, "We hear Esmail had been in touch with Moore, who blessed the idea of him taking on the franchise, because of Esmail's passion for Moore's show."[4] This was clarified by Esmail himself in an interview October 2019, wherein he notes that he spoke to Moore and asked: "A, are you OK with this? And B, if you are, how do we proceed?" Esmail also noted that Moore "said he was OK with it as long as it wasn't a reboot — which was in line with what I was thinking."[5]

To date, Moore himself has not commented publicly on the series' development.

Meanwhile, fan reaction is understandably mixed, with some questioning publicly as to why another Battlestar Galactica series is necessary to some even voicing doubt on Esmail's claims.

Reaction from cast and crew members is also fairly positive, with initial responses posted to social media by Katee Sackhoff (Kara Thrace), Aaron Douglas (Galen Tyrol), Sam Witwer (Alex Quartararo), Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster), and others. (See: the Official statements section.)

Executive produced by Sam Esmail under an overall deal with Universal Content Productions that itself was renewed February 2019, this series will leverage the Battlestar brand for NBC's own specialty streaming service called Peacock and may launch as early as April 2020.[6]

Additional details on development, plot, casting, and confirmed airdate were not yet available as the series is considered in-development as of 17 September 2019.

Series development

Forthcoming.

Official Statements

Sam Esmail

  • Esmail clarifies the announcement:
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. So say we all![7]
  • Esmail discusses topical political commentary in response to a fan's plea to refrain from the inclusion of "identity politics or anti Trump comentary (sic)," wherein they state that "the equilibrium between conservative AND liberal views" made "the [Re-imagined Series] so special."
Please try to remember that Trump doesn’t represent liberal or conservative values. All he represents is ignorant narcissism via his banal assholery. My attacks on trump (sic) aren’t on any political affiliation, just on the shittiness of his pathetically low character.[8]
  • Esmail espouses his fondness for the Re-imagined Series:
It was this sci-fi show that didn't feel incredibly sci-fi-y. It was grounded. I felt like I was watching a war film — so allegorical because it really was talking about 9/11 and the post-terrorist attack environment in a really human way. It was groundbreaking television in how serialized it was before that became popular among the other dramatic shows.[5]
  • Esmail notes his conversation with Re-imagined Series' developer, Ronald D. Moore, on the concept of a "reboot":
The word "reboot" was used when we were first talking about it, and I cringed. [Showrunner] Ronald Moore, he just hit it out of the park with his series, so why would I even want to touch that? I talked to him and said, "A, are you OK with this? And B, if you are, how do we proceed?" He said he was OK with it as long as it wasn't a reboot — which was in line with what I was thinking. But the world of Battlestar Galactica is so rich, the mythology is so interesting, that I think there is a lot to pick from and explore.[5]

Re-Imagined Series Cast & Crew Statements

Good to know 👍🏻😉 Excited to see what you come up with. 🚀[9]
Dear BSG fans, I think @samesmail @NBCUniversal are gonna do something great with BSG: not a remake! So lay down your sidearms and grab the ambrosia...
And if it goes sideways, don't worry.
I mean, have you met us?
Cylons are NOT to be trifled with.
End of line.
😘😘💃🏽💃🏽💪🏽💪🏽[10]
Looking forward to it, Sam! And maybe you've got a place for some cylons (sic)...? I'd love to revisit that exquisite mythology 😘 [11]
Hi Sam. I’m available & I’m very familiar with the mythology of Battlestar…. 😉 @samesmail [12]
We breathe a sigh of relief, sir.
#CrashdownWasACylon[13][14]

Notes

  • In lieu of a more distinct title, the initialism "SE" (for Sam Esmail) is to be used for any content in this series' continuity, per our Separate Continuity policy.


Production Crew

Producers


References

  1. Goldberg, Lesley. 'Battlestar Galactica' Reboot From Sam Esmail in the Works at NBCU's Streamer (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 17 September 2019.
  2. NBCUNIVERSAL ANNOUNCES ‘PEACOCK’ AS THE NAME OF ITS STREAMING SERVICE AND UNVEILS INITIAL CONTENT LINEUP (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). (17 September 2019). Retrieved on 19 September 2019.
  3. Sam Esmail Tweet (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). (17 September 2019). Retrieved on 17 September 2019.
  4. Hipes, Patrick (17 September 2019). ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Reboot From Sam Esmail Headed For NBCU’s Peacock Streaming Service (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 19 September 2019.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 O'Connell, Michael (03 October 2019). Sam Esmail on 'Battlestar Galactica' and Life After 'Mr. Robot' (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 03 October 2019.
  6. Goldberg, Lesley (17 September 2019). The Hollywood Reporter: NBCUniversal's Streaming Strategy, Name, Programming Lineup Revealed (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 17 September 2019.
  7. Esmail, Sam (17 September 2019). Sam Esmail's Tweet - Re: Reboot (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 17 September 2019.
  8. Esmail, Sam (18 September 2019). Sam Esmail's Tweet - Re: Battlestar Politics (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 19 September 2019.
  9. Sackhoff, Katee (17 September 2019). Katee Sackhoff's Twitter - Re: Esmail's Clarification (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 19 September 2019.
  10. Sharma, Rekha (17 September 2019). Rekha Sharma's Twitter - Re: BSG - Not a Remake (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 19 September 2019.
  11. Sharma, Rekha (18 September 2019). Rekha Sharma's Twitter - Re: Esmail's Clarification (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 19 September 2019.
  12. Douglas, Aaron (17 September 2019). Aaron Douglas' Twitter - Re: Esmail's Clarification (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 19 September 2019.
  13. Witwer, Sam (18 September 2019). Sam Witwer's Twitter - Re: Esmail's Clarification (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Retrieved on 19 September 2019.
  14. Also, Crashdown was not a Cylon.