The highly anticipated reboot of the sci-fi classic Battlestar Galactica is officially discontinued following a lengthy five-year development process.
Initially revealed in 2019 as part of Peacock’s streaming lineup, the reboot aimed to connect with the narrative established in the 2003 Battlestar Galactica series. However, it never advanced to a formal series order during its development.
Sources indicate that executive producer Sam Esmail, alongside studio UCP, plans to pitch the project to other networks.
The project saw various shifts in creative leadership over the years, including writer Michael Leslie, who joined in 2020 but departed in 2021. More recently, Derek Simonds was attached as writer, executive producer, and showrunner as of January this year.
Battlestar Galactica’s Mixed Television Legacy
Battlestar Galactica’s television legacy is marked by ups and downs. The original 1978 series aired on ABC for only one season, and a subsequent revival attempt, Galactica 1980, was similarly short-lived.
However, the 2003 reimagining by Ronald D. Moore and the Sci Fi Channel (now Syfy) proved to be a monumental success. A three-hour miniseries featuring Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, and Katee Sackhoff paved the way for a full series that is widely regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi shows in history. Its four-season run concluded in 2009, accompanied by two TV movies. A prequel series titled Caprica followed but only lasted for one season.
The gripping narrative of the 2003 Battlestar Galactica centers around a group of humans aboard a battleship who must escape their home planet after a devastating attack by the sentient robot race known as Cylons, all while searching for their fabled true home, Earth.
