Singer Helms A "Galactica" Reboot Film?
"Battlestar Galactica" may be making the jump to the big screen, but not in the way you'd expect.
HitFix reports that "X-Men" and "Superman Returns" director Bryan Singer may just be producing and possibly directing a new "Battlestar Galactica" feature film.
However, like the upcoming "Buffy" reboot, the film will NOT be based on the recent Sci-Fi Channel series that ran from 2004 to 2009 but rather a reworking of the original concept from the original late 70's TV series.
Nearly a decade ago now, Singer and producer Tom DeSanto came close to reviving the property with a 'sequel' to the classic show that would've kicked off with a $14 million backdoor pilot. Development was well underway when 9/11 happened and the network got cold feet which ultimately scrapped the project.
Two years later Ron Moore and David Eick came up with their own 'reimagining' of the concept which became the critically acclaimed but often ratings challenged cable series that served as the network's cornerstone show for the past few years.
Now comes this news that Universal still sees money in the property and plans a new cinematic interpretation, one that may not draw the critical raves of the recent show but could certainly open the franchise to a much larger audience more demanding of space battles and less of bleak meditations about faith and humanity.
The hiring of Singer, a solid action director with a noted passion for the material, is also a good PR move as ardent fans of the recent show might be more receptive to the property with a director many in that community consider one of their own.
The news comes nearly half a year after word that original show creator Glen Larson had signed a deal with Universal to develop a "Galactica" film that was not tied to any previous version. This would have to be the same project.