Syfy greenlights pilot for third Galactica series

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome could air next fall as a 2-hour backdoor pilot.

Syfy Channel announced today that it has greenlit Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, a backdoor pilot for a potential third BSG series.  The show would chronicle the adventures of a young William Adama during the later years of the first Cylon War.

The network originally ordered the script for Blood & Chrome as a limited-run series of webisodes, but liked Michael Taylor’s script so much that it is sending it straight to television as a 2-hour movie event.  The backdoor pilot could then turn into a full-fledged series, if Syfy likes what it sees.

Production should begin in Vancouver, British Columbia early next year.  The show could be ready to premiere as early as Fall 2011, though TV Squad suggests after talking with Mark Stern, Syfy’s executive vice president of original programming, that if it is picked up for a full series a 2012 debut is more likely.

In addition to a younger “Husker” Adama the show will feature a younger, shinier Battlestar Galactica during the height of the Twelve Colonies.  The production team took high-resolution scans of every nook of the Galactica sets before they were struck, and plan to recreate them digitally — a la Sanctuary‘s use of green stages and virtual sets.

Here’s how Syfy describes the show’s premise:

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome takes place in the 10th year of the first Cylon war. As the battle between humans and their creation, a sentient robotic race, rages across the 12 colonial worlds, a brash rookie viper pilot enters the fray. Ensign William Adama, barely in his 20’s and a recent Academy graduate, finds himself assigned to the newest battlestar in the Colonial fleet … the Galactica. The talented but hot-headed risk-taker soon finds himself leading a dangerous top secret mission that, if successful, will turn the tide of the decade long war in favor of the desperate fleet.

Adama, of course, was played by Edward James Olmos in Syfy’s first Galactica series, which ran for four seasons from 2005 to 2009.  Actor Nico Cortez (pictured left) played the younger character at this same time period in the telemovie Battlestar Galactica: Razor.  While the role could potentially be recast, Stern told TV Squad’s Maureen Ryan that “I’m assuming there will be a full casting process for this pilot, but with Nico at the top of the list.”

Nico Cortez played young William Adama in ''Battlestar Galactica: Razor.''

Stern described the series as “very much an action-adventure, war series.”

Younger versions of other familiar BSG characters (or older versions of characters from Caprica, set when Bill Adama is just a young boy) are possible.

In spite of Caprica‘s rough time attracting viewers — especially after moving to Tuesdays this month — Stern insists that Blood & Chrome is not intended to be a replacement for that show.  “To be really categorical about it, this is not about finding something else so we can get rid of Caprica,” Stern told TV Squad. “I don’t know the fate of Caprica yet, but, if anything, Blood & Chrome going to series would only be a great opportunity to pair it with something.”

He said that a decision on Caprica should be made by November 15.

Taylor wrote the teleplay for the 2-hour Blood & Chrome pilot from a story by Eick, Taylor and Bradley Thompson & David Weddle. It will be executive produced by David Eick for Universal Cable Productions.

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Duneknight
Duneknight
13 years ago

haha no thats not funny, SGU is being replaced as I write this.

Billz
Billz
13 years ago

What is the point of this?

BSG finished it’s run. Caprica is apparently sucking miserably. Why bother with another BSG spin-off?

Emily
Emily
13 years ago

More than likely this isn’t designed to replace SGU, but Caprica.

Orion Coran
Orion Coran
13 years ago

@article: Stern described the series as “very much an action-adventure, war series.” It sounds like the high drama in ‘Caprica’ might have had an impact for the aim of direction in this new series. Although, maybe not and it was simply something different TPTB wanted to do. What’s curious is that while TPTB planned on going the action-adventure route, the question is if Syfy themselves want to move away from the drama experiment explored with ‘Caprica’ and ‘SGU’, and have more shows with action. I wonder if this is a sign of what is to come for ‘SGU’ and ‘Caprica’… Read more »

Mentat
Mentat
13 years ago

Please, please don’t film it in shakey cam. I want to try so hard to like BSG and BGV. Shake the camera and there’s no DVD sales for you.

blistna
13 years ago

This could be good news for SGU. Maybe they are deciding to give Caprica another chance, and will continue with SGU and maybe greenlight another SG series!

BlueThunder
BlueThunder
13 years ago

A movie or mini-series telling the story of Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome could be awesome and of great interest to BSG fans.

But stop there. A prequel series just won’t hold an audience. Spend your resources on SGA, SG1, BSG movies or mini-series or something completely new.

Emily
Emily
13 years ago

Who knows Blistna, maybe this is to go with Caprica maybe it’s to replace it. ;)

grif
grif
13 years ago

this is not caprica. this is about a human cylon war. people WILL watch it.

grif
grif
13 years ago

make it like space above and beyond

katikatnik
katikatnik
13 years ago

I think this show’ll replace Caprica. What does it mean for SGU that now entered Caprica’s numbers ratings wise?

If the pilot is any good and they do turn it into a series, then I think they’ll drop Caprica AND SGU and replace SGU with either Orion or Sherwood of which they will pick up just one.

daxmaryrussel
daxmaryrussel
13 years ago

Why this obsession with prequels? It never works. We already know what is going to happen. I so don’t like prequels – the newest Star Wars film and Enterprise anyone?

