Folks, Harry here. Bryan Singer left BATTLESTAR GALACTICA... big deal. The person that is in charge of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA right now is the man I want in charge of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Tom DeSanto isn't some dispassionate executive type. He isn't some one that gives up on a show or doesn't know what is important about the show. Bryan Singer didn't track down the original Galactica model. Bryan Singer couldn't tell you how many model kits were cannibalized by its original creators. There is an illusion about Bryan Singer quite often that has been pissing me off for years. I like Bryan Singer the filmmaker quite a bit, but the publicity snapping side of him, I can't stand. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA was Tom DeSanto's baby. It's his dream, his passion and his vision that propels my eagerness to see this show move forward.
I've had extensive conversations with DeSanto in the past about GALACTICA and folks... Tom knows what is important about the show. He knows what was best about the original show and he knows what sucked in the original. And he knows what the dream for the show in the hearts of fans has always been.
FOX has lost faith now that Bryan Singer jumped ship to take care of the mess that is X-MEN 2 right now. Good, fine... Clean it up Bryan! Yippee! But FOX, if you think Bryan Singer was the heart and soul of this project, you are incredibly wrong. And you can still say in your flashy promos, "FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE X-MEN COMES BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!"
Folks, readers... It is time to kick it where it counts. Go to BattlestarGalactica.Com right now and sign that petition. Sign it and get friends to sign it. Have them get their friends to sign it. For everytime you look at TV and wonder why a badass science fiction show with space battles and a classic theme isn't on... Well, it's time to put a stop to that. Go sign up, I have!!!
Hi, Sci-Fi fans,
I do some work with the new "Battlestar Galactica" series. And the rumors of its demise are true. (I just hope my paycheck arrives before it all goes under.)
I haven't seen any news posted yet, but it's true: Bryan Singer ("X-Men", "X-Men 2") has left the planned "Battlestar Galactica" television movie as producer/director. He is leaving behind co-producer Tom DeSanto. And, get this: The Fox Network, which was planning to air the yet-unfilmed pilot episode (television movie), has lost interest in it. Apparently, they were banking on Bryan Singer to work his "X-Men" magic on "Battlestar." Now, he's dealing with the ongoing, screwed-up "human Sentinels/robotic Sentinels/Legacy Virus" script mess. (And you thought the recent Daredevil/Elektra news was wacked...)
In the past week, the "Battlestar Galactica" production offices in Vancouver, British Columbia has shut down. You can even check the B.C. Film Commission list at CLICK HERE where it has been removed. The Los Angeles office is still open, although not for long. Money and time are running out.
As I've been told, Bryan Singer received a lot of dough to keep focused on "X-Men II" which Fox considers a stronger money-maker than the "Battlestar" television movie/series. Singer walked away just eight weeks before principle photography would have started. Fox and Singer were a package deal; Singer's departure was a major blow. Now there are so many legalities and issues in place that the show can't be moved or sold to another network. If Fox abandons it altogether in the next two weeks, "Battlestar" is dead. No one will pick it up again. You wouldn't believe what it took to sort out the legal hassles in the first place. Now there's a mountain of new ones in place.
About the Vancouver offices, the "Battlestar" staff were shoehorned into a rather unimpressive production office in a mediocre part of town, leading to their serious doubts about the viability of the pilot right from the start. There is a lack of studio space in town right now, as so much production goes on here throughout the year. Vancouver is number three in North America for TV and film production volume, behind Los Angeles and New York, so despite three very large studios and an extensive variety of converted warehouses, etc., space is often at a premium.
Apparently, a major department store chain (who shall remain nameless) offered the "Battlestar" production unoccupied warehouse space that they sometimes lend out for such endeavors, but wanted $1 million upfront, and another million in closeout security in the event that the production went down. No need to tell you what the powers-that-be thought of that... Some believed initially that when "The Outer Limits" left the MGM Bridge Studios, that "Battlestar" might end up there, on soundstages right beside "Stargate SG-1", but that space was ultimately rented to another production.
"Battlestar" was going to be a very large production, too. They had hired an accountant for the construction department. (Bear in mind: Most shows only have one accountant for the whole production.) The budget was rumored at $10 million, too.
The costumes were also done in Los Angeles and planned to ship to the Vancouver sets. The props looked awesome. I have a sketch of the new Viper pilot helmets with different colors and a similar style. The Vipers were redesigned somewhat, but remain futuristic and deadly as ever. And there are several new types of Cylons that we won't see unless the production happens. One Cylon has a Roman gladiator type of ridge and a large mouth guard. It sounds weird, but it totally works. The Cylons in general look more villanous and evil than ever before. And our favorite Battlestar would be kicking MAJOR arse. Rumor says the original model owner was approached although the special effects folks will settle for a CGI version along with other rag tag fleet ships we know and love. The "Battlestar" team also hired Guy Hendrix Dyas as Production Designer, whose credentials include: "Swordfish," "The Cell," "Twister," "Planet of the Apes," "The Matrix 2," "Thirteen Days," "Pearl Harbor," "Wild Wild West," "Galaxy Quest," and "Armageddon." He was also formerly the Art Director for ILM.
No casting was ever conducted in Vancouver, either. Rumors were James Marsden (on "Ally McBeal") and Eric Close (different show, including CBS's "The Magnificient Seven" series) were possibilities. Fox wanted a cool, fresh cast. They didn't like the idea of using any of the original actors, although 99% of fans have been screaming for original series star Richard Hatch's concepts/participation for the past few years. Hatch is in one of the scripts, although not as a key player. He hasn't signed on, according to his web site. Dirk Benedict and Herb Jefferson haven't signed either, but are said to have been approached. And one script even has Adama returning, although he dies heroically at one point.
So, what's the bottom line? DeSanto and the BattlestarGalactica.com web site are asking fans to sign petitions to support the show. Apparently, he's working his butt off to save the show, but Fox needs more convincing. And fans are the key. Fox is narrow-minded and resigned to the fact that "Battlestar" was only Bryan Singer.
If "Battlestar" gets made, it will ROCK! (And I keep my job.) Fans should get involved and help before time runs out. The two week thing is true.
I am... ATHENA!
Even Apollo himself, Richard Hatch is behind Tom DeSanto... Let's go folks... Let's Kick Ass For BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!!!!
I believe in Tom DeSanto, whom I have come to know both as an extraordinary human being and a very courageous producer. He is, in fact, the only high profiled producer I know who has not only recognized the inherent potential of Galactica, but more importantly, has had the guts to take on the extremely challenging powers that be
Tom DeSanto is the one who truly initiated this Battlestar Galactica project and deserves the lions' share of the credit for getting this production on the fast track to realization. As a result of his efforts I have chosen to give my full support to helping him bring back this show and am asking all of you to do the same.
Please continue to write your e-mails and letters, and sign the petitions at BattlestarGalactica.com to let Fox and the rest of the industry know we are still out there en masse, passionate, dedicated and steadfast and that we will not go away until they give us what we all want and deserve.
Keep the faith -- and Tom, *we're all behind you!* Go out there and kick some ass!
Talk to all of you soon.
Richard Hatch
Petition to save new Galactica:
