Battlestar Galactica Reboot Canceled At Peacock
After being stuck in development purgatory for five years, the Battlestar Galactica reboot at Peacock has been canceled. Although the series was never officially ordered, it was initially announced way back in 2019 when NBCUniversal launched its own streaming service. The sci-fi series was slated to be produced by Sam Esmail as part of Peacock‘s flagship original programming.
Set In The World Of The Original Series
Despite being in development for half a decade, little is known about the show itself. Details about the story have remained under wraps since the reboot was announced. What is known is that the series would have taken place in the original Battlestar Galactica universe.
Peacock pulling the plug on Battlestar Galactica reboot may come as a surprise to diehard fans who have looked forward to the show’s potential.
Hope And Optimism Amounted To Nothing
In a November 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Esmail appeared to have been optimistic about his show’s development.
When asked about how soon fans could expect to see the sci-fi adventure in action, Esmail didn’t mince his words. “We have a great outline and we’re probably going to go to pilot soon,” he revealed. Despite his desire to get his project off the ground, the Mr. Robot creator admitted that he felt that he wasn’t the right person to act as showrunner, though.
“Because I know myself as a filmmaker and I don’t know if hard sci-fi is something I’m going to be the A-plus person to pull off,” Esmail said candidly. “And Battlestar needs the cream of the crop.”
Bringing On An Experienced Screenwriter
Instead of taking on the day-to-day duties as the showrunner, Esmail opted to serve as executive producer alongside fellow Esmail Corp. partner Chad Hamilton. In 2020, the pair brought screenwriter Michael Lesslie on board to help write the Battlestar Galactica reboot’s story. Lesslie has previously written screenplays for films such as Assassin’s Creed (2016) and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Although details regarding Lesslie’s departure from the project remain unknown, he stepped away from his writing duties in 2021. Following his exit, Esmail and Hamilton then hired Derek Simonds in 2022 to act as the series’ writer, executive producer, and showrunner. As no stranger to handling the duties of developing a show, Simonds seemed like a perfect fit.
The Man Behind Mr. Robot
In 2017, Simonds created the crime series The Sinner. The show starred Bill Pullman as a gritty detective who uses unorthodox methods to solve his cases. Throughout its four-season run, The Sinner held its own as one of the USA Network’s top-rated shows.
Perhaps known as the USA Network’s golden goose, Mr. Robot helped cement Esmail as one of Hollywood’s rising stars. With its unique storytelling and compelling characters, Mr. Robot quickly caught the eye of critics. The show collected three Primetime Emmy’s over the course of its own four-season run.
There’s Still Hope
Esmail first got his start in 2014 when he wrote and directed the romantic comedy Comet. Starring Justin Long and Emmy Rossum, the film details a six-year relationship following a chance encounter. Comet also features a sci-fi twist when a meteor shower causes time to jump back and forth.
As of now, it appears that the Battlestar Galactica reboot, which had the blessing of the 2004 series creator Ronald D. Moore, will be on hold for the foreseeable future. There is still hope that the show will be shown on another network. But only time will tell if fans will get another chance to see the Twelve Colonies of Kobol again.
Source: Variety
