Battlestar Galactica originally aired in 1978. The show was created by Glen A. Larson and, frankly, it was okay. But I’m biased. The show was re-envisioned by Ronald D. Moore with a Sci-Fi channel mini-series in 2003, which led into the 4 season show from 2004-2008. Even though I don’t love Larson’s version, that it inspired the Ronald Moore masterpiece is something. Because I love Moore’s BSG. Battlestar Galactica, as has been stated, is my favorite TV show. Ever. I love it.
Thus, my ears perk up whenever mention of BSG is made. And today Variety reports that another re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica is on its way, this time as a film, developed once again by Glen A. Larson.
In 2009 (and several years thereafter) we heard that a Battlestar film was being developed for Bryan Singer, but (obviously) that never came to reality. Now it seems the new film is on the fast track at Universal. The script will be written by Jack Paglen, who wrote the upcoming Transcendence, and is slated to write the Prometheus sequel for Ridley Scott.
My love of BSG is real and potent, but I’m fairly neutral about the idea of rebooting these characters. After my Battlestar obsession ended (with two consecutive viewings of the show), I watched the additional material, Razor and The Plan, the original Glen Larson series, and the Ronald Moore produced one-season spin-off Caprica, set in the years prior to BSG. None of these did anything for me. Caprica was okay, I suppose, and the original show was interesting. But they didn’t compare even remotely to BSG. 
Which tells me that the science-fiction property that is “Battlestar Galactica” is not what is special about the early 2000s television show, Battlestar Galactica. What makes that show special is the storytelling and writing, the originality of the created world, the political commentary of the era in which it was produced, the mesmerizing performances and character arcs that unfold. What James Callis and Katee Sackhoff and Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell do in BSG propels it into something rare.
That this show, this BSG, was brilliantly conceived and executed to near perfection means little in regard to what came before, or what might come after.
So. News of a new Battlestar film is exciting. But for now, that excitement mostly stems from the opportunity to remember just how wonderful BSG really is.
Pingback: Marvel is the box-office champion, and other franchise news | The Stake