I’m a fan of both iterations of Battlestar Galactica. I thoroughly enjoyed the original series, watching reruns on the Sci-fi Channel when I was in junior high. And I was completely invested in the more recent reimagining. The original was filled with all of the good and evil of other space operas and the reimagining was filled with all of the moral ambiguity of our modern times.
Universal has announced that it is planning on rebooting Battlestar Galactica as a movie. It won’t be a continuation of the 2004 series but an entirely new look at the ragtag fleet fleeing the Cylons and searching for earth.
Most studios are looking for another big franchise with an existing fan base. If Universal can pull something good together then they could make at least a trilogy out of Battlestar Galactica. Or it could stumble out of the gates with a bad script and the first movie could be a road to nowhere.
Here are some aspects of both the original and reimagined Battlestar Galactica that I wouldn’t mind seeing in a new movie.
Original: I would like to see the humans as good and the Cylons as bad. Four seasons was ample time to explore the moral ambiguity of both the humans and the Cylons. In a movie, though, we need some clear-cut bad guys and some valiant good guys.
Reimagined: I really liked the strong female characters in the 2004 series. Starbuck, Boomer, Dee and the various Sevens were all strong women who could stare the men in the eyes without blinking (even red moving eyes). Even though I had a massive crush on Jane Seymour in the original series, a movie would benefit from stronger, more well rounded female characters.
Original: I think the original Cylon raiders should make it into the movie. The reimagined ones were sleeker and more lethal, but the original ones took two or three pilots. Think of all the witty banter that could take place among the Cylon pilots. It would be like the battle droids from the prequels; everyone loved their comic relief.
Reimagined: I love that Boxy showed up in the premiere and then promptly disappeared from sight. The reimagined Battlestar Galactica was no place for a child. Even though no Boxy also meant no Muffit. I wouldn’t want to see Boxy in the movie, especially if he was a young hotshot pilot trying to earn his dad’s respect. I want to see Apollo and Starbuck blasting Cylons out of space, not some Disney star making his feature film debut.
Original: I loved Katee Sackhoff’s version of Starbuck and had no problems with the character being a woman in the reimagined series. I will always have a place in my heart, though, for Dirk Benedict. Not only was he Starbuck but he was also Face, the coolest member of the A-Team. I wouldn’t mind seeing Starbuck as a man in the movie and bringing back Serina, Jane Seymour’s character, to be the strong Colonial female pilot.
Reimagined: One of the best aspects about the reimagined series was its desperation. The situation never seemed that dire in the original series but the weight of the situation nearly suffocated every episode of the reimagined series. I don’t know if the new movie needs to be as dark and dreary, but there does need to be some desperation. If the movie leads to a trilogy, the second movie definitely needs to have an Empire Strikes Back feel to it.
I’d actually get excited for a Battlestar Galactica movie. Depending on who Universal gets to write and direct it, it has the potential to launch another great film series. Even though I’d rather see Hollywood create something new, if they’re going to just keep rehashing old ideas, at least they can do them justice.
What would you like to see in a Battlestar Galactica movie?
Rebooting it again?! Well, it has been five minutes since the last version… Sheesh.