Yet another attempt to relaunch Battlestar Galactica has failed. Peacock has reportedly scrapped development, according to a report in Variety.
Bryan Singer spent decades trying to launch a new movie based on the concept, in between pool parties and monitor fort tickle parties. That stopped and started development several times. There were numerous attempts to relaunch on television, too.
Eventually, one hit the big time. In 2003 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine writer/producer Ronald D. Moore launched a four-season version on SyFy that was a critical smash and became appointment television for geeks everywhere. It is still talked about today.
A new Battlestar Galactica adaption was announced in 2019 as part of the proposed early content for the Peacock streamer. It then languished in development hell. Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail was to write, direct, and show run. He then left, was replaced by Michael Lesslie, who was then replaced himself by The Sinner creator Derek Simonds.
How hard can it be? Battlestar Galactica is, at heart, an incredibly simple story of the last surviving humans racing across space, being pursued by a robot race.
How many different ways can they find to tell that story, or indeed, mess it up?