Battlestar Peacock

It's May 4th, once again Star Wars fans are celebrating all over social media. Yet the big genre news today was all Battlestar Peacock. If you didn't know, NBC Universal has launched it's own streaming service last month, Peacock. Among the original programing, movies, sports and reruns of TV favorites, there are Universal owned properties getting taken off the shelf to be reused. To much fanfare last September 17th it was announced that Sam Esmail would be rebooting Battlestar Galactica. 

Within days of the announcement Sam Esmail sent out a tweet that the new show would not be a reboot but another story told in the Moore universe. Citing the 2003 series as perfection, you don't mess with perfection. During an interview for his show Outlander, Ron Moore described a phone call in which Moore gave Esmail his blessing. This immediately pleased some people while angering others. From that point forward the only mention of Battlestar Galactica were one line sentences in Peacock related news and press releases.

Basically fans of the franchise didn't know anything about this new show. I asked if Peacock wanted a show called Battlestar Galactica, since it is a known property. With the 2003 series having a very definitive ending. How do you tell a story of the good ship Galactica in the Moore universe? Prequel? Well that was Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome. I was left with the impression that Sam Esmail's tweet was nothing more than a hasty stroking of Ron Moore's ego and placating part of the fanbase. 

Today, first reported by Deadline. deadline.com/2020/05/battlestar-galactica-michael-lesslie-showrunner-peacock-reboot-1202923668/
We learned that Battlestar Peacock has a new show runner, "worldbuilder". Michael Lesslie, "will work up a reimagined world". Here is the quote for fans to dissect while sheltering in place waiting for more news.

“I am beyond excited to be taking on this iconic and inspirational show. As a lifelong devotee, I know that the possibilities of Battlestar Galactica‘s world are infinite and that each iteration has raised the bar for epic and intelligent sci-fi storytelling. The teams at Esmail Corp, UCP and Peacock are second to none, and I already know that we are going to honor Glen A. Larson and Ronald D. Moore’s landmark series and break new boundaries with our own vision. It’s a dream come true — one I just can’t wait to share with fans, new and old alike. So say we all.”

Time heals most wounds, at conventions around the world fans of both versions of Battlestar Galactica cosplay well with one another. Still the original Toxic Fandom exists, the warring tribes of Moore vs Larson. Those that feel the 2003 series was perfection not needing a reboot and those who feel robbed of a proper ending for the original series. The later almost having no interest in the franchise at all, which is sad in my opinion. Despite critical accolades the 2003 series was not a huge success. It went on four seasons barely being renewed each time.  It is my guess that UCP wants a bigger hit, a bigger cash return on investment. So, I'll dissect that paragraph above hoping Michael Lesslie will cast a wider net with some good story telling. 

I've been revisiting the 2003 series during the pandemic. Cutting out the waste, sticking to the better stuff. That's for another time.