Editors Note: This article contains spoilers for how the latest Battlestar Galactica series ended
Summary
- Battlestar Galactica fans could see a return with a new plot set in modern Earth involving AI dangers.
- The series originally wrapped up with a hint at a future Human-Cylon war, providing new story possibilities.
- Potential to integrate spinoffs like Caprica into a new series with a focus on Cylon creation.
When it comes to science fiction shows like Star Wars and Star Trek, the people behind the franchises have managed to keep bringing installments that keeps the series fresh by reinventing themselves. For Star Trek, it's been about bringing about a New Generation, and then a bunch of spinoffs that all tell a different story. For Star Wars, things have remained on basically the same timeline, though viewers have seen different stories on that timeline while knowing that sooner or later, the Empire and The Rebellion will trade places and take power. For the Battlestar Galactica franchise it seems sort of odd that such a beloved story has sat idle for as long as it has.
Of course, it hasn't always been for a lack of trying that there hasn't been another installment in the Battlestar Galactica series. Earlier this year, it seemed like the franchise was coming to Peacock as some kind of reboot. However, it was eventually shelved. The fact that it seems like there is indeed some demand for Galactica to come back means that sooner or later it will. But when it does, instead of a straight reboot where the same story is told differently, it's probably time to tread new ground.
Battlestar Galactica: The Creation of the Cylons, Explained
Cyclons are the main villains in Battlestar Galactica after launching a cataclysmic rebellion against their human masters.
Battlestar Galactica Could Offer A Different Look At AI Dangers
Even some of the more dedicated Battlestar Galactica fans might be surprised to learn just how many spinoffs and sequels are out there if someone really wants to look. Most people think about the original series from the 1970s and then the relaunch in the early 2000s. But as it turns out , there are eight different spinoffs from the two main installments.
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Battlestar Galactica |
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Starring |
Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Katee Sackhoff |
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Creators |
Glen A. LarsonRonald, D. Moore |
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Premiere Date |
January 14, 2005 |
Because most of the spinoffs have been short-lived, it's easy to forget them, but that does pose a bit of a problem if someone wants to tread new ground in the Battlestar Galactica universe. Of course, because the spinoffs aren't exactly well known, there's a chance a new show doesn't need to go in a new direction so much as just make sure to do it right. However, if someone wants to do something new, they could bring Battlestar Galactica to modern or near-future Earth.
The following spoils the end of the Battlestar Galactica series
The modern Battlestar Galactica wrapped up the series by having the colonial fleet find what they were looking for. They found Earth and settled in. The catch was that the Earth they found was hundreds of thousands of years before human history really began. But the series did offer a little twist that a new installment could take advantage of if it wanted. At the very end of the series, the audience is transported to modern times where two Cylons, Six and Dr. Baltur, are walking among human beings. They're having a discussion about some signs that could point to Earth being doomed to repeat history and the Cylons believe humanity is destined to careen into another war between humans and a race composed of advanced artificial intelligence.
A new series could essentially take a page from the Terminator series and lean on modern advances in AI to tell a story about how the human race is indeed on the verge of war with some kind of ultra-smart computer and an army it created. The story would essentially confirm that some version of the Battlestar Galactica saga is always going to happen once technology reaches a certain point.
Incorporating The Spinoff Ideas Into One Series
There are two Battlestar Galactica spinoff series in particular which could get a kind of reboot of their own and incorporated into a new story. Using the idea of the Cylon wars on the verge of starting up again, this time on earth, there could be some interesting aspects used from Caprica, a prequel series that showed how the Cylons went from "walking toasters" to being indistinguishable from humans. If whoever is in charge of this new series really wanted to get creative, it could actually be a continuation of the modern series. If the showrunners wanted to be super duper clever they could even bring James Callis (Gaius Baltar) and Tricia Helfer (Six) back and have them starting to lead a new Cylon uprising.
This new show could depict why Gaius and Six believe the uprising is needed, as well as the start of the construction of their new army of human-looking and even robotic-looking soldiers. This same point of view could show these new Cylons going to war against the humans because the humans are trying to wipe them out, not realizing that until the people started coming after the Cylons, they weren't really a danger.
By incorporating these spinoff ideas and a new Battlestar Galactica in a near future Earth, the franchise could get a new enough paint job that it would be different than what viewers have seen before. And that could lead to a hit series on one of the big streaming services.
- Release Date
- 2004 - 2009-00-00
- Network
- SyFy
- Showrunner
- Ronald D. Moore
- Directors
- Wayne Rose, Michael Nankin, Rod Hardy, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Edward James Olmos, Robert M. Young, Jeff Woolnough, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jonas Pate, Allan Kroeker, Anthony Hemingway, Jean de Segonzac, Marita Grabiak, James Head, Paul A. Edwards, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Brad Turner, Ronald D. Moore, Bill Eagles
- Writers
- Carla Robinson, Michael Taylor, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, Jane Espenson, Mark Verheiden, Michael Angeli, Anne Cofell Saunders, Jeff Vlaming, Michael Rymer, Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin, Seamus Kevin Fahey
- Franchise(s)
- Battlestar Galactica
Cast
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Edward James OlmosWilliam Adama -
Mary McDonnellLaura Roslin -
Jamie BamberLee 'Apollo' Adama -
Katee SackhoffKara 'Starbuck' Thrace
The first iteration of Battlestar Galactica first aired all the way back in 1978, but made a return to the small screen in 2003 with Ronald D. Moore's celebrated reimagining of the series. The show follows the human survivors of a devastating war against the Cylons as they attempt to find a new colony on which to rebuild their society.
