Battlestar Galactica Creator’s Rule for New Reboot Revealed (and It Makes Sense)

As of this moment’s writing, the reboot of Battlestar Galactica appears to be indefinitely paused, even though as late as July 2024, it was still being developed. With the project apparently stalled, some details about it have emerged – such as a significant disclosure from one of the original actors, Tricia Helfer, who recently shared on the Sackhoff Show podcast that the series’ original creator, Ron Moore, imposed a key rule for the potential remake: the Cylons could not be depicted as humanoid life. This would have been a significant restriction for the show, but it also would have echoed the original series and validated some of its concepts using updated special effects technology.

Last week, Helfer appeared on Katee Sackhoff’s podcast, alongside her co-host Jeff Porter. The week prior, Sackhoff had interviewed another Battlestar Galactica alum, Edward James Moore. Given their shared history with the show, Sackhoff was excited to delve deeper into the Battlestar topic with a fellow franchise veteran. During the discussion, Porter noted that Moore seemed rather casual about the prospect of another reboot – he wasn’t keen on participating, but didn’t seem opposed to its existence. However, Helfer recalled a past conversation hinting at ongoing negotiations between Moore and Sam Esmail, who is spearheading this proposed reboot.

She mentioned “Battlestar Galactica,” a series starring Helfer which last appeared on screens in 2020 during her interview with Moore. Unfortunately, she couldn’t remember specific phrases used back then, but confirmed that Moore had been fairly indifferent towards another reboot of the show, provided it was overseen by Esmail. “He had shared something with me – it wasn’t allowed to be public knowledge when I recorded my podcast, so I’m not sure if I can repeat it now – but he had expressed one condition,” she reminisced. Essentially, he said, ‘Feel free to do as you please, but there’s a condition that cannot be met.’

Observing that Esmail’s reboot appears to be halted, Helfer became secretive. “It seems to be sunk, at least temporarily. May I dare say it now? Shall I speak up?” she exclaimed eagerly. With a little prompting, she continued, “What he mentioned earlier was that they couldn’t create humanoid Cylons – they couldn’t make the human-like Cylons.

Initially pondering the magnitude of such a transformation, Helfer pointed out that Esmail might have initially intended for his Cylons to resemble humans, but Moore suggested otherwise. Nevertheless, this suggestion intrigued the group as they contemplated its impact on the narrative’s direction.

In its initial run in 1978, Battlestar Galactica centered around human settlements in a far-off galaxy, engaged in an unending battle against mechanical beings known as Cylons. These Cylons originated from an extinct alien race in the original series, but in the new continuity introduced by Ronald D. Moore starting in 2000, the Cylons were manufactured by humans for servitude. Over time, they developed higher intelligence and consciousness, even integrating organic components into their designs. By the point where the narrative unfolds, it becomes difficult to differentiate between Cylons and humans.

It’s disheartening to learn that Sackhoff, Helfer, and Porter share the sentiment that the reboot seems stuck, considering their intriguing idea for revamping the original series concept. Yet, the franchise rights remain unclaimed, waiting for someone to take the reins for another space exploration adventure. For now, you can catch Moore’s Battlestar Galactica on Prime Video, while the original series and various spin-offs are available for rental or purchase from PVOD stores.

2025-03-25 21:41

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