Duneknight
Duneknight
13 years ago

that war with cylons is rather mundane stuff, they had to fill it with phony religion just to get over the fact that its dull.

syfygyrl
syfygyrl
13 years ago

Maybe if this show does well they’ll lay off of SGU? (*praying*)

kellx
kellx
13 years ago

i hope we get a BSG series. We are in desperate need for a good action adventure space based sci-fi show. I love SGU and think it is a fantastic show. I will continue to watch it but, it is no SG1 or SGA replacement. I miss the fun and the action and the Heroes. I am sick of characters that really arent. And SGU then Caprica is a double dose of downer. I also really like Caprica but SGU then Caprica back to back is WAY to much drama at one time. I could do drama then action. Maybe… Read more »

Duneknight
Duneknight
13 years ago

— how about the adventure? you dont miss that? SGU is far more superior than anything BSG creators can come up with. And the fact that its a prequel just makes it worse.

Ryster
Ryster
13 years ago

Duneknight, how can you say a war is dull? It’s something I desperately missed from the latter half of the new BSG. BSG turned into a religious drama with very little action towards the end. I missed the big ship battles, all the “action stations, action stations, set condition 1 throughout the ship” they had in the first series. A new series based on the first war when the galactica is new and shiny, and they’re not completely outclassed at every point is something I’d really enjoy. One message to the producers though… please leave most of the drama at… Read more »

Ryster
Ryster
13 years ago

Sorry for the double post (a post editor would be nice GW hehe), one final comment if I may….

Please change the title. It’s a clear rip of Spartacus: Blood and Sand and is just cringe worthy. I don’t have any particularly good alternatives to suggest, however perhaps.. BSG: First War ?

Stoko
Stoko
13 years ago

Funny how they greenlit this right after Universe sunk below a million live viewers for the first time.

blistna
13 years ago

: Then that could be bad for SGU. If they are replacing Caprica then they could also replace SGU :(

zackwbrandon
zackwbrandon
13 years ago

Everyone watch carefully as the poison at NBC finally finishes off the former Sci-Fi channel. The implosion will be more entertaining than the shows!

zpmfour
13 years ago

I don’t even watch Caprica, the only thing i watch on the Syfy channel is the random movie, and Stage shows, and star trek. if they want to do something, they can throw that wrestling crap off the network for me. i hate it.

zpmfour
13 years ago

I actually enjoy SG:universe, it’s a little predictable but i can stand to watch it.then again any show i watch like L&O, NCIS or SVU, i can predict with about 20 or so minutes. without having to look at a script.

general grievous
general grievous
13 years ago

I hope Syfy has learned their lesson.

Both SGU and Caprica (which by the way have some common writers), are soapy and drama ridden, and both are ‘box office’ failures.

Hopefully the new BSG spinoff will give us some real SciFi.

SGU Online
SGU Online
13 years ago

Well, i think BSG deserve a chance. Maybe because SGU is not that great as SG1 or SGA and Syfy would like to see more action

wganubis
wganubis
13 years ago

Glad to hear another BSG is coming. Caprica’s format is just really too much of a departure and to be honest I often cringe every time I see the opening credits (particularly when the girl is given that infinity symbol and when the parents are walking up on the roof top and see Zoe, reminds me of a bad vampire show with the setting and music in that section). Not sure I like the idea of a CG set to be honest, I don’t think the technology is at the point yet where you can’t tell its real or CG… Read more »

mrs john sheppard
mrs john sheppard
13 years ago

thats good news to read. the only thing that bothers me is that syfy has money to do this and not the sga movies… hmmmm.

Noxchild
Noxchild
13 years ago

SyFy sees BSG as a rich universe, full of stories yet to tell. I see BSG as dead, thoroughly killed by the finale. I am not at all interested in stories set in the BSG-verse. Once I knew that an unbelievably cruel, all-powerful being (who doesn’t like to be called god) is yanking the chains of the characters, that was The End. No further interest in the BSG-verse, regardless of style, actors, or timeline. In reading the reactions to the finale, I know that others agreed with me. Many are still interested in the BSG-verse, but not enough, it appears,… Read more »

wganubis
wganubis
13 years ago

@mrs john sheppard MGM is the company responsible for the SG franchise and thus the money, not SyFy (SyFy being just one of the networks that air the SG franchise) so it’s not their call as to if MGM makes the movies. @Noxchild “BSG is dead, killed off by the finale.” I disagree. The BSG finale closed that chapter and now they are focusing on prequels such as Caprica and the upcoming Blood and Chrome movie, personally I think there is plenty of story leading up to BSG that is worth exploring. Now if they were to try to do… Read more »

Noxchild
Noxchild
13 years ago

@wganubis: In the future, if you wish to quote my posts, please do so WITHOUT EDITING MY WORDS. I made it clear that I was speaking for myself. The proper quote is “I see BSG as dead, thoroughly killed by the finale”. I also made it clear that I am aware that some people continue to be fans of BSG. Placing the word ‘respectfully’ in your post does not turn a snippy, condescending post into something respectful. BSG is a TV show; I am free to love it or hate it for any reason, as are you. We are also… Read more »

FormulaJRay
13 years ago

I hope Caprica doesn’t end up getting canned after the first season and replaced with this show. I know the ratings aren’t all that great, but I like the show. If Syfy can greenlight a TV movie for BSG though, it would be nice if they could greenlight a SG movie too. I think the commenter kellx may have had a point about having Caprica and SGU back to back being too much drama at one time. I like both shows, but they should probably have an action series at 9 and then follow it with the drama series at… Read more »

Saquist
Saquist
13 years ago

Watching that Priest kill a child on screen killed it for me and ever watching a BSG spin-off.
I can’t condone a show that depicts that kind of violence to children for entertainment.