The State of Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming

[23 June 2001]
Richard Hatch discusses his thoughts on the new Battlestar Galactica.

[10 March 2001]
Richard Hatch discusses his Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming trailer
and why it will not be appearing on the Internet.

BattlestarGalactica.com launches the most important letter writing campaign yet: Asking fans to communicate their feelings about the newly planned Battlestar Galactica production to the new producers and television executives -- and signaling support for the original cast, characters and premises. The producers are listening; the fans have been asked to write a.s.a.p. to express those wishes.

Cinescape.com runs an online poll for one week. The question: "'Hatching Galactica?' Do you think Richard Hatch should be involved in Bryan Singer's Battlestar Galactica project? Final results are:

Yes   4805    52%
No     1572    17%
Don't care   2883   31%

TOTAL: 9260 votes

[24 February 2001]
Richard Hatch congratulates Singer, DeSanto and Larson about the return of
Battlestar Galactica and thanks fans worldwide for their support and efforts to
help bring back the show.

[22 February 2001]
Variety (the major Hollywood trade publication) confirms that Bryan Singer will be bringing back Battlestar Galactica with StudiosUSA (part of Universal Studios) as a television series. Original series creator Glen A. Larson appears to be involved with Mr. Singer, per the Variety article. Richard Hatch, however, has no involvement, as of the time of this writing. We do congratulate Mr. Singer, Mr. Larson and others involved in the successful return of the show.

Additionally, according to sources via BattlestarGalactica.com, a U.K. game maker is developing a Battlestar Galactica computer game which appears to be based on the original series. You are a Colonial Warrior who engages Cylons both in space simulator combat, and out of the cockpit. Again, Richard Hatch and other original cast members are not involved. (This is not the same Battlestar Galactica game endeavor which Richard Hatch hoped to do, with support from Sony, but no green-light from Universal Studios.) No word on the release date, game title, etc.yet.

[30 January 2001]
The Sci-Fi Channel U.S. calls their initial report "premature."

[28 January 2001]
Richard Hatch addresses the Sci-Fi Channel's efforts to create a new Battlestar Galactica show, plus additional insights on his past development work to bring back Battlestar Galactica (including the CD-ROM game and DVDs with restored footage).

The Sci-Fi Channel U.K. e-mails "confirmation" the production planning of an all-new Battlestar Galactica show by the Sci-Fi Channel (U.S.). No explanation remains why the U.S. site pulled their own posting over their plans for a new production.

[26 January 2001]
The Sci-Fi Channel mysteriously removes their web site's posting (from 25.Jan.01) on plans for a Battlestar Galactica production, but not before fans have noticed the article.

Jack Stauffer's special article (23.Jan.01) to the fans of Battlestar Galactica and Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming is posted to BattlestarGalactica.com and BattlestarPegasus.com. Ironically, it addresses rumors which the Sci-Fi Channel confirmed two days after he submitted the article.

Richard Hatch announces the working title of his next original Battlestar Galactica novel: "Battlestar Galactica: Resurrection." It continues the storyline established in his first two books, "Battlestar Galactica: Armageddon" and "Battlestar Galactica: Warhawk." The book is due for publication in 2001.

[25 January 2001]
The Sci-Fi Channel publicly confirms the rumors (as facts) regarding their production of a new Battlestar Galactica on their web site. The statement includes this line, ""The series would resemble its predecessor in name only, offering new characters, a new villain to replace the Cylons and a new ship, the spokesman confirmed."

[11 January 2001]
From SciFi.com's own web site:

Updated 2:48pm ET on 11-January-2001
12:00pm ET, 11-January-01

"More Scorpion Coming"

Based on the ratings success of The SCI FI Channel's original series Black Scorpion, producer Roger Corman will now produce and finance 44 additional episodes, Variety columnist Army Archerd reported.The series airs Fridays at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT. Archerd reported that Corman will pony up $44 million for the new episodes. Twenty-two episodes have already been filmed, starring Michelle Lintel.

Our view: While Black Scorpion is not the new Battlestar production, this point needs to be made: Richard Hatch has the financial backing to proceed with production on a new Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming series, continuing the adventures from the classic, original series. Roger Corman appears to be self-financing Black Scorpion -- and the Sci-Fi Channel is distributing it. 44 episodes, too, mind you -- with $44 million quoted above.

[10 January 2001]
Different sources provide insights into new Battlestar Galactica production plans involving the Sci-Fi Channel. The new production capitalizes on the show's name, but not the show's namesake: The Galactica. And there is no planned involvement by either Glen A. Larson and Richard Hatch.

Indicators point to inside buzz about a series which has nothing to do with the original series or characters; no Cylons; no battlestar Galactica, per se'. And other sources indicate the development of new CGI models for "a new production." Among the models: The original Colonial Movers ship and a "new main ship" which has "bio-domes" to house the characters. (Confirmation provided: This is not the Agro-Ship, but a new "main ship" for the characters.)

Fans are asked to post to the Sci-Fi Channel's site. Over 200 individual postings are made in less than 12 hours. Sci-Fi's InterGalacticLand bulletin board (coincidentally) also asks, as it's discussion topic, "How viable would a new Battlestar Galactica series be today?" 100% of the answers are YES. 99% of the responses are pro-Richard Hatch. And postings continue to be made, in support of Battlestar's return staying true to the original series, not a remake or alteration of the series.

[29 December 2000 ]
Vivendi Universal merger is successful in December 2000.

[29 August 2000 ]
Richard Hatch shares his thoughts on Battlestar Galactica, his trailer efforts, the revival, Sci-Fi Channel's Sciography show, his The Great War of Magellan project and the late John Colicos.

[16 July 2000 ]
The Sci-Fi Channel airs Sciography, a documentary show which features Battlestar Galactica. In its one-hour format, both Battlestar Galactica and the disasterous Galactica 1980 are explored, with commentary by original cast members, producers, among others. The separate revival efforts of series creator/writer/producer/co-composer, Glen A. Larson and series star Richard Hatch are briefly discussed, too.

NOTE: Laurette Spang and Dirk Benedict were interviewed, showing their viewpoints on the two efforts. Dirk summarized it best: Why can't both men work together towards a common goal?

What is not widely known to the public is: Richard Hatch has approached Glen Larson about working together -- and more than once in the past year -- with no success. Richard is also committed to preserving the original cast, characters and themes -- which is demonstrated vividly in his trailer, Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming -- and his original Battlestar Galactica novels, "Armageddon" and "Warhawk."

In our opinion, Glen is taking Battlestar Galactica in different direction, as evidenced on his site, BattlestarMovie.com, or in interviews, such as the March 1999 Variety article. (See Richard Hatch's press release on the matter.)

While the staff of BattlestarGalactica.com -- and fans worldwide -- truly respect Glen as the creator of the Battlestar Galactica, do know that Richard's writings (his officially licensed Battlestar Galactica novels), communications with fans, and trailer production efforts preserve the integrity of the original Battlestar Galactica show. And those efforts to deliver what numerous fans want -- should not go unheeded.

[10-16 July 2000 ]
The Sci-Fi Channel runs an online poll at their site, www.scifi.com. Fans overwhelmingly respond: 5,110 votes -- one of the biggest turnouts in the poll's history. The poll's winner: Bring back Battlestar Galactica "only with Richard Hatch (Apollo)."

[29 June 2000 ]
Bonnie Hammer, executive vice president and general manager at the Sci-Fi Channel confirmed that the cable network might produce new episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

"In a June 22 chat on SCIFI.COM, Hammer said that a new version of the 1970s SF cult series Battlestar 'is something that we have thought of and continue to think of.' Hammer added, 'We have actually started some preliminary conversations; however, we never know where they are going to go. So I don't want to start any false hopes out there. However, it is definitely something we are looking into.'"

[20 June 2000 ]
Vivendi and Canal Plus plan to merge with Seagrams to form Vivendi Universal. (Note: Seagrams was the owner of Universal Studios. Universal holds the Battlestar Galactica license.)

[5 March 2000 ]
Richard Hatch comments on the state of Battlestar Galactica.

A transcript of authors Richard Hatch and P.N. Elrod from VisionCon in February 2000. (Courtesy of Ms. Elrod.) Richard discusses Battlestar Galactica, his trailer efforts, and his literary efforts with the first two Battlestar books.

[1 February 2000 ]
The most frequently asked question to this web site is: WHEN will Universal Studios announce their decision on who is doing the new Battlestar Galactica production?

Both Richard Hatch who started filming his trailer in mid-1998, and Glen A. Larson, who announced his intentions in March 1999, have demonstrated a desire to bring back the show. (Fans who complain that both gentlemen should work together need to understand that Mr. Hatch has approached Mr. Larson, and has been turned down more than once over a joint production effort.)

As of this writing, Universal and Mr. Larson appear to be arbitrating over the rights to Battlestar Galactica. We do not have a timeframe when the issues will be resolved or clarified. We encourage everyone to continue writing Universal Studios, and other affiliated divisions, to express their interest in Richard's Battlestar project.

[1 February 2000 ]
Since Richard Hatch started work on another project, The Great War of Magellan, various sources and rumor mongers have declared that Richard is no longer interested in doing Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming. Not true.

Richard's production company, Su-Shann Productions, has always intended to do multiple productions. Richard "never intended to do one, but two or three productions at a time." Richard stands firmly committed to Battlestar with a VERY passionate, VERY strong belief in bringing back the show. (We kid you not, folks!) While we wait for Richard's Battlestar Galactica project to receive the green light for full production, he has begun work on additional projects, including The Great War of Magellan